This year, Sunnyvale will give out more grant money than ever before.

The 2026 grant program bucket has $48,000 more in it than last year’s. At its first meeting of the year, Jan. 13, the Sunnyvale City Council approved allocating more than $95,000 of the $150,000 available.

Angela Chan, recreation services manager, said the grant program’s goal is to support and encourage groups to build community and celebrate Sunnyvale’s unique culture through free community events. The program aims to build engagement, foster pride and build relationships between neighborhoods and government.

For the first time, the city is allocated money in two phases. The next phase opens in March. Also new this year was establishing a block party category. 

The subcommittee recommended the city fund 12 neighborhood grants, 10 block parties and eight community events. Neighborhood grants totaled $36,800. Block party grants totaled $4,900. Community event grants totaled $54,195. Of that money, $18,000 will go toward the Diwali celebration.

Council Member Alysa Cisneros said the diversity of events impressed her. She called the program “life-affirming,” one that improves quality of life, adding that it is a “huge investment with a big payoff.”

“This is a really good touchpoint for the city into the community in a way that is incredibly fun,” she said.

The subcommittee recommended the city not fund the Art and Wine Festival, put on by the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce.

Addressing the council, Sunnyvale Chamber of Chamber CEO and former council member Russ Melton said the event is “cash-flow positive,” essentially acting as a fundraiser.

City Manager Tim Kirby said the intent of the grant program is designed to help “close the gap” on operational costs for community events, not support fundraisers. However, he noted that the item will come back to the council for consideration during the spring cycle.

Because her church is a grant recipient, Vice Mayor Linda Sell abstained. 

City of Sunnyvale Miscellany  

The council also took up a slew of routine items.

First, it appointed Council Member Richard Mehlinger vice mayor. 

Next, it approved intergovernmental assignments. 

The council re-appointed Leia Mehlman to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). Other notable appointments included Council Member Eileen Le being appointed to the Association of Bay Area Governments board (ABAG) and Sell to the Local Governments for Sustainability board.

Mehlinger called committee assignments one of the council’s “lesser-known but very important” duties. 

Finally, the council also approved a new agreement with the dispatchers’ union.

Sell said dispatchers “serve a very critical role” in the city’s public safety system.

Sarah Johnson-Rios, the city’s interim HR director, told the council the agreement with the 20 dispatchers will emphasize recruitment and retention and that it “creates more equitable compensation” through competitive wages by having education and skills-based pay.

The agreement, which is for three years with the possibility of a one-year extension, also increases the city’s contribution to health care costs.

Johnson-Rios said the financial impact is “consistent with council’s fiscal direction.”

Consent Calendar Spending

The council approved the following spending in one motion via the consent calendar:

• A $680,000 amendment to a purchase order with Valley Oil Company and a $340,000 amendment to a purchase order with Western States Oil Company for fuel. Total purchase order amounts are now $1.55 million and $740,000, respectively.

Council Member Murali Srinivasan was absent.

The council meets again at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave. in Sunnyvale. 

To submit public comments ahead of the meeting, visit http://Sunnyvale.ca.gov/PublicComments; Meeting online link: https://sunnyvale-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/96111580540; meeting call-in telephone number: 833-548-0276, meeting ID: 961 1158 0540 

Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com

Previous Sunnyvale Council Meetings:
Year-end Budget Shows Sunnyvale in the Black
Sunnyvale Bicycling Advocates Score Victory Over Disgruntled Neighbors 
Developer Fees to Bolster Sunnyvale’s Available Pool for Below-Market Housing