A clear annual process for proposing and selecting high-impact projects that align with the City’s Strategic Goals and available capacity.

Overview

The Council Priority Projects Process (formerly Study Issues and Budget Proposals) provides a structured method for identifying, prioritizing, and implementing new priority projects – including policy exploration, feasibility studies, one-time projects, budget or service level changes, or other initiatives – in an efficient and effective manner.

The process balances community needs with staffing and fiscal capacity and culminates in Council adoption as part of the annual budget.

Timeline

By November: Each Board or Commission may, by majority vote, forward one idea for Council consideration.

November – January: Councilmembers submit up to three Council Priority Project proposals.

February: Council holds the Council Priority Projects Workshop; reviews its Strategic Goals (every two years), current workplan, and staffing/fiscal capacity. It identifies proposals that advance to staff analysis.

March - April: Staff prepares 3–5-page summaries and completes analyses.

May: City Manager recommends Council Priority Projects within funding and staff capacity.

June:Council approves final Council Priority Projects for the year.

July - November: Staff focus on implementing current-year Council Priority Projects.

How It Works

1. Propose a Project

Each councilmember may propose up to three projects per year. Ideas may draw on input from Boards and Commissions and the community.

2. Council Priority Projects Workshop

During the annual workshop (typically in February), Council reviews its Strategic Goals (updated every two years), assesses progress on existing work, receives an update on the City’s fiscal outlook and staffing capacity, then identifies proposals with majority support to advance to staff analysis.

3. Staff Analysis

For Council advanced items, staff prepares a 3–5-page summary per proposal and conducts an analysis to scope goals, resources, and timing.

4. City Manager Recommendation

Based on the analysis and available capacity, the City Manager recommends which projects will be included in the Proposed Budget.

5. Budget Adoption

Council approves final priority projects as part of the Adopted Budget.

6. Tracking and Reporting

The City Manager provides periodic status reports on approved priority projects.

See: Council Policy 7.3.26 Council Priority Projects Process

Who Can Submit Ideas?

• Councilmembers: Up to three proposals each year.
• Boards and Commissions: May forward one year per year by majority vote (no staff reports or rankings), Councilmembers may, at their discretion, incorporate these ideas.
• Public: May comment during Oral Communications, email Council, and participate during the annual Workshop and Budget Hearing.

Boards and Commissions – Input Process

Annual Invitation

Each fall, boards and commissions may choose to discuss ideas for future Council Priority Projects

• Staff liaisons will ask whether to add this topic to the agenda.
• Discussions should occur by the November meeting.
• Participation is optional.

Discussion Format

• Verbal discussion only (no written reports).
• Staff liaisons and department managers may attend to provide facts or note overlap with existing projects.

Forwarding Ideas

• After discussion, the body may vote to forward one idea to Council.
• The staff liaison will send the idea to the City Manager’s Office for inclusion on an ideas list.
• Council may choose to consider these ideas during its annual workshop.

See: Council Policy 7.2.19 Boards and Commissions

Public Input

Residents and stakeholders can suggest ideas during Oral Communications at Council meetings, by emailing Council, and during the annual Council Priority Projects Workshop and Budget Hearing. Comments help inform Councilmember proposals and community priorities.

Mid-Year Project Consideration

Outside the regular Council Priority Setting process, new projects should address one of the following:

• Emergency
• Time-sensitive funding
• Multi-agency coordination
• Community safety
• Legal or regulatory mandate

See Council Policy 7.3.19 Council Meetings

Tracking and Accountability

The status of approved projects is reported periodically by the City Manager. For status updates, visit the Workplan Dashboard.

See: Workplan Dashboard

Ideas Reference List

Staff maintain an annual reference list of items not moved forward from the prior year’s workshop and current-year Council and Board and Commission-suggested ideas.

Proposals not advanced or funded do not carry forward. A Councilmember may resubmit them in a future year.

Working List of Potential Council Priority Project Ideas – 2026

(in the order received by City Manager)

1. Fair Oaks Ave Complete Streets Study from Java to Ahwanee. (Council)
2. Fair Oaks Ave Complete Streets Study from Ahwanee to Fair Oaks Bridge. (Council)
3. Fair Oaks Ave Complete Streets Study from Fair Oaks Bridge to ECR. (Council)
4. Strengthening Retail in Sunnyvale (long term actions). (Council)
5. Increase service levels in the Office of Economic Development pertaining to attracting and retaining resident- and community-serving businesses. (Council)
6. Create a Relocation Assistance Fund for Village Center Small Businesses. Focus on small businesses. (Council)
7. Establish a Trap-Neuter-Release Program for Stray Cats and Budget an Amount Not to Exceed $100K. (10/21/2025-Council)
8. Expansion and Urgent Modernization of Library Services to include: renovation of restrooms at the main library, and planning and design of additional library space. (11/3/2025-Board of Library Trustees)
9. Universal Design Housing in Sunnyvale (11/10/2025-Planning Commission)
10. Restricting the Establishment of New Smoke Shops and Restricting the Sale of Certain Substances Within Those Smoke Shops (11/18/2025-Council)
11. Study an Accessible Rental Registry, Modeled on Resources Available in Other Cities, to: Support Tenants to Better Understand Their Rights; Support Landlord Compliance and Education to Better Understand Their Obligations; and for the City to Better Enumerate on its Rental Stock (11/24/2025-Housing and Human Services Commission)
12. Implement Two Pilot Projects for Natural Grass Athletic Fields Using Regenerative Practices and Not Using Synthetic Pesticides or Herbicides (11/17/2025-Sustainability Commission)
13. Comprehensive Field and Park Usage Data Collection (11/12/2025-Parks and Recreation Commission)
14. Bike Lanes in Both Directions on Fair Oaks Avenue and Sidewalk Improvements (12/18/2025-BPAC)

Deferred by Council at the 2025 Study Issues/Budget Proposal Workshop (formerly Study Issues)

• Budget Proposal 2025-01 Clearing the Sidewalk Maintenance Backlog
• CDD 22-05 Consider Modifications to the Sunnyvale Municipal Code Related to Undergrounding Utilities
• CDD 24-02 Explore the Creation of a Dark Sky Ordinance for all Private Property
• CDD 24-04 Peery Park Specific Plan Amendment (area east of Mathilda Avenue)
• CDD 25-02 Identify Opportunities for Allowing Neighborhood-Serving Commercial Uses in Residential Zoning Districts
• DPW 24-02 Complete Streets Redesign of Fair Oaks Avenue
• DPW 24-04 Evaluate Late Night Lights at Public Parks
• DPW 24-11 Sunnyvale Gateway Program
• DPW 25-04 Closing the Sunnyvale Avenue Caltrain Crossing to Vehicles
• DPW 25-06 Assessment of Underutilized City-Owned Real Estate Parcels along Evelyn Avenue near Downtown for Short or Long-term Use
• ESD 22-02 Promotion and Assessment of Sustainable Landscaping Strategies

Designated by the City Manager as Below the Line (formerly Study Issues)

• CDD 24-06 Re-evaluate Nonresidential Sign Code Standards and Compliance with the First Amendment
• CDD 25-04 Expanding the Role of the Heritage Preservation Commission
• DPS 24-01 Evaluate an Ordinance or Resolution Allowing Traffic Enforcement on Private Roadways in the Moffett Park Specific Plan Area
• DPW 25-02 Improved Street Sweeping Pilot
• ESD 25-02 Cigarette Butt Abatement Program