[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6536903,"mediaKeyId","3658236-af0a87e7bef3f63d9d2a158aee6e576a","parentId",3658236,"title","Sunnyvale council narrows charter-review workplan, punts ranked-choice voting to later study","audioSeconds",7528,"startMs",3844000,"endMs",11372000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3658236-af0a87e7bef3f63d9d2a158aee6e576a&start=3844&end=11372","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3658236-af0a87e7bef3f63d9d2a158aee6e576a/thumbnail_3844000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6536903/Sunnyvale/Santa-Clara-County/California/Sunnyvale-council-narrows-charter-review-workplan-punts-ranked-choice-voting-to-later-study","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6536903-91c21852d0804675f9bdaf5bca7c82c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182391&Signature=BXHzriu0Fa7Eh0Q1l6Ke5p54Rf-KT7yg8sJlVpX-3oIx6lZAcmk1tSUwkxca9KIWeH2kuALFLiVzT7Rx0YQp8gF-mXQ1y7gBkoOIspGYNx1WGhZKWtGXhQuGPE59tF-NXiTTCe-iUZXvnRbx~T38U7rKzEoLf2SEKM1VNJ-bpfIrE8pEkQkTNkQPQUf0AdfTlfdLppTISUeBYyRsmlbDRQkzSmmqVKYYdAY00Wk38vfPEzAr38zaqO5L0X9DdESxXL4i7M99SAcy2o-wqw8lnvXxHDkVL45rZKYO2Onm-k2ZLU1Q01xFAm337C6cG168LpQ8tiZoGcY8UkvXdqFUJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-04T07:18:14Z","article","Gustave Larsen, chair of the Charter Review Committee, presented the committee’s prioritized list of potential charter amendments and asked the City Council to “draw the line” on which items the committee should study further.

The council directed the committee to focus on five items for development into potential 2026 ballot measures: authorizing alternative project delivery (design‑build), raising or clarifying city manager settlement authority, revising vacancy/appointment rules for council seats, adjusting meeting frequency rules, and reviewing council salaries including a higher mayor salary level. Larsen told council the committee had recommended focusing on “four or maybe five, but certainly no more than that” to match the committee’s limited time and staff resources.

Why it matters: narrowing the list will determine which charter language the volunteer committee, with staff support, spends the remainder of 2025 researching, polling and drafting for potential voter consideration in November 2026. Committee and staff repeated concerns about ballot fatigue and costs (staff estimated roughly $180,000 per measure) if too many items go to the ballot.

Council members repeatedly urged caution on large or complex topics. Council member Richard Mellinger said operational items such as design‑build and settlement authority would have “clear operative positive operational impacts” and recommended those be prioritized for 2026. Several members — including Srinivasan, Lay and others — said ranked‑choice voting (RCV) raised additional timing, cost and voter‑education issues and recommended deferring it to a focused future study or to a later ballot (2028 was suggested). The committee chair and multiple council members also noted the county’s ongoing deliberations on ranked‑choice voting and urged a “wait and see” approach.

Public comment on the charter agenda item was extensive and sharply divided on alternative voting systems. Dozens of residents spoke; many urged the council to study or adopt ranked‑choice voting now, citing majority outcomes and reduced negative campaigning, while a vocal minority warned of complexity, recount difficulty, and insufficient candidate turnout to make RCV useful in Sunnyvale. Steve Chesson of Californians for Electoral Reform told the council that “ranked choice voting would ensure the winner had the support of a majority of voters, not just a plurality.” Opponents, including some longtime residents, urged the council to defer RCV and focus on increasing candidate participation and on more immediate operational items.

Council action and next steps: Council member Mellinger moved that the committee focus on five items for 2026 study (design‑build; settlement authority; vacancy provisions; meeting frequency; council and mayor compensation, including job descriptions outside the charter but no change to mayor powers). The motion passed 6‑0 (Council member Cisneros absent). The committee will use the direction to proceed; council and staff said final decisions about exact ballot language and which measures actually go forward will return to council later in the process.

The committee and staff told council that items not selected for 2026 could be handled later via a study issue, an ordinance, policy changes, or a future topic‑specific charter review committee. Staff also noted the committee’s recommendation that polling be used as part of outreach for items that were previously rejected by voters.

