Policy Watch

City of Cupertino

 Placing initiative to approve Vallco Town Center Specific Plan on the November ballot

Council will be receiving a report related to the proposed impacts of an initiative that would approve and adopt the Vallco Town Center Specific Plan as a mixed use development area – to include at least 389 residential units, as well as retail, office, commercial, hotel space, parks and open space, and designated community benefits including a bike and pedestrian trail, contributions to the Fremont Unified High School District and Cupertino Union School District, at least 80 units of senior housing, maintain the existing movie theater, and build green community spaces – as well as grant property owner initial entitlements to develop in accordance with the initiative and to amend the General Plan and Municipal Code as appropriate to support the development of the project. Council will also be deciding whether or not to approve the initiative as is or place the initiative on the ballot for the November General Election. If the initiative will be placed on the ballot, the Council will decide whether to direct the City elections official to prepare an impartial analysis and whether to enable city council members to submit ballot arguments against the initiative.

On June 6, 2016, the City Clerk certified that the proponents of the initiative had gathered enough signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot. The City Clerk’s analysis finds minor impacts from the proposed initiative, including potential traffic congestion impacts as well as some positive impacts related to incentivizing redevelopment of the Vallco Shopping Mall. The primary distinction between putting an initiative on the ballot vs. adopting it via Council is the environmental review processes, which are required for Council-sponsored initiatives but not for ballot measures. In addition, if approved as a ballot measure, any change made to the plan or development agreements within would need to be voted on by election – which would be complicated, lengthy, and potentially costly to the City. According to the report, for a consolidated election, the “base charge” would be $52,900 and the additional $53,400 per-measure costs would remain the same, resulting in a total cost of approximately $106,300.

Additional details and background information, including the Draft Resolution and environmental and fiscal analyses are available in the agenda packet.

Where: Cupertino City Council

When: July 5, 2016, 4:30pm

Link to staff report: https://cupertino.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4542448&GUID=4D2F7755-6268-41D6-812C-D12D70348B30

Link to memo from City Attorney: https://cupertino.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4542457&GUID=3DED69E6-5FB6-4BEE-ABFA-A6D3CEA0DAAB

Link to item: https://cupertino.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2772226&GUID=1448A67B-0D7D-4BBD-BD75-4D25F9B063C7

Link to agenda: https://cupertino.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=444217&GUID=D2F9BC7D-FE9D-487B-9227-2E5BEE753CFD

 

Approving development agreement w/ Irvine for “The Hamptons” 942-unit luxury apartments, including 71 BMR units

The Hamptons Project by the Irvine Company proposes demolition of 342 apartments and the construction of 942 apartments on a 12.6-acre site.

Council will be doing a second reading of Ordinance No. 1602144, approving the development agreement between the City of Cupertino and Irvine Apartment Communities – IAC at Cupertino LLC, for the Hamptons project located at 19500 Pruneridge Ave. After introducing and doing the first reading and public hearing on ordinance No. 1602144, the council unanimously approved a revision to the ordinance adjusting the number of below market rate units from 61 to 72, to include 24 that would match the existing building’s mix of low and very low income households, plus 30 for moderate income households, and 7 for low income households. The environmental assessment resulted in an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), finding no significant impacts worth study in depth via an EIR. More details, including the redlined development agreement and resolution are attached in the agenda.

 

Where: Cupertino City Council

When: July 5, 2016, 4:30pm

Link to item: http://cupertino.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?m=l&id=3038

Link to agenda: https://cupertino.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=444217&GUID=D2F9BC7D-FE9D-487B-9227-2E5BEE753CFD

 

City of Gilroy  

Presentation and approval or placing of the Gilroy Urban Growth Boundary Initiative

Council will be receiving a report on the potential impacts of an initiative called the “Gilroy Urban Growth Boundary Initiative” and voting to approve it as is or include it on the upcoming November Ballot, as well as authorizing the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis for the ballot. This initiative was certified at the June 20, 2016 city council meeting for receiving the required number of signatures to qualify it for the ballot.

The initiative, as proposed, would amend the General Plan Land Use Map to include an Urban Growth

Boundary (UGB), outside of which only limited development would be allowed. According to the analysis conducted by staff and consultants, the proposed initiative could have the following impacts:

  • reduce the amount of allowable development outside the proposed boundary and alter existing development plans of vacant and underutilized land;
  • reduce projected population growth;
  • decrease the number of acres available for development of residential uses, and decrease number of potential dwelling units by 2,929 – 4,344 units;
  • decrease non-residential development by approximately 8,313,344 square feet
  • decline of over 13 to 45% in potential jobs, labor income, and economic output
  • slightly increase vehicle miles traveled (VMT) for the City;
  • eliminate the need for one new school site;
  • retail sales tax revenues would decrease by approximately $1-2.9 million, and property tax revenues would reduce by $2.7-3 million
  • general fund revenues would decrease by approximately $9 million

 

Where:  Gilroy City Council

When: July 5, 2016, 6:00pm

Link to report on potential impacts of the initiative: http://www.cityofgilroy.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/1931?fileID=3172

Link to item: http://www.cityofgilroy.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/1932?fileID=3173

Link to agenda: http://www.cityofgilroy.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/1930?fileID=3081

 

City of Sunnyvale

Minimum wage increases to $11 on July 1

In April 2016, the City of Sunnyvale adopted an ordinance to reach a $15 per hour minimum wage by 2018 according to the following schedule:

  • $11.00 on July 1, 2016 (current minimum wage is $10.30 per hour)
  • $13.00 on January 1, 2017
  • $15.00 on January 1, 2018

Annual adjustment based on inflation starting on January 1, 2019, and every January 1 thereafter.

Employers and employees may contact 408-730-7902, TDD 408-730-7501 or minimumwage@sunnyvale.ca.gov with any questions.

 

Where: City of Sunnyvale

When:  July 1, 2016

Link to item:  http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Portals/0/Sunnyvale/news_releases/2016/NR060316_MinimumWageEffective.pdf

 

Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority

Approving Implementation Plan for launching CCA for electric customers

The Draft Implementation Plan provides an overview of the SVCE’s approach to launchig a Community Choice Energy (CCE) program for electricity customers in twelve participating communities in Santa Clara County. Once approved by the Board of Directors, the Draft Implementation Plan will be submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as required by the Public Utilities Code. After the CPUC certifies the Implementation Plan, SVCE can take the final steps to register as a CCE, and begin the customer noticing and enrollment process.

Comments on the plan can be provided to Board@svcleanenergy.org or at the July 13 Board meeting.

 

Where: Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors

When:  July 13, 2016, 7 pm, 70 W. Hedding St., San Jose

Link to item:  http://www.svcleanenergy.org/news_items/view/354

Link to agenda:  http://www.svcleanenergy.org/app_pages/view/297

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