CC 11-07-23 Oral CommunicationsCC 11-7-2023
Written Communications
Oral Communications
From: Santosh Rao <santo_a_rao@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 7, 2023 11:26 AM
To: Kirsten Squarcia <kirstens@cupertino.org>
Subject: Fw: Maximize and prioritize dollars for community events leading to best outreach.
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
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Dear City Clerk,
Would you kindly include my letter below in written communications for 11/7 council meeting. Thank
you for the great work that you do.
Thanks,
Santosh Rao
Begin forwarded message:
On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, 11:25 AM, Santosh Rao <santo_a_rao@yahoo.com> wrote:
Dear Honorable Mayor Wei, City Council and Manager Wu,
I would like to recognize the excellent work of parks and rec city staff in the recently conducted
Halloween monster mash festival at Quinlan Park.
I have consistently said that Parks and Rec is the face of the city with residents. It is the place where we
come together as one. It is the best example of money well spent. Parks and rec dollars spent have the
best return for dollars spent on directly benefiting the community and in reaching a maximum number
of residents with benefits of the investment made.
Monster Mash 2023 was a shining success story for parks and rec and city staff. Please allow me to give
kudos to Mariah Greene, Rachelle Sanders and all the staff that worked on monster mash.
This year Parks and Rec staff raised the maximum limit for kids at monster mash to 200 from 120 last
year. Including parents and older or younger siblings an estimated 500 residents attended the event.
The attention to detail by staff was amazing. Opportunities to volunteer for Cupertino teens made for a
great learning experience. Staff mentored and trained the teen volunteers who did a great job. Plenty of
candy was handed out.
If there might be one complaint, it was that no council members appeared to attend the event.
I urge all council members to make time to attend all parks and rec events. This will ensure you are
seeing first hand the effect these events have on community outreach and value of dollars spent.
I hope you will recognize and reward the parks and rec staff that worked on monster mash.
I urge council and city manager to increase budget allocations for parks and rec and add more events to
their calendar.
Please cut consultant spend and study projects in favor of parks and rec community events. This is a no
brained since the community immediately notices the great work and appreciates the city staff,
manager, council and mayor for doing more of these.
This is an opportunity to cut spend on items where you might anticipate public outcry and instead
maximize spending on rec events that prioritize outreach, not outcry.
Having council members attend all parks and rec community events also helps in getting you to meet
and talk with community members.
When you meet with the community you learn of our desires and interests and have better sense of
what the community expects from you.
Thank you to parks and rec and thanks to council and city manager for recognizing parks and rec and the
leadership of Rachelle and her team who do this without anyone asking them to.
When we trust each other, when we appreciate each other, when we see the best in each other, great
things happen.
Let’s see more of that from city council members, not less.
Thanks,
Santosh Rao
From:Daniel Gutierrez
To:City Clerk
Subject:Sharing documents - 2023 Green Light Flyer
Date:Monday, November 6, 2023 5:40:14 PM
Attachments:image001.png
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Hello I will attempt to speak via teleconferencing during the open comments portion but I will be
alluding to the National Homeless & Runaway Prevention Month – Light the Way Home which is a
walk to end homelessness in our County it will take place November 10, 2023 at 5:30pm.
The Rally begins at City Hall Plaza in San Jose, 200 E. Santa Clara Street and will follow with a one
mile walk to the Bill Wilson Center Drop In Center at 693 South Second Street in San Jose.
This is in support of homelessness for all our County.
I’m attaching our flyer on here.
Thank you!
Daniel Gutierrez, MBA
Deputy Chief Program Officer
He/Him
Bill Wilson Center
691 S. 2nd Street
San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 899-9691
www.billwilsoncenter.org
Building Connections!
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