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Intergovernmental Relations Officer Yvette Agredano presented the staff report.
Councilmember Hamilton inquired if the ranking process can be changed to address the issue of having to rank a large number of items. Councilmember Hamilton explained that since there is no way staff would be able to complete that number of items, ranking that many items does not make sense. Councilmember Hamilton suggested Council address a change to the system of ranking and asked if it would be appropriate to discuss this evening.
Councilmember Moylan stated he agrees with Councilmember Hamilton’s comments. Councilmember Moylan stated he sent a suggestion to staff to have each department submit an estimate as to how many hours they can spend on study issues. Councilmember Moylan stated with this information, Council would be able to figure out (by looking at those hours) what fraction of items could be completed. Councilmember Moylan stated many departments will have enough hours to do all the study issues on the list so there would not be a need to rank any items. Council would just need to decide whether to keep the items on the list or take them off. Councilmember Moylan stated for a department with a huge number of items, Council could use the six sigma process which would take out the top third. Councilmember Moylan explained that with this system, the top third would be the most that the department could do and there would be no need to rank the bottom items. Councilmember Moylan inquired if Council could obtain the total number of hours each department expects to devote to study issues.
City Manager Amy Chan stated staff is in the process of collecting the information per Councilmember Moylan’s question and will return to Council in a few days.
City Manager Chan addressed Councilmember Hamilton’s earlier question and explained that Council could discuss the study issue process this evening. City Manager Chan requested that Council provide as much notice to staff as possible if they choose to change the study issue process.
Councilmember Hamilton inquired if staff would be able to provide Council with an approximate amount of hours that they could spend on study issues over the year. City Manager Chan stated the manner in which items are prioritized and the number of hours attached to the item will affect the number of items that staff can accomplish.
Councilmember Hamilton questioned if each department identified the number of hours they are able to work on study issues, then would there be some easy way that Council could track the hours attached to each study issue as they rank their choices (in order to identify how close they are getting to the department total). City Manager Chan stated once priorities are identified, staff can set the cutoff point based on the collective priority ranking. Councilmember Hamilton stated she is suggesting that each department identify the total amount of hours they would be able to spend on study issues and then Council would rank items so as to meet double the number of acceptable hours set by each department. Councilmember Hamilton stated the reason to allow Council to rank double the amount of allowable hours would allow for the shifting of priorities.
Assistant City Manager Robert Walker requested Council wait before proceeding on changes to the process until Council receives the number of hours that each department would be able to spend on study issues (as directed by City Manager Chan). Assistant City Manager Walker explained that the process is more complex than just the total number of hours for each department and that in order to be helpful Council will also need to know how many hours are available in each work unit.
Councilmember Moylan explained to Councilmember Hamilton that he does not believe the process needs to be that difficult and suggested Council receive public comments and then discuss the process after that.
Public comments opened (time not recorded).
Connie Portele and Randy Ehlers spoke in favor of studying neighborhood non-residential parking issues near Wright Avenue and Fremont Avenue and offered supporting reasons.
Councilmember Swegles inquired if Council should do a separate study for this issue. Director of Community Development Hanson Hom stated a study issue is coming before Council on February 12 dealing with shopping center parking because of overflow parking into adjacent residential neighborhoods. Director Hom stated as a part of that process, Council could evaluate if the issues have been fully addressed and provide further direction or Council could define an additional study issue.
Councilmember Swegles inquired if Director Hom believes this issue should be added to the current study issue. Director Hom stated there is definitely an overlap in the evaluation of the parking requirements as the current study issue focuses on both residential and shopping center parking issues.
Councilmember Swegles confirmed with Director Hom that parking issues for medical office buildings is a separate study issue that staff has developed for Council’s consideration. Councilmember Swegles stated he will sponsor that study issue.
Councilmember Whittum stated he has suggested a study issue regarding parking exemption permits and inquired if parking permits might assist Portele with her parking concerns. Parking permits could be purchased through the City’s online permit system.
Portele confirmed with Director Hom that the study issue being presented to Council on February 12, 2008 will not address the item of medical office parking, rather its main focus is on shopping center and residential parking standards. Director Hom stated that is why staff has developed a separate study issue for medical office use.
