Sunnyvale, CA
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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.
2027 Potential Council Priority Project Ideas for Consideration
Ideas will be posted in the order received by the City Manager. Councilmembers may use this list in developing their proposals for 2027.
2026 Council Priority Projects Workshop
All videos are YouTube unless noted.
- 2026 Council Priority Projects Workshop - Raftelis Report
- Report to Council 26-0307, Feb. 26, 2026 - Council Priority Projects Workshop - Process Overview and Project Proposals
- Handout (PDF download)
- Presentation (PDF download)
- Council Priority Projects Workshop - Feb. 26, 2026 (06:56:14)
2026 Council Priority Projects Workshop Results
- Project proposals moving forward to the Budget Workshop
- Project proposals deemed operational (excluded from Council vote)
- 2026-2: Improved Response Time for Vehicle Abatement
- 2020-20: Feasibility and Potential Impacts of Banning or Restricting Smoke/Vape Shops
- Project proposals not moved forward from the workshop
- 2026-3: Increased Traffic Enforcement, Particularly by School Zones
- 2026-5: Review and Update the General Plan
- 2026-7: Simplify the Process for Volunteering in Sunnyvale
- 2026-8: Emergency Awareness and Preparedness with Go Bag
- 2026-9: A Student Centered, Sustainability and Nature Based Project
- 2026-10: Collection and Display of City Operations, Project, and Program Data
- 2026-12: Contingency and Longer-term Planning for Homelessness Response
- 2026-21: Re-evaluate On-Street Parking Permit Program
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