Sunnyvale Establishes ICE-free Zones

At its most recent meeting, Sunnyvale established an ICE-free zone at its government properties and streamlined its parking permit process.

Properties Sunnyvale owns or operates will be off limits for immigration enforcement.

At its most recent meeting, April 7, the Sunnyvale City Council passed a resolution similar to the one Santa Clara passed ahead of Super Bowl LX. The resolution essentially vows to not cooperate with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“It is important to note that the policy does not interfere with the enforcement of criminal law nor does it interfere with lawful warrants or any existing agreement relating to city property,” said City Manager Tim Kirby.

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Many on the council said they saw the action as a show of solidarity, one that demonstrates that the city will not sit idly by.

“We will not use our local resources to participate in federal actions that undermine the well-being of our community,” said Mayor Larry Klein. “You know, we cannot control federal policy and action, but we can control our values.”

Public commenters lauded the action.

Peggy Shen Brewster, Sunnyvale School Board of Trustees president, spoke on her own behalf. She said the city knows the “terror that is happening throughout the country,” adding that Sunnyvale can be a “bastion” and a “model for other cities.”

Akemi Flynn, with the Immigrant Protection Empowerment Network (IPEN), said ICE is “fully present in our community,” detaining and deporting people. Showing resistance goes a long way, she said, adding to “powerful protection” by establishing the policy.

Eric Crock said ICE has “no accountability,” calling it an “out-of-control criminal organization.”

“We have seen ICE and [Customs and Border Protection] agents murder people in cold blood in broad daylight,” he said. “What that means is anyone … they have to consider the possibility that they will be murdered and that there will be no enforcement of the law by the government.”

Several council members echoed the comments.

Vice Mayor Richard Mehlinger said the council has been flooded with messages expressing a “tremendous amount of fear” that ICE will have a strong presence at the World Cup.

“The way immigration enforcement is operating under this administration, currently, is alarming,” he said. “The lawlessness that we saw on the streets of Minneapolis and elsewhere should be deeply concerning to every American citizen and to everyone who has ever taken an oath to protect the Constitution.”

One commenter wasn’t as confident the action would achieve anything.

Zackery K. challenged whether the action had any teeth.

“What if, by some chance, federal authorities don’t recognize your ability to regulate their actions? What then, summoning [Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety] to the scene?” he said. “If it comes down to it, maybe they can try arresting each other. Are you providing a false sense of security? You’ll probably score some political points with it.”

Council Member Alysa Cisneros acknowledged that the action was “not enough” to stop ICE. Several council members shared her sentiment but saw the action as symbolic, demonstrating to community members that the city is in their corner.

The item passed unanimously.

Parking Permit Process Streamlined

The council also updated the city’s rules for permit parking in residential neighborhoods. The rules have been on the books since 1982.

“Things have changed a lot since then,” said Ramana Chinanakotla, interim public works director. “This allows more flexibility to tailor programs to specific neighborhood needs.”

The most notable change to the rules is the council can now establish preferential parking by resolution instead of ordinance. Ordinances require a more formal process, essentially city laws that govern public behavior. Resolutions don’t establish laws but communicate the council’s preferences. They require less bureaucratic process.

Angela Obeso, transportation and traffic manager, said the update is designed to eliminate overflow parking in neighborhoods, specifically in areas near public transit.

Cisneros said there has been “a lot of anxiety” surrounding the topic.

Mehlinger said he was glad the city “streamlined” the process.

The council unanimously supported the changes.

New Law Addresses Meeting Disruption

Finally, the city adopted a policy to bring its procedure for dealing with meeting disruptions in line with state law.

Starting in July, state law will require two-way hybrid government meetings — enabling the public to participate in-person and remotely, City Clerk David Carnahan told the council.

Sunnyvale already holds its meetings in such a fashion. However, the law also mandates that, should one of the two-way channels — ones where the public can participate — go down, the city must halt the meeting and spend at least an hour attempting to fix the problem.

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

A $133,660 change order to the software as a service agreement with Can/Am Technologies, Inc. The new total is $728,766.
A $520,848 contract with FS Landscape Architects of Monterey for Baylands Park infrastructure project services.
A one-year, $448,397 contract extension with Novamodus, Inc. for Oracle ERP support and testing.

The council meets again at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 21 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 City Council Meetings:
State Law Forces Sunnyvale’s Hand to Approve Housing Development
Sunnyvale Behind on Housing Allocations
Sunnyvale Approves its Own Shuttle Program