CC 01-30-2023 Written CommunicationsCC 1-30-2023
Item No. 1
Commission Interviews
Written Communications
From:Jean Bedord
To:City Council; Cupertino City Manager"s Office; City Clerk
Subject:Commission appointments - Jennifer Shearin for Parks & Recreation / Bicycle Pedestrian Commissions
Date:Monday, January 30, 2023 12:29:43 AM
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Honorable Mayor Hung Wei, Vice-Mayor Sheila Mohan and Councilmembers
It is my pleasure to strongly recommend Jennifer Shearin as a commissioner for both the Parks
and Recreation Commission and Bicycle Pedestrian Commission for the city of Cupertino.
As a long time resident of Cupertino, I was introduced to Jennifer when she started attending
city council meetings and advocating for bicycle improvements in the city to improve quality
of life for our residents from school-age students to seniors. I was impressed by her leadership
and community engagement for these efforts, as well as her involvement in the advocacy
group Walk Bike Cupertino.
Jennifer is deeply engaged with all age groups in her faith community, and is particularly
familiar with the needs of seniors, which fall under the purview of Parks and Recreation with
the Senior Center. She has served as chair of St. Jude's Governing Board, which demonstrates
recognition of her leadership skills. Her insight into the needs of seniors is a valuable
contribution as Parks and Recreation needs to adjust to our aging population, with
approximately one-third of households in Cupertino having a resident over the age of 60.
Parks and Rec could also benefit from better cost-benefit decision making, and Jennifer's
MBA degree and oversight of church finances provide a good background for making
improvements. In addition, she has an automotive engineering degree so can understand the
technical details.
Jennifer has been actively engaged in recent civic projects, from providing input to the
Housing Element, supporting the Westport project, chairing Festivals, and making
recommendations for Memorial Park and newly acquired Lawrence-Mitty Park.
I've been impressed by Jennifer's energy and commitment to volunteering. She has been a
stellar volunteer for school PTAs, Girl Scouts, and Tournament of Bands. Now that her
daughters have graduated from high school, she has time to contribute that same energy to the
broader community through service on city wide organizations.
For these reasons, I recommend appointing Jennifer to one of these commissions, so our city
can benefit from her leadership.
Warm regards,
Jean Bedord
Cupertino resident
From:Richard Lowenthal
To:City Clerk; City Council
Cc:R
Subject:Commission Recommendation
Date:Monday, January 30, 2023 10:04:04 AM
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Dear Honorable Councilmembers and Mayor Wei,
I am writing in strong support of Jennifer Shearin’s application to be a commissioner for the City of
Cupertino on either the Parks and Recreation Commission or on the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission. I have
worked with Jennifer on several local projects and have followed her extensive efforts and advocacy toward a
more livable Cupertino.
It is abundantly clear that Jennifer is passionate about her work to improve her local community. She has
been a tireless advocate for improved access to our parks and for adding new trails and safe biking spaces to
our city, both highly desired by Cupertino residents. After walking the pathway for what would eventually be
the Linda Vista trail, she successfully spearheaded advocacy efforts to build the trail with the Friends of
Stevens Creek Trail and with fellow Walk-Bike Cupertino Board members. The Linda Vista trail now
connects Linda Vista Park with McClellan Ranch, increasing park connectivity and recreational possibilities
for Cupertino residents significantly.
I have been impressed with how much Jennifer has accomplished in our community since moving to
Cupertino a bit over ten years ago. She has a clear record of leadership on local non-profits, on community
organizations, as a former commissioner and for large local events. People enjoy working with her and will
go the extra mile because they feel empowered and inspired by her vision. She cares about her community
and truly listens to fellow residents about their concerns, while still making the tough decisions when
needed.
Much of the work that Jennifer has completed will be enjoyed by future Cupertino residents. One notable
example is the Regnart Creek Trail (RCT). Without her personal and tireless input and advocacy efforts over
many years, it would never have been built. The RCT, soon to open, will connect three city parks and boasts
a multitude of other benefits for the community including increased healthy recreation and a connection to
protected bike lanes to increase transportation sustainability. Local residents are eagerly awaiting its
opening.
I have every confidence that Jennifer is the best candidate for the Parks and Recreation Commission or the
Bicycle Pedestrian Commission in 2023. I strongly encourage you to appoint her. This appointment will
give her a new opportunity to continue her hard work on behalf of all residents and, in turn, she will be a
great asset to these commissions.
Sincerely,
Richard Lowenthal
former Mayor of Cupertino
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