Ending: The council’s guidance narrows the committee’s immediate workload and pushes complex democratic‑procedure questions such as ranked‑choice voting to more focused future consideration, while placing operational governance and fiscal items at the top of the committee’s 2025 work plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - June 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Gustave Larsen, chair of the Charter Review Committee, presented the committee’s prioritized list of potential charter amendments and asked the City Council to “draw the line” on which items the committee should study further.","taxTitle","Sunnyvale , Santa Clara County, California","taxId",2858,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6536888,"Residents demand apology, anti‑Palestinian‑bias training after Hands on the Arts incident",2385,2835000,5220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3658236-af0a87e7bef3f63d9d2a158aee6e576a&start=2835&end=5220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3658236-af0a87e7bef3f63d9d2a158aee6e576a/thumbnail_2835000.jpg","/articles/6536888/Sunnyvale/Santa-Clara-County/California/Residents-demand-apology-antiPalestinianbias-training-after-Hands-on-the-Arts-incident","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6536888-41e0d1e27c07399658b7ea4c3ce9216c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182391&Signature=TO~dbKpItS4I1CgNXwrdXK~YB6lC-nWWQsnKSAv-6P7wHGr5yhsxg~ulnsJO5pOwdLPg5aRT~HZqCzKY0ksFEiPnwiD293NWPvF1j1hxCJM87KLB-mP~6zsk2om1omZ-7bWx4h1z3JkDli-tBWggRE1ksapYXstUg71UBMOYMfiOKVpwKno8Em29OtiL7Dse06kKFgODoIxn0P3oxvMOtbOiREdoAssyArtXxAlxl6irHlhEk12Kd3dl2dtZVvCAu1YAJRwCWkitwNCrQxNvIyZDwURs~fIK2J6S5pRTCZ73DNiGnZ7j9G3p-9ts-ay-4J7Eo3JDuN1SwIsI5Ep8IQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents urged the City Council to respond publicly after an incident at the Hands on the Arts festival in which participants with a Palestinian art booth said they experienced harassment and censorship.

Speakers described being asked to remove or alter materials and said a festival staffer or attendee disputed the historical validity of a displayed map. Multiple residents characterized the action as anti‑Palestinian harassment and called for a city apology and mandatory anti‑Palestinian‑bias training for staff. One speaker said the treatment of the booth “bordered on assault” and called the city’s subsequent silence “complicity.” Another requested the city take immediate action rather than delay.

Mayor Klein and council members listened as several residents — including organizers and participants connected to the Palestine Palette booth — requested transparency and remedial steps. Speakers stressed they were not asking for preferential treatment but for equal protection and the right to present cultural materials without fear of censorship.

Why it matters: the complaints raise questions about festival permitting, event moderation and the city’s processes for handling allegations of harassment at city‑sponsored or city‑permitted events. Council members acknowledged the seriousness of the complaints during oral communications and said staff would be asked for follow‑up. Several public commenters also noted they condemn all forms of hate and asked the council to address anti‑Palestinian bias specifically.

Ending: Several speakers said they would continue to press for an official apology, an investigation into the festival incident and citywide training for staff to prevent similar occurrences. Council members and staff at the meeting said they would follow up but did not announce a formal timeline for an investigation or apology during the June 3 meeting.","Multiple public speakers at the June 3 council meeting said a Palestinian art booth at the Hands on the Arts festival faced harassment and censorship; residents demanded a public apology from the city, investigation, and mandatory anti‑Palestinian‑bias training for city staff and contractors.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6536893,"Council holds public hearings on FY2025–26 budget and fees; no final votes taken",585,10274000,10859000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3658236-af0a87e7bef3f63d9d2a158aee6e576a&start=10274&end=10859","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3658236-af0a87e7bef3f63d9d2a158aee6e576a/thumbnail_10274000.jpg","/articles/6536893/Sunnyvale/Santa-Clara-County/California/Council-holds-public-hearings-on-FY202526-budget-and-fees-no-final-votes-taken","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6536893-87850e0302b55ac0b096630b103f6db6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182391&Signature=NGuwwpMmach9KE8XkOdARQf-oPw-Wk9M9jjS426jXazgeZHooSjEy4FBSBFnrKi328G5DpoyXzZM2xASl5WA7JkIYHnrayQMNF5O9gSmGSwOJhl50KaBhS7Ie-gg9pKyhJ1OS4VHf7p-dBFUat0INxrVA48I3XGfFClIOJMXgFBkdGgdDonkYrEOWYa5Mnck3RFs4Oapd10IYT-RwOJGmYMph~ULlGtQrcHaqE7gSzrc~aiWx29cf8CgSHehYwASaf0z8LbsDFUarzkkH0c7pROkrQ9Ej6YoNXqVAu6NsxjUg8ieoQf8QHJoC0FYr1VTeA2ILU0QMc1SGZTjZN5trA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget and conducted the required public hearings on the city budget, the Sunnyvale Financing Authority budget and the annual fees and charges schedule.

Finance Director Matt Paulin told council the citywide planned expenditures and revenues for FY2025–26 total about $779.8 million, with operating costs of about $392.4 million and project spending near $234.3 million. Staff noted the city will remain under the state appropriations limit for the year and that the Sunnyvale Financing Authority budget reflects debt service related to prior Civic Center financing.

