Sunnyvale’s top public safety officer is retiring after eight years of service. Public Safety Chief Phan Ngo will step down at the end of April, after steering the city through its COVID-19 emergency response and bolstering community trust in the department. City Manager Tim Kirby will appoint an interim chief while officials search for Ngo...
Sunnyvale aims to preserve retail spaces in northern neighborhoods
Sunnyvale wants to preserve retail space in an underserved community, but the city will have to convince developers the investment is worthwhile. The Sunnyvale City Council voted unanimously Tuesday, with Councilmember Murali Srinivasan absent, to approve a retail preservation program for two aging retail centers slated to be turned into townhomes. The program would allow...
Sunnyvale houses homeless residents in hotels after sweep
Sunnyvale is trying a new approach to homeless encampment sweeps by putting people in motels and giving them an opportunity to make necessary life changes. The city on Feb. 26 placed about 25 unhoused people in 18 rooms across two Larkspur Landing hotels — one in Sunnyvale and one in Milpitas — for 30 days,...
Sunnyvale residents split on improvements to dangerous road
As Sunnyvale expands its bicycling network, one neighborhood is grappling with decades-old limitations. Residents in North Sunnyvale, a portion of the city that historically lacks resources, are excited about planned safe transit infrastructure on Tasman Drive, from Fair Oaks Avenue to Lawrence Expressway. Other residents are less enthusiastic, saying the proposed changes — bike lanes and...
Sunnyvale searches for solution to paramedic shortage
Sunnyvale public safety officers are optimistic a new study will find solutions to the city’s lack of paramedics. The Sunnyvale City Council voted unanimously earlier this month to study expanding the city’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) to include city-operated paramedic services. The Sunnyvale Public Safety Officers Association raised the alarm last year about the...
Sunnyvale’s lack of protected bike lanes frustrates residents
Sunnyvale residents have been waiting for the city to implement its grand plan for a bicycle safety network, but a lack of action has led to mounting frustration. The city’s plan to build more bike lanes with protective barriers remains stalled, because officials haven’t prioritized funding or a way to keep the bike lanes clear of...
Sunnyvale traffic deaths spark safety concerns
Sunnyvale officials want to tighten traffic safety near Fair Oaks Park after multiple pedestrian deaths over the past six years. Fair Oaks Avenue has become a top safety concern for residents and cyclists. The heavily traveled road poses an immediate danger to pedestrians and bicycles, with speeds up to 40 mph and limited crosswalks. On...
Sunnyvale eyes former hardware store for housing
Sunnyvale wants to replace a vacant Orchard Supply Hardware site with hundreds of new homes. The Sunnyvale Planning Commission heard proposed plans on Jan. 27 for a 5.24-acre development at 777 Sunnyvale Saratoga Road, which would include one 7-story building with 162 apartments and close to a dozen 3-story buildings with 80 condos. The project...
Did Sunnyvale leaders reach their goals in 2024?
Each year, Sunnyvale officials prioritize certain projects. Some projects made it over the finish line this year, while others were shelved, such as a new mobile application for city services. Here’s how the list stands at the end of 2024 and what’s rolling into 2025: Homeless services The city placed a high priority on expanding...
Sunnyvale OKs winter hotel rooms for homeless residents
Homeless residents in Sunnyvale will be able to find local shelter from the elements this winter instead of going beyond city limits to get out of the cold. The Sunnyvale City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a pilot program to book up to 10 hotel rooms at Extended Stay America Suites on Orleans Drive. Homeless...