Councilmember Moylan confirmed that Portele is requesting that Council rank Community Development Department (CDD) (CDD-48 Parking Requirements for Medical Office Buildings) high on their list.
Councilmember Whittum asked Ehlers if he felt non-resident limited parking with residential parking permits would be helpful. Ehlers stated the proposal is intriguing.
Joel Wyrick, Executive Director of the Sunnyvale Downtown Association, submitted a proposal for Council to assist with funding the association’s proposed projects for 2008. Wyrick stated the priority on his list would be for Council to assist with funding a newly proposed event “Sun Fest” which is an outdoor green sustainable Festival to be held on September 6 and 7, 2008.
Councilmember Moylan inquired, as a point of order, how Wyrick’s request fits into the current topic of study issues. Wyrick stated he is proposing to have Council study the viability of funding this proposal. Councilmember Moylan inquired if this item could be part of CDD-12 (Commercialization and Promotion of Sunnyvale). Wyrick stated staff directed him to discuss his proposal as part of tonight’s agenda.
Councilmember Whittum inquired if Wyrick is requesting this item be studied or addressed as a budget item. Wyrick stated funding is tight in the City and he feels this item is very valuable and should be studied, although he is not asking for 100 percent of the funding from the City.
Councilmember Whittum inquired how he would refer this item if later in the meeting he wishes to sponsor this item. Assistant City Manager Walker identified that this item would be covered by a couple of items in the study issue packet, one being the budget issue for a sustainability coordinator or CDD-12 (Commercialization and Promotion of Sunnyvale).
Councilmember Hamilton stated she was under the impression that the reason a Business Improvement District (BID) was created was in order for the downtown to become more self-sustaining. Wyrick stated the association needs start up money in order to be sustainable.
Councilmember Whittum stated as part of this study he would like to add that staff returns with a budgeted analysis of this proposal. Councilmember Whittum stated this appears to be a budget issue item, but he is fine if Council wishes to include this proposal as part of CDD-12 (or whichever is appropriate). Councilmember Whittum stated he does not want to see this proposal disappear as it appears to offer benefits to the downtown and is worth analyzing.
Councilmember Whittum clarified that he wished to sponsor this proposal as a budget issue with flexibility given to staff to move it to where it fits for analysis (such as moved to a study issue CDD-12).
City Manager Chan explained that any Councilmember may sponsor a study issue without a formal motion, either in this setting or after the meeting, until January 25, 2008. Council may also suggest to staff to consider a budget issue. City Manager Chan explained that study issues are policy oriented; therefore, as Council considers an issue for staff to study, it is helpful if Council identifies the policy issues that Council would like staff to explore. City Manager Chan stated it would be helpful for Council to submit any study issues as far in advance as possible in order to put the appropriate paper together for Council’s consideration.
Councilmember Whittum confirmed with City Manager Chan that staff will review Wyrick’s proposal to see if it should be included in CDD 12 or be considered as a separate issue.
Suzi Blackman, President and CEO of Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce, stated the chamber would like Council to support the Kaiser Permanente left turn lane study issue, and for Council to also support a study issue regarding adding a resolution to support a socially-responsible service contractor code of conduct. Mayor Lee stated the resolution is on the agenda for February 12, 2008. Mayor Lee clarified that Blackman’s proposal is to pull the resolution and have it become a study issue.
Councilmember Howe stated he would sponsor the resolution to support a socially-responsible service contractor code of conduct as a study issue.
Werner Gans stated he does not agree that there is a need for a left hand turn out of Kaiser. Gans stated if the left turn from Kaiser Permanente is ranked high enough to study, City staff should conduct the study and Kaiser should pay for the study.
Councilmember Moylan stated this item is listed as study issue DPW 20 (Reconsider allowing left turns out of the Kaiser Hospital facility onto Homestead Road). Councilmember Moylan confirmed that Gans does not support studying this issue.
Jim Griffith, chair of the Board of Library Trustees, stated the board voted 5-0 to recommend a study issue and budgetary issue for 2008. Griffith stated the board is recommending a study issue to examine the purchase and implementation of an automated return materials handling system for the library. Griffith stated the board is also requesting a budget modification to the library budget in the amount of approximately $12,000 to offset the fees charged to place books on hold. Griffith stated Sunnyvale is the only library in the area that charges a fee to place a book on hold.
