Sunnyvale will have a new outreach team assisting its homeless residents after scrutinizing the city’s previous provider. The Sunnyvale City Council unanimously approved a more than $900,000 one year contract with homeless service provider WeHOPE earlier this month. The contract begins Sept. 1 and includes a five person outreach team and the organization’s Dignity on...
Sunnyvale’s budget is flush with money
While most of Santa Clara County grapples with balancing budget shortfalls, one city has enough money to set aside for future resident services. Now, city officials have to decide where that money should go. Sunnyvale is putting money into a “set aside” fund, beginning with $3.5 million this fiscal year. The Sunnyvale City Council approved...
Sunnyvale considers major changes to its city charter
Sunnyvale voters will have multiple opportunities to change the city charter in the coming years. The Sunnyvale City Council voted unanimously earlier this month to create a committee to review the city’s charter and propose potential amendments by November 2026. Councilmembers approved six topics for the committee to review, including councilmember and mayoral compensation, alternative...
Sunnyvale official’s social media campaigning draws questions
Elections watchdogs and Santa Clara County residents are keeping a keen eye out for ethics issues as campaign season ramps up, with one member of the Sunnyvale City Council already drawing their attention to his Facebook page. Councilmember Russ Melton has made multiple posts about his mayoral candidacy on his government-affiliated Facebook page, which identifies...
Sunnyvale selects new city attorney and interim manager
Two long-tenured Sunnyvale officials are moving up the ranks of local government. The Sunnyvale City Council permanently appointed Rebecca Moon as city attorney at its Tuesday meeting. Councilmembers also appointed Finance Director Tim Kirby as interim city manager, to take over after Kent Steffens retires this summer, while searching for a permanent hire. Moon has...
Sunnyvale approves history museum expansion
The Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum, which catalogs the city’s history from the first orchards to aerospace companies, has plans to expand. The Sunnyvale City Council unanimously approved a $1.5 million allocation out of the city’s Park Dedication fund toward adding 1,600 square feet to the Sunnyvale museum. The museum hopes to install an exhibit dedicated...
Sunnyvale voters likely to support property transfer tax
Sunnyvale officials may have found a new source of revenue, with a green light from residents to place a proposed tax measure on the November ballot. A city survey collected responses from 444 Sunnyvale voters, 63% of whom supported a possible property transfer tax measure after hearing the pros and cons. The details in the...
Sunnyvale wants a better mobile app for reporting problems
Sunnyvale is in the market for a better way to have residents flag issues in their neighborhoods online. The Sunnyvale City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously, with Councilmember Omar Din absent, to request bids on a management system residents can use to report potholes, graffiti and other problems. Councilmembers also voted to pause work on...
Sunnyvale taps AI to translate public meetings
Sunnyvale residents who don’t speak English have a new way to engage and participate in city meetings. The city is piloting an artificial intelligence-based translation service upon request for public meetings through Wordly. The technology offers live translation in more than 50 languages. Using AI is more cost effective and efficient than human translators, according...
Sunnyvale’s ride-share proposal would help disadvantaged residents
Sunnyvale residents may soon have a new ride-share option that costs less than an Uber and is more convenient than existing public transit. After overwhelming support from residents, the Sunnyvale City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to apply for grants and partner with Silicon Valley Hopper (SV Hopper) — a ride-share service that operates for less...