The West Valley is known for its flagship festivals that bring multicultural food, live music and dancing to the streets. Those festivals come with a lofty price tag, and organizers are asking their cities for help keeping these beloved events afloat. The Campbell City Council voted 4-1 April 15 to cover 30% of the fee costs for qualifying...
West Valley cities team up to consider homeless shelter
The West Valley has scarce resources for the hundreds of homeless residents living on its streets. That may change as elected leaders consider adding its first shelter. All five West Valley municipalities — Cupertino, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Campbell and Los Gatos — recently approved a homeless shelter feasibility study conducted by Good City Company. The...
Campbell quick to approve backyard homes
Campbell homeowners applying for a tiny home could get city approval in days. Campbell launched an express backyard home permit process this month that shortens approval time to a week or less — the fastest in Santa Clara County where approvals can average between two to three months. The city is accepting two qualifying applications...
Campbell hits the brakes on new tobacco shops
One small West Valley city has some of the most smoke shops per person in Santa Clara County. Officials are taking steps to change that statistic. The Campbell City Council unanimously approved a temporary ban Tuesday preventing new tobacco retailers from opening in the city for at least 45 days. Officials want to curb tobacco sales...
Downtown Campbell street slated for safety improvements
A downtown Campbell street is about to become safer for pedestrians on their way to peruse the city’s local businesses. Civic Center Drive is slated for safety improvements at the intersections of Second and Third Street. The work will include higher visibility crosswalks, islands between lanes, curb ramps and places where the end of the...
Campbell makes building duplexes easier on single-family lots
Campbell is making it easier for residents to create a wide array of housing options in their own backyards. The Campbell City Council unanimously voted Monday to implement a temporary policy to make the city compliant with Senate Bill 450. The law, enacted Jan. 1 after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it last year, makes it simpler for homeowners to...
Campbell hotel program to support homeless residents
Homeless residents in Campbell will soon find some relief through the city’s new hotel program, adding a resource to the West Valley where little support exists. The Campbell City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to grant nonprofit Silicon Valley Independent Living Center a $147,500 contract to oversee a hotel program for the homeless community. The two-year...
West Valley cities want to ban gas appliances amid legal ruling
Leaders across the West Valley are pushing for a greener future in one of the country’s most polluted areas, but it could be more challenging after a controversial ruling on the use of gas. Campbell and Los Gatos recently explored ways to limit nitrogen oxide emissions caused by gas. The Campbell City Council unanimously approved a...
Campbell spends remaining COVID dollars on community projects
For avid Campbell skateboarders, a long overdue facelift of the city skate park is happening earlier than planned, along with greater security at the community center, thanks to some leftover federal cash in city coffers. The Campbell City Council unanimously voted last month to allocate about $535,000 — its remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)...
Here’s who’s leading West Valley city council races
The West Valley’s city council races are tight this election season, with some candidates trailing just a few hundred votes behind the leaders — leaving the seats open to change with hundreds of thousands of uncounted ballots remaining. In the contentious race for Cupertino City Council, Councilmember Kitty Moore and former Planning Commissioner R “Ray”...