Pat Plant, chair of Housing and Human Services Commission, stated the commission would like Council to rank CDD 40 (Determine the Need and Feasibility of a Multi-Service Center to Serve the Extremely Low and Very Low Income Populations), and CDD 41 (Determine the Feasibility of Developing a City Supported Community Multi-Service Center to Serve At-Risk Youths to Prevent Crime) high along with the four CDD study issues related to Below Market Rate (BMR) units.
Councilmember Moylan stated staff has recommended against conducting CDD 41 because staff stated that issue is a duplication of efforts already being performed. Plant stated the commission believes more activities are needed.
Councilmember Howe stated that owners of BMR units are allowed approximately two percent in appreciation per year and confirmed that Plant would like that percentage to be increased. Councilmember Howe explained that increasing the percentage would increase the cost of the home for the next purchaser. Councilmember Howe inquired if discussion occurred among the commission regarding this concern and Plant stated the commission did not discuss how the increase would affect the next buyer.
Kevin Jackson, speaking on behalf of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission, stated the commission supports DPW 7 through 12 (#7 Plan line study to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians; #8 Policy supporting connections to regional bike facilities, #9 Education campaign or policy development regarding safe construction zone traffic control for bicyclists and pedestrians, #10 Revise level of service policy to incorporate bicycle and pedestrian safety, #11 Update/Review of the Corner Vision Triangle Municipal Code Ordinance, #12 School Transportation Demand Management Opportunities).
Speaking on his own behalf, Jackson requested a study issue to repair the Council policy on boards and commissions. Jackson stated the changes were made in the name of clarifications; however, they have introduced contradictions and betrayed the promise of no changes to the Council policy as listed in the May 1, 2007 staff report.
Mayor Lee inquired if this item was already on the agenda. Assistant City Manager Walker stated a section of the policy regarding free speech will be on the January 29, 2008 agenda; however, the speaker is suggesting a complete revision to Council’s policy on boards and commissions.
Mayor Lee confirmed with Jackson that he is suggesting the city attorney review the changes made since the May 1, 2007 staff report was issued. Jackson stated he would like the city attorney to offer his opinion on whether the changes that were made conflict with the May 1, 2007 staff report which claimed that no changes were made to the policy. Jackson stated additionally he would like to have the issues of concern discussed and then followed up with a public hearing.
Bob Kinder, Parks and Recreation Commission, stated the commission supports DPR 06 (Consider impacts of providing Sunnyvale resident discounts to City recreation programs for active duty military and their families) and urged Council to place it as a high priority.
Tap Merrick stated he is not in favor of a left turn out of Kaiser Permanente. Merrick stated he supports a more comprehensive study issue review which would include the following items:
- No left turn onto Homestead Road;
- Opening up alternate exits out of Kaiser (including Forge Drive in Cupertino), and
- Supporting the neighborhood's ongoing efforts to limit the scope and size of development at Santa Clara Square, which is currently planned to be built at Lawrence and El Camino.
Merrick stated if the study issue is approved then the work plan shall come back to Council for review and approval.
Councilmember Hamilton stated Forge Drive is being mentioned as a possible exit out of the Kaiser facility, but it is part of the City of Cupertino. Councilmember Hamilton inquired as to what jurisdiction Council would have over this street and would it be feasible to add this exit into the study issue. Director of Public Works Marvin Rose stated the study would include the type of involvement the City of Cupertino would have, how the original Environmental Impact Report (EIR) identified the traffic impacts of Forge versus Homestead, and what control the City would have over the area.
Councilmember Hamilton asked Merrick how Kaiser was tied into the Santa Clara Square and Merrick stated that Santa Clara Square will increase the traffic in his neighborhood. Merrick stated both Kaiser and the Santa Clara Square are controlled by the City of Santa Clara and should Kaiser speak to the Santa Clara City Council about traffic issues, they will carry more weight than a Sunnyvale resident.