Staff said no action was required that night: the hearings were informational and would be followed by formal adoption items on June 17 after staff answers to Monday morning questions and any direction from council. The fees and charges presentation covered non‑utility fees (utility rates are on the June 17 meeting), adjustments tied to increased cost of service, and several specific items referenced by council members for further detail (for example, credit‑card convenience fees, community facility deposits and certain parking fine categories).

Public comment included questions about long‑term photovoltaic (solar) panel replacement planning for City Hall and suggestions for reusing or repurposing city golf course land to meet other community needs. A speaker from Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) reviewed the agency's assistance and local savings attributable to SVCE operations, and a representative of Senior Adults Legal Assistance described the nonprofit's services and thanked the city for prior human‑services funding.

Council follow‑up: members asked staff for additional detail on fees (including the mechanics of card fees, whether a threshold exemption could reduce small transaction surcharges, and specific parking fine code references) and asked Public Works for solar replacement planning assumptions; staff said they would return with the requested details at the June 17 adoption meeting.

Ending: No formal budget or fee votes were taken on June 3; council set June 17 as the adoption session after staff prepares follow‑up information.","Council opened required public hearings on the city's proposed FY2025–26 budget, Sunnyvale Financing Authority budget and the annual fees and charges schedule; staff summarized totals and invited public comment; council deferred adoption and fee ratification to the June 17 meeting.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6536898,"Sunnyvale authorizes up to $50 million in state SRF financing for wastewater plant upgrades",7608,12362000,19970000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3658236-af0a87e7bef3f63d9d2a158aee6e576a&start=12362&end=19970","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3658236-af0a87e7bef3f63d9d2a158aee6e576a/thumbnail_12362000.jpg","/articles/6536898/Sunnyvale/Santa-Clara-County/California/Sunnyvale-authorizes-up-to-50-million-in-state-SRF-financing-for-wastewater-plant-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6536898-be40b3d6fdcf01be4733483572b195e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182391&Signature=KR5zQFvmBPrNbgJgZJk9cR8z00dDdXtfxXv64tHRtzpXAtjqo9cUhRLLd3TBLVfkIXDKReX8tWM6pOHJIqOLmS4A8oNsTTvplipdXnp3wiT0q34xFVOUm29jI21hn-4HAnhmMEuiRCxS3oLUqLRIgXDYC17sB7qu0a06d9Qjy3bNzAyEQGYJAme-sXK0utb8iMHUqXuA-5gPcGjyedQaZhnyqR-3-cszGlRvoCzoosT2XoIr9x7jhwtZQyF1MlIcgf5MfSpgXGrqtXMZWdUHP11KKLuojS6egtTSuCstUUM8XoacWJIqBmOTMtW3CTHn1lyYKZKGa9HexL48-y2dGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council authorized the city manager to enter into an installment sale agreement for up to $50 million in State Revolving Fund financing with the State Water Resources Control Board to fund work on the city’s wastewater pollution control plant rehabilitation project.

Public works staff explained the SRF loan would carry a very favorable interest rate (2.1% as quoted in April) and could replace higher‑cost pay‑as‑you‑go expenditures or taxable borrowing in the project financing mix. City staff estimated the swap could save roughly $20 million over the life of the debt compared with higher‑interest alternatives.

Project and timeline: the rehabilitation project is one component of the broader Sunnyvale Clean Water program; construction is underway and the rehab project completion is scheduled for January 2027. The overall project includes prior and concurrent work (primary and secondary process projects and electrical rehabilitation). Staff told council the SRF closing is targeted for July 2025; some administrative coordination will be required to replace other financing drawn for the project.

Why it matters: this loan will reduce the long‑term cost of financing a major city infrastructure upgrade and allow the city to apply lower‑cost SRF proceeds toward reimbursing construction expenditures already incurred. The City’s financing choices affect long‑term rates and reserve planning for the utilities.

Council action: Vice Mayor Selle moved adoption of the resolution authorizing the city manager to execute the SRF installment sale agreement and related documents; the motion passed 6‑0 with Council Member Cisneros absent. Staff will finalize loan closing details with the state board and implement required reporting and labor compliance procedures tied to SRF assistance.

Ending: Council and staff emphasized the fiscal benefit of lower interest SRF financing and the need to continue coordination with federal and state lenders as the plant rehabilitation proceeds.","Council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an installment sale agreement and related documents for up to $50 million in State Revolving Fund (SRF) financing to support the wastewater pollution control plant rehabilitation project; staff said the SRF loan would lower borrowing costs compared with taxable debt.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sunnyvale council narrows charter-review workplan, punts ranked-choice voting to later study

Residents demand apology, anti‑Palestinian‑bias training after Hands on the Arts incident

Council holds public hearings on FY2025–26 budget and fees; no final votes taken

Sunnyvale authorizes up to $50 million in state SRF financing for wastewater plant upgrades