Cupertino Matters
- News
- UPCOMING – City Council, Tues., Nov. 18,6:45 p.m.
- RECAP – Cupertino Public Facilities Corporation Meeting, Nov. 18
- RECAP – Planning Commission, Wed., Nov. 12, 2025, 6:45 p.m.
The holidays are here, with Thanksgiving just around the corner, followed by the kickoff to the end-of-year holiday season. On November 29, the city observes Small Business Saturday in Cupertino 2025 with the community encouraged to shop local. Check out the city holiday events sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department.
The role of NASA as a major technology organization in our community is often overlooked. This week, the Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing 2025 Science & Technology Speaker Series features Dr. Parimal Kopardekar, who will speak on Safely Enabling Large-Scale Drone and Electric Aircraft Operations on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 from 6:30 to 8 at Community Hall, 10350 Torre Avenue, Cupertino. Dr. Kopardekar is Mission Integration Manager, Advanced Air Mobility Mission, at NASA Ames Research Center.
Will Cupertino become known beyond Apple? According to this San Jose Spotlight article entitled Cupertino may enter the limelight with TV show, a new legal drama called “Cupertino” will premier on CBS in fall 2026.
Readers who missed the in-person annual Community Service Awards recognition of outstanding community members and organizations whose service has made a lasting impact on Cupertino can view the 2025 CREST Cupertino Recognizes Extra Steps Taken) for the entire program, plus individual stories. The awards are as follows.
| Lifetime Achievement
Dennis Whittaker |
Rising Star of the Year
Sarah Shelke |
| Volunteer of the Year
Raymond Lancon |
Rising Star of the Year
Reena Shah |
| Organization of the Year
Cupertino Little League |
Hometown Hero
Deputy Aalok Patel |
UPCOMING – CITY COUNCIL, Tues. Nov. 18, 2025, 6:45 p.m., Regular meeting
Ceremonial Items include (1) Recognition of Members of Armed Forces, Veterans, and their Families, (2) Recognition of Police Officers, Firefighters, First Responders and their Families, (3) Proclamation recognizing the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II, (4) Recognition of November 29, 2025 as Small Business Saturday, and (5) Presentation of Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Operational Overview. Oral Communications from the public on off-agenda items precede the Consent Calendar, which contains ten routine items. Notable items are Item #15 Approval of City Manager Employment Agreement; Proposed Amendments to the Appointed Employees’ Compensation Program, appointing the Interim City Manager, Tina Kapoor, as City Manager and Item #16 to consider the potential sale of and appoint a negotiator for City-owned property along Mary Avenue (APN: 326-27-053)(“Property”).
Item No. 17: Amendment to FY 25-26 Fee Schedule to establish fee for ministerial two lot Urban Lot Split Applications. When enacted in January 2022, SB 9, which allowed lot splits of single-family zoned parcels, was generally controversial. However, no applications were received in 2022 or 2023. Since the passage of another bill, SB 450, which further streamlined the SB 9 application process and curbed city abuses in regulating such projects, became effective in 2024, 13 applications have been received. Originally, the Community Development Department considered the lot split to be a type of Parcel Map and imposed a $30,247 fee. With experience, staff is recommending a new SP9 Lot Line Split with a substantially lower fee of $10,885 which more accurately reflects the nature of the staff time involved. This change would reduce the burden on property owners considering such lot splits and facilitate gentle density increases in Cupertino.
Item No. 18: City Manager’s First Quarter Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2025-26; Budget Modification No. 2526-419, decreasing appropriations by $674,221 and increasing revenues by $503,628 resulting in a $1,177,849 increase to unassigned fund balance. This report outlines the City’s financial status as of September 30, 2025. It is a critical tool for the City to evaluate its current revenue outlook and make adjustments to the budget in response to changing spending priorities. It provides an overview of the City’s budget status, including its revenue outlook, expenditure patterns, and other key financial metrics. Additionally, the report helps the City stay on track toward achieving its goals and objectives by providing valuable insights into the City’s financial performance.