Councilmember Hamilton stated she would like to sponsor the expansion of study issue DPW-20 to include Forge Drive.
Vice Mayor Spitaleri inquired as to what authority the City of Sunnyvale would have to study the traffic impacts of Santa Clara or Cupertino streets. Director Rose stated the basis for studying these areas would be a traffic analysis. Director Rose stated a traffic analysis can be independent of the jurisdiction based on where traffic would flow given certain alternatives. Director Rose stated as part of the alternatives, staff would have to look at what control and options each party has and all parties would need to reach a cooperative agreement.
Councilmember Moylan stated from his standpoint it would be inappropriate to have a study issue in which the current occupant of the piece of land being studied is required to lobby for the City of Sunnyvale. Councilmember Moylan asked Merrick if it is his request that Council rank DPW 20 high or low. Councilmember Moylan stated that is all that Council needs to know at this point. Merrick stated if it is Council’s plan to study only the no left turn onto Homestead, then he does not support the study issue. Merrick stated he does support the study issue (and a high rank) if it is expanded to include exploring alternate exits out of Kaiser and also traffic issues associated with the upcoming Santa Clara Square project of 490 units.
Councilmember Moylan stated Santa Clara Square is a completely unrelated property and he could not imagine it being part of the study. Merrick stated the traffic issues from Santa Clara Square are a combined problem with Kaiser. Merrick stated what is happening at both Santa Clara Square and Kaiser will dramatically affect traffic issues. Merrick stated he would rather this issue be done right once the first time, than correct sections at a time as different issues come up.
City Manager Chan stated staff is on top of the Santa Clara Square development; however, it is not appropriate for Council to consider the project for two reasons. City Manager Chan stated that the study of Santa Clara Square could create a scheduling issue as it may not match with the Santa Clara Square development schedule and additionally, staff is already looking at the traffic and neighborhood impacts of the development. City Manager Chan suggested staff sit down with the neighborhood and share with them the comments the City has already provided to the City of Santa Clara. Staff can also provide the schedule of meetings in which neighbors could weigh in on project discussions at the City of Santa Clara.
City Manager Chan stated in response to Council’s jurisdiction comments, Council is correct in that the City is not able to tell another city to stop their development. City Manager Chan stated that the City may however, identify the impact that a project will have on the City and ask the neighboring city to mitigate those impacts.
Councilmember Hamilton stated she wished to correct her previous statement in which she stated she would sponsor expanding DPW 20 to include Forge Drive. Councilmember Hamilton stated she wished to expand DPW 20 to include all of the exits added to the Kaiser study.
Councilmember Swegles stated he would co-sponsor the expanded study issue with Councilmember Hamilton. Councilmember Swegles clarified that he did not wish to study areas where walls have been put up at exits, because those walls were put up to protect other residential neighborhoods. Councilmember Hamilton stated the reason she wants to include all exits is because she wants to have all the alternatives included and should an exit be problematic for a neighborhood, it will come out in the study. Councilmember Swegles stated staff time is always a consideration and if known problem areas are included, that can be a waste of staff time. Councilmember Swegles stated he agrees with requesting staff to look at alternative exits. Councilmember Hamilton stated she will speak to Director Rose and find out how much staff time will be involved in reviewing all exits, blocked or not.
Mary Ann Barnes, Senior Vice President for Kaiser Permanente stated they support DPW 20 as a top priority for study.
Vice Mayor Spitaleri confirmed with Barnes that Kaiser wants a left hand turn lane out of Kaiser studied. Barnes stated Merrick wants a more comprehensive study and Kaiser did not make any formal agreement with that request. Barnes stated Kaiser’s interest is that this study be done quickly due to the current dangerous traffic situation.
Councilmember Swegles inquired why Kaiser has not advised their customers that they are able to use the Forge Drive exit. Barnes stated Kaiser would need to build a road for that exit as it is not a formal exit, rather is used by construction trucks. Barnes stated they have not formalized a road for that area as there are many future buildings being planned for that area. Barnes stated Kaiser is in support of studying that area but Kaiser would need to discuss that with the City of Cupertino.
