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Exhibit CC 02-05-13 #10 Curbs, Gutters, and Sidewalks z-/c/i; � -1 a ExHiBi Date:2/5/2013 TO: City of Cupertino—City Council Members, Planning and Public Works Staff From : Cathy Helgerson -Citizen of Cupertino Subject: Funding for Curbs,Gutters and Sidewalks I am very concerned about the situation pertaining to the funding for the Curbs,Gutters and Sidewalks in our community and would like to bring this matter up before the City Council Members for review. The fact that the City of Cupertino is not funding the initial building of Curbs,Gutters and Sidewalks when there is a building plan submitted to the Planning Department in order to build or remodel a home is resulting in a safety issue and other concerns and this now needs to be addressed. The ordinance No. 1925 still considers Cupertino to have possible designations as a rural or semi-rural community and this needs to be reconsidered.The population has grown over 53,000 people and we are now a leading city with continual growth and we should not be at all consider in any way less than a metropolis or major city. The waiver of a proper development of the much needed Curbs, Gutters and Sidewalks should no longer be in existence for it does not serve the greater need. This ordinance states under either a rural or a semi-rural street designation under item 1.that Conventional improvements are not appropriate if due to the character of development in the area,and the surrounding developed properties lack such improvement. The argument here is that now with all of the new homes going up and the ongoing development of the city that this statement no longer holds true.The overall consistency of the neighborhood has now turned to more remodel and development not less and we see that there is a lack of such design. The mix of older homes with no Curbs,Gutters and Sidewalks and new homes or remodeled homes with these improvements is extremely unattractive and hurts the overall design and beauty of the neighborhood. There is another issue here that truly must be taken into account and that is the safety of our children, the elderly and anyone else who are now walking on the road instead of on a sidewalk with curbs they cannot be safe due to the amount of traffic on our roads today.The sidewalk is not there and there maybe just some dirt which during the rainy season now turns into mud and puddles when this mud dries it turns to holes and people stubble and fall again not safe or attractive.The drainage may also be a problem and this is not adequate at all water is allowed to pool and this creates difficulty walking on the side which puts people out into the street which may not be safe with the cars driving around in the area. The lack of many street lights is a problem and without sidewalks or curbs again it is not safe many of the streets are not properly lit so it would be a great help to make sure we put in sidewalks and curbs. The street cleaner cannot sweep the street without a curb this causes the dirt, leaves and debris to be left on the street which is also unsafe and unattractive. I would like to ask the City of Cupertino to consider paying for the building of the Curbs,Gutters and Sidewalks in our City and I feel our taxes should cover it. The City now has a Project in the works under 2012-07 contractor Breneman, Inc.who won the bid on the 2012 Reconstruction of Curbs,Gutters and Sidewalks Item 10 on the agenda it could be possible to add the new building of Curbs, Gutters and Sidewalks to the contract. I would think this would benefit the citizens of Cupertino because this contract could add to it and with that bring down the price that people are already paying to have it done on their own. It could be done in two ways. 1) The City could host a contract that would bring the price down because of the amount of people on the contract the more people the better the price would then be lowered.The cost has been up to$10,000.00 dollars which is a burden to the home owner therefore the city would pay for putting in the Curbs,Gutters and Sidewalks this is one way to get the city to improve our community. 2) The City could put in the Curbs,Gutters and Sidewalks under this city contract with the overall price lowered under their vendor and they could charge the homeowner the lower cost which would be considerable. I am sure that may people would be glad to put in a Curbs, Gutters and Sidewalks if they could pay considerably less under the Cities contract with Breneman, Inc. I am also sure that Breneman would be happy to have more business and this is also creating jobs. I would like to see my tax money spent on Curbs,Gutters, and Sidewalks not only to maintain them but also to have new ones put in at every chance. The inconvenience of a home owner going out trying 1:o get at least a two-thirds approval of a waver by having the neighbor sign a petition is foolish it can cause problems between neighbors and bad feelings if the neighbor does not want to sign.The cost of this petition application is I believe$1,000.000 dollars to submit again a high expense that is totally unnecessary. I believe the city could benefit greatly by taking on the responsibility of paying for the Curbs, Gutters,and Sidewalks or at least share in the expense somehow. The policy that states that a home owner does not have to put in a Curb,Gutter or Sidewalk if the building he is doing is only a remodel and the remodel is under 25%of the property is not beneficial to anyone.The inconsistency of the neighbor is not the only thing to consider as I have mentioned but we must remember that our city is now a city and we must look and act as a major city not allow us to remain in a mindset that only benefits the few. I ask the City of Cupertino City Council to look at and address my idea and I recommend that they act soon so as to allow this benefit to benefit those waiting to have their house building permit approved. I believe that there can be an addition to the proposal that has been processed and submitted even before the next budget comes to pass with the reserves we have on hand there should be no problem allocating these funds. The City of Cupertino owes it to the Citizens of Cupertino to help move us along as a major city with all of the considerations available to us. The prospect of a new dog park with the expense of this dog park and the removal of lead on the property that will cost over possibly$400,000.00 dollars that not everyone will use is hard to comprehend especially when we have Curbs,Gutter,and Sidewalks that need to be paid for and should be paid for by the city.The homeowner is not the only one that walks on the sidewalk so why should he have to pay for part of it or any of it when we can spend money on other things that may not be necessary. I know not everyone will use the dog park and it could become a liability to the city. The prospect of a New City Hall and other buildings in the city coming up in the future is also another expense that is considered and seems ok to some but what we should be looking at is also paying for Curbs,Gutters,and Sidewalks safety should come first:. I have only the citizen's wellbeing to consider what is best for the people in our city and I feel that this matter must be considered and reviewed carefully in order to completely serve the people that the city represents. Thanks you for your consideration.