Public urges Homestead full-time bike lanes, protected-bike-lane sweeper and Fair Oaks redesign as council begins 2025 study issues and budget-proposals cycle

The Sunnyvale City Council held its annual public hearing on potential study issues and budget proposals on Jan. 14, drawing multiple speakers who urged the city to prioritize active-transportation projects and climate resilience work.

Public commenters and commission representatives repeatedly highlighted three near-term priorities: completion of full-time bike lanes on Homestead Road, procurement and operation of a narrow ("skinny") street sweeper to clean debris from protected bike lanes, and a comprehensive redesign of Fair Oaks Avenue to make the corridor safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Speakers representing Sunnyvale Safe Streets and individual residents described safety problems on Homestead Road near Homestead High School and Cupertino Middle School, saying the existing painted lanes are narrow and, in places, incomplete. Charlene Lu, speaking as a member of Sunnyvale Safe Streets and a BPAC participant, asked council to fund the remaining implementation work; she identified a design and paint package cost of about $415,000 to complete Homestead’s full-time bike lanes following a planned slurry seal.

Multiple speakers — including BPAC chair Bryce Beighle and residents who bike the corridor regularly — urged the city to remove a single operational barrier to protected-bike-lane rollouts: a maintenance solution for narrow, protected lanes. City staff told council they have been evaluating options. Councilmember Vijay Mellinger asked staff to include a budget proposal to acquire and operate a narrow-gauge street sweeper; City Manager Tim Kirby told council he plans to include the equipment and required staffing in the city manager’s recommended budget.

Public commenters also pressed for a complete-streets redesign of Fair Oaks Avenue and improved signalization at three crosswalk locations on that corridor. Several speakers noted a fatal collision on Fair Oaks (April 2023) and urged faster action to protect pedestrians and bicyclists.

The public hearing drew other proposals and comments: a downtown pedestrianization study tied to upcoming downtown development work; calls to accelerate implementation of the city’s Climate Action Playbook (including adaptation and resilience measures); and a separate council request to scope a website redesign and accessibility upgrades (council members asked staff to scope a budget supplement for the city website and suggested a council study session on that topic).

Council response and next steps: Councilmembers discussed the process for prioritizing study issues and told staff they want a clearer work plan that ties study issues to strategic priorities and available staffing. Several councilmembers cosponsored or signaled support for budget proposals discussed in the hearing: the narrow-gauge street sweeper (multiple councilmembers pledged cosponsorship of a budget proposal), a website modernization/budget supplement and climate-resilience study items. City Manager Kirby told council he will provide more detailed options and said the sweeper purchase and related staffing were likely to be included in his recommended budget.

Ending: No formal council votes were required at the hearing; council members may add or sponsor study issues and budget proposals for the Feb. 13 study-issues workshop.