Councilmember Moylan stated given that Kaiser is asking Council to rank this item high and if it does get ranked high enough to be studied, one possible outcome might be a Council action which grants a left hand under certain conditions. One of those possible conditions could be a requirement that Kaiser obtain approval from a neighboring city to put in another entrance or exit. Councilmember Moylan confirmed with Barnes that regardless of possible conditions placed on an approval for a left hand turn, Kaiser does wish to have Council place this item high on the study issue list.
Councilmember Howe asked staff to give Council information as to whether the City of Sunnyvale has any land use authority over the hospital site.
Alysse Ohara, employee of Kaiser, stated she lives in the affected neighborhood. Ohara stated the study regarding the left hand turn is very important as it is a dangerous situation. Ohara stated drivers are currently making left hand turns without authorization to do so. Ohara supports studying DPW 20 and ranking it high on the list. Councilmember Swegles inquired why Ohara does not use the Forge exit. Ohara stated Forge is a one-lane path that is not well lit or paved.
Dr. Danny Sam, physician at Kaiser and resident in the affected neighborhood, stated he recommends DPW 20 be a top priority study issue.
Robert Wyckoft, resident of the affect neighborhood, expressed his support for ranking DPW 20 high on the study issue list. Wyckoft stated the current no left turn situation at Kaiser is an irritating inconvenience to Sunnyvale residents.
Ellen Lockhart stated her support of ranking DPW 20 high on the study issue list. Lockhart expressed her frustration with not being able to turn left and also explained that none of the people she knows drive through the neighborhood, rather they turn right and then have to make a u-turn.
Sandra St. Amour stated her support for a left hand turn onto Homestead. St. Amour stated she is not interested in going into the surrounding neighborhood; rather she merely wants to make a left hand turn.
Jerry Yu, employee of Kaiser and resident of Sunnyvale, stated he supports ranking
DPW 20 high as it is a safety issue with having to make a u-turn. Yu stated part of his job is to look at member complaints, and a high percentage of the complaints center around not being able to turn left onto Homestead. Councilmember Swegles inquired if Yu has tried using the Forge exit. Yu stated he has but it is not a paved road and there are a lot of holes on the road. Councilmember Swegles stated there are not a lot of holes on the road.
David Newswanger, physician at Kaiser, stated he urged Council to place DPW 20 high on their priority list.
Elaine O’Kennedy stated DPW 20 should be ranked extremely high due to the dangerous condition as people are turning left regardless of the sign.
Norma Medlin, member of Kaiser, stated it is important to have compassion for those leaving Kaiser. Medlin stated most people leaving Kaiser are not feeling very well and they have to travel through a dangerous situation. Medlin stated she had never meandered through the adjoining neighborhood. Medlin urged Council to rank this item high.
Wayman Perry stated he supports ranking DPW 20 high. Perry stated he sums up this entire issue by the fact a solution was found where a problem did not exist.
Rose Kausek, chair of Heritage Preservation Commission, stated the commission urges Council to rank the proposed study issue CDD 36 (Onizuka AFS Artifacts) high on their list. Councilmember Moylan stated staff is recommending not to do this study because the base reuse and closure process has not been completed. Staff has suggested that a possible outcome of the closure process would be the distribution of artifacts; therefore, the study is not needed. Kausek stated the commission is concerned that if they wait until the end then some of the artifacts may be appropriated to other entities. Kausek stated she is concerned with being able to look at the artifacts list and being able to appropriate some of the items for Sunnyvale.
Mei-Ling Stefan requested Council modify CDD 17 (Noise Sub-Element Update) and add airplane noise to the study issue.
Councilmember Whittum stated he would like to sponsor an inclusion into CDD 17 of an analysis of aircraft noise contours with discussion of potential risk of commercial use of Moffett.
Councilmember Whittum inquired if staff has a recent report that describes the risks associated with an incremental increase in Moffett Park commercial use. City Manager Chan stated Moffett Field current use is still under their EIR. City Manager Chan offered that the mayor could possibly suggest to NASA Ames that they hold a neighborhood outreach meeting to talk about community concerns over this issue. City Manager Chan stated there is very little the City can do in the case of a federal agency, but certainly the City can lobby local representatives and NASA Ames to better address the City’s issues and concerns.
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