The First Quarter Financial Report shows the City is positioned as anticipated. City staff recommends decreasing appropriations by $674,221 and increasing revenues by $503,628 resulting in an increase of $1,177,849 to unassigned fund balance. Revenue and expenditure trends will continue to be closely monitored.
Item No. 19: Review first quarterly update for the FY 25-27 City Work Program and make modifications with items from the TBD list. Staff spend 90% of their time on operations, with 10% of their time directed toward new projects established by the city council in a City Work Plan. This item details progress made on these projects and provides council an opportunity to supply feedback.
Item No. 20: City Manager Report, (now submitted in written form).
Item No. 21: Council Reports (now submitted in written form) are provided by Mayor Chao, and Councilmembers Fruen and Mohan. There was no report from Vice-Mayor Moore, nor one from Councilmember Wang.
Item No. 22: Upcoming Draft Agenda Items Report
RECAP – CITY COUNCIL, Mon. Nov. 17, 2025, 6:45 p.m., Cupertino Public Facilities Corporation Meeting
YouTube: 1 hr. 6 min.
The Cupertino Public Facilities Corporation (CPFC) was incorporated in 1986 as a vehicle to provide financing for public improvements. The Corporation has had no new financial activity during calendar year 2025. No new issuances or refinancing actions were initiated. The Corporation continues to exist solely to support the 2020 Certificates of Participation (COPs) for the City’s Civic Center improvements. Staff continues to perform administrative functions, including preparation of IRS filings, board reports, and coordination with bond counsel. Council reviewed the report and decided to make minor changes in the bylaws, which requires a follow up meeting in January. The City will not be positioned to issue new debt through COPs until it can show resolution of its projected future deficits.
RECAP – Planning Commission, Wed., Nov. 12, 2025, 6:45 p.m., Regular Meeting (rescheduled to accommodate the Veterans Day holiday)
YouTube: 2 hr. 42 min.
The sole substantive agenda item was Item No. 2: Consideration of a new residential development project consisting of 55-townhome-condominium units and 10 ADUs, housed within ten three-story buildings, on three contiguous parcels, totaling 2.72-acres, located on the south side of Stevens Creek Boulevard at the present location of the Idlewild Shopping Center/United Furniture. (Application No(s): DP-2024-004, ASA-2024-008, TM-2024-005, & U-2025-004; Applicant(s): Nick Kosla (Toll Brothers); Location: 10075 E. Estates & 19610 Stevens Creek Blvd. (A.P.N.: 369-06-002, – 003, -004). Following a staff presentation and the applicant presentation, the Commission was supportive of the project, noting that the applicant could have proposed up to 300 homes under the Housing Element. Community feedback primarily focused on the usual clamour for additional parking. There was an overly long discussion of CEQA, from which this project is exempt. Previously, there was a dry cleaner on the site, which created existing conditions, whose mitigation is the responsibility of the current owner. Mitigation efforts for this sort of work are commonplace and are overseen by the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health. The proposed project does not contribute to environmental impacts. However, because the project delivers fewer moderate income homes than anticipated under the Housing Element, the City will have to expand the number of Housing Element sites to accommodate the shortfall or risk decertification by the state. The Commission approved unanimously.
CUPERTINO COURIER: Nov. 14, 2025
The front page photo and additional photo on page 5 is entitled Fall rebuilding day: More than 400 volunteers performed home maintenance and repairs. The additional community brief is entitled Excellent educators, about DeAnza College being named one of top 200 community colleges nationwide. Legal notices include (1) First reading of an ordinance to regulate film production, and (2) Public hearing scheduled for Dec. 2 city council meeting to amend the FY 2025-26 Fee Schedule to add a Film Production permit.
Warm regards,
Jean Bedord
Cupertino Matters
Publisher and Editor
