PSC 03-13-2025CUPERTINO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, March 13, 2025 6:00 p.m.
Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N Stelling Road
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Rajaram called to order this meeting of the Cupertino Public Safety
Commission at 6:11 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Sashi Begur
Nirmalendu Das
Neal Evans
Sidharth Rajaram
Ravi Kiran Singh Sapaharam
Commissioners Absent: None
Staff Present: Captain Neil Valenzuela, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s
Office
Deputy Chief Hector Estrada, Santa Clara County Fire
Pamela Wu, City Manager, City of Cupertino
Marta Drown, Block Leader Coordinator, City of
Cupertino
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Subject: Minutes from January 9, 2025
Recommended Action: Approve minutes from January 9, 2025
Commissioner Begur motioned to approve the minutes; Commissioner Das seconded
the motion; Ayes: Evans, Rajaram, and Das. Noes: None. Abstain: Begur, Sapaharam.
Absent: None.
POSTPONEMENTS
Marta Drown suggested moving the election of Chair and Vice Chair from Item 3 to
Item 2. Commissioner Begur motioned to approve the change; Commissioner
Sapaharam seconded the motion; Ayes: Begur, Das, Evan, Rajaram, Sapaharam. Noes:
None Abstain: None. Absent: None.
ORAL COMMUNICATION
None
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
Written communications were emailed to the commission and are included for the
record.
NEW BUSINESS
2. Subject: Election of Public Safety Commission Chair and Vice Chair for calendar
year 2025
Recommended Action: Elect Chair and Vice Chair for the term ending January 31, 2026
Presenter: Marta Drown, City of Cupertino
Commissioner Begur nominated Commissioner Das to serve as the Public Safety
Commission Chair for the term ending January 31, 2026.
Commissioner Evans nominated Commissioner Rajaram to serve as the Public Safety
Commission Chair for the term ending January 31, 2026.
Commissioner Das as Chair – 3 votes
Commissioner Rajaram as Chair –2 votes
Commissioner Evans nominated Commissioner Rajaram to serve as the Public Safety
Commission Vice Chair for the term ending January 31, 2026.
Commissioner Rajaram as Vice Chair – 5 votes
OLD BUSINESS
3. Subject: Public Safety Fair
Recommended Action: Receive an updated report on the Public Safety Fair
Presenter: Susanna Khubchandani
The Public Safety Fair will be March 22, 2025 at the Civic Center Plaza to promote the
public safety services available to Cupertino residents.
Commissioners provided feedback and asked questions.
Commissioner Begur motioned to receive the updated report on the Public Safety
Forum; Commissioner Evans seconded the motion; Ayes: Begur, Evans, Rajaram,
Sapaharam, and Das. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
NEW BUSINESS
4. Subject: Sheriff’s Teen Academy
Recommended Action: Receive report on the Sheriff’s Office Teen Academy 2025
Presenter: Captain Neil Valenzuela
The Sheriff’s Teen Academy will take place June 9-June 18.
Commissioners asked questions and provided feedback.
Commissioner Begur made a motion to receive the report by the Santa Clara County
Fire Department. Commissioner Sapaharam seconded. Roll call vote. Ayes: Begur,
Evans, Rajaram, Sapaharam, and Das. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
5. Subject: Report by the Santa Clara County Fire District
Recommended Action: Receive a report by the Santa Clara County Fire District
Presenter: Deputy Chief Hector Estrada
Deputy Chief Hector Estrada discussed the updated Local Responsibility Area Fire
Hazard Zone map, the map ordinance and adoption process, as well as defensible space
basics. Commissioner Begur made a motion to receive the report by the Santa Clara
County Fire Department. Commissioner Sapaharam seconded. Roll call vote. Ayes:
Begur, Evans, Rajaram, Sapaharam, and Das. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent:
None.
6. Subject: Report by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office
Recommended Action: Receive a report by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office
Liaison
Presenter: Captain Neil Valenzuela
Captain Valenzuela reviewed the January and February 2025 crime data.
Commissioner Begur made a motion to receive the report by the Santa Clara County
Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner Evans seconded. Roll call vote. Ayes: Begur, Evans,
Rajaram, Sapaharam, and Das. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
7. Subject: Report by the City of Cupertino Office of Emergency Management
Recommended Action: Receive a report by the City of Cupertino Office of Emergency
Management
Presenter: Marta Drown, City of Cupertino
Marta Drown provided updates about the Office of Emergency Mangement.
Commissioner Begur made a motion to receive the report by the Office of Emergency
Management. Sapaharam seconded. Roll call vote. Ayes: Begur, Evans, Rajaram,
Sapaharam, and Das. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
8. Subject: Commissioner’s Reports
Recommended Action: Receive Commissioners' reports
Chair Das will attend the Mayor’s meeting on March 19, 2025.
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING
• Background of the Neighborhood Watch and Block Leader programs
• Crime data
• Effective outreach methods
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Das adjourned the Public Safety Commission meeting at 8:33 p.m.
SUBMITTED BY:
Marta Drown
Block Leader Coordinator
City of Cupertino