Cupertino Matters
April 19-25 is National Library Week with the theme of “Find Your Joy.” First celebrated in 1958, this national observance is sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country. It offers a time to celebrate the many ways libraries bring people together, spark imagination, and support lifelong learning. From books and digital resources to job assistance and creative programming, libraries are essential to thriving communities. Readers are urged to check out the many resources, both online and in-person, that are available at the Cupertino Library through the Santa Clara County Library District.
This coming weekend will see the 42nd Annual Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival, held on April 25–26, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM at Cupertino Memorial Park. This free event celebrates the Cupertino-Toyokawa sister city relationship and Japanese-American culture with Japanese arts, crafts, cultural exhibits, food, and performances. The festival traditionally showcases Japanese food, taiko drumming, martial arts, Japanese art, koi fish, and performances from local high school groups. For more details, visit https://www.cupertinocherryblossomfestival.org/
In transportation matters, the city administration issued a council informational memo regarding the popular Silicon Valley Hopper microtransit program on April 17, 2026, entitled Silicon Valley Hopper Ridership and Program Costs. This program covers Cupertino and southern Santa Clara, with expansion to northern Santa Clara in July 2026. Hopper is most highly used by seniors (26% of riders are 65+) and young adults/youth (18% of riders). The most popular destinations include (1) De Anza College, (2) Monta Vista High School,(3) Caltrain stations,(4) Cupertino Library/City Hall, and (5) various shopping centers. The program receives support from several grants, and the Transportation Division is working to secure long term financing.
In addition, construction will start soon on a major construction project at the I-280/Wolfe Road Interchange. The improvements were initiated in 2021, and are now at the actual construction phase, which will impact traffic in that area. A community meeting held on April 1, 2026 was recorded and can be accessed on the VTA YouTube channel.
In community college news, the Los Altos Town Crier reported that ”De Anza College President Omar Torres has resigned after roughly 15 months in the role, according to an email sent to campus staff April 13. Foothill-De Anza Community College District officials said Torres stepped down to ‘focus on family.’” The Mercury News, likewise, provided coverage in: De Anza College president Omar Torres resigns following leave of absence. Community college district names Dr. David Wain Coon as interim president of Cupertino campus.
Readers are urged to provide comment on the Safety Element of the General Plan has been extended to May 8. Readers are encouraged to review the draft at cupertino.gov/healthandsafetyelement. Questions and comments can be sent to planning@cupertino.gov.
For research, past issues back to January 2020 of Cupertino Matters are posted on the website. Encourage your friends who would like to become better informed about our community to subscribe to our email newsletter at CupertinoMatters.org.
UPCOMING – City Council, Tues., April 21, 2026, 6:45 p.m., Closed Session; 6:00 p.m.; Council Chamber and W Hotel, Lobby, 3940 S Las Vegas Blvd W, Las Vegas, NV.
Councilmembers Wang and Chao continue to see no accountability for so frequently failing to submit council reports on their committee responsibilities.
Closed Session
Item No. 1: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Government Code, section 54956.9: (2 cases).
Regular meeting
The sole Ceremonial Item is Recognition of the Administrative Services Department (Budget, Finance, and Purchasing Divisions). Oral Communications from the public on off-agenda items precede the Consent Calendar, which contains ten routine items. These include an Accounts Payable Invoice for $93,917.95 to Aleshire & Wynder, LLC, the city attorney, for an unknown period plus an extension of said attorney’s agreement to July 30, 2026.
Item No. 13: Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 Fee Schedule Update. In advance of developing the city budget, the fee schedule for city services undergoes an annual update using FY 2025-26 Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Bay Area Construction Cost Index (CCI), and a cost of living (COLA) factor. The proposed fee increases are estimated to generate approximately $874,286 in additional annual revenue, primarily benefiting the General Fund, and which offset the cost of providing the services to the requesting party.
Item No. 14: Introduction and first reading of an Ordinance to amend Cupertino Municipal Code Chapter 9.17 Single-Use Carryout Bags, pertaining to regulation of single-use carryout bags at retail stores and restaurants. Cupertino’s single-use carryout bag ordinance needs to be updated to align with current State regulations banning stores from providing plastic carryout bags with handles at point of purchase. The state regulations eliminate the use of thicker carryout plastic bags characterized as reusable. Only recycled-content paper bags are allowed to be provided by the store at checkout as carryout bags and must be sold for a minimum of ten cents. The proposed ordinance amendment also updates reference to “pre-checkout” bags (e.g. produce bags) which are required by State regulations to be either paper or compostable plastic.
Item No.15: Introduction and first reading of an Ordinance to amend Cupertino Municipal Code Chapter 16; amend Resolution No. 25-092 (2025 Building Code Adoption) to conform to requirements from the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC). Changing the local Municipal Code to meet constantly changing state standards has not been straight forward. On November 4, 2025, the Council adopted the first reading of an Ordinance and Resolution to amend Title 16, Buildings and Construction, of the Cupertino Municipal Code adopting the 2025 California Codes of Regulations and making local amendments as mandated by the State ofCalifornia. Following the Second reading on November 18, 2025, copies of the Ordinance and Resolution were submitted to the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) on November 26, 2025, to satisfy Health and Safety Code requirements. On January 16, 2026, the CBSC issued a partial acceptance, requesting additional findings for three proposed appendices and two Residential Code amendments proposed by the Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD). The proposed amendments ensure complete acceptance from the CBSC for the City’s adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards Code.
Item No.16: Introduction and first reading of an Ordinance to amend Cupertino Municipal Code Title Five (Business Licenses and Regulations) to Establish Chapter 5.51 to Regulate Film Production. The first reading of this ordinance was approved on November 4, 2025, meeting to establish clear regulations, implement a formal permitting process, and provide a mechanism for fee collection related to filming activities. Staff recommended this action due to filming-related inquiries from independent filmmakers, commercial production companies, students, and international media outlets. The second reading, originally scheduled for the December 2, 2025, meeting, was postponed to allow for additional clarification regarding filming on private property. The revised Ordinance now clearly differentiates between commercial and non-commercial filming activity, and filming done on private property versus public property. If approved, a second reading would return to council in May, and the policy would become effective 30 days after its adoption.
Item No.17: City Manager Report, (now submitted in written form).
Item No. 18: Council Reports (now submitted in written form) are provided by Mayor Moore, Councilmembers Fruen and Mohan. Vice-Mayor Chao and Councilmember Wang failed to submit reports.
Item No. 19 :Upcoming Draft Agenda Items Report
CUPERTINO COURIER: April 17, 2026
The front page photo and article on page 5 are entitled Making a case for local wine: Sunshine and chardonnay mark Grand Tasting. Sunshine and chardonnay highlighted Santa Cruz Mountains Grand Tasting. A Community Brief on page 5 is entitled Homeless services study. Page 5 is a photo entitled Cupertino: Silicon Valley Hopper Growing. There are no legal notices.
Warm regards,
Jean Bedord
Cupertino Matters
Publisher and Editor
