Cupertino Mayor Richard Lowenthal
Record and Goals
Term: 11/99 - 11/07

Current Appointments

• Board member of the County Library Joint Powers Authority
• Member of the Administrative Services Committee of the League of California Cities

Accomplishments of which I was a key contributor

• Cupertino Teen Center
• Stevens Creek Corridor plan
• Starting construction of the Stevens Creek Trail
• Cupertino reaches of the Saratoga/San Tomas Creek Trail
• Cupertino Library, Community Hall, and Civic Plaza
• Cali Mill Plaza
• CCS affordable housing and social service center
• Creation of the Lunar New Year Unity Parade
• Self-checkout machines at the library - up to 90% of circulation
• New safe embedded warning light crosswalks throughout Cupertino
• New Recycling and Yard Waste Program, with mixed recycling and weekly pickup
• Campaigned to renew library parcel tax to keep open our library
• New State tax equity legislation bringing about $2M a year in new revenue to Cupertino
• Theatres, Bowling Alley, new restaurants, and renovated stores at Vallco

Other accomplishments of the Council during my term

• Approval of Redevelopment Agency for Vallco area
• New Senior Center
• Added Farmer's Market to Cupertino
• Increased Inclusive Zoning ordinance to 15%
• Annexation of Garden Gate and Monta Vista
• Computer Recycling program started with Apple Computers
• Key new retailers: BJ's, Elephant Bar, Alexanders, Stix, Rio Adobe, Peet's Coffee and Tea, Panera Bread, Le Boulanger, Park Place, Moda Italia, Library Coffee Society, Panda Express, Flames, etc.
   

Key short term goals

• Maintain Fiscal Strength
  • Work on opportunities to increase sales tax revenue
• Work on Economic Development
  • Help with renovation of Vallco while being sensitive to neighborhood needs
  • Develop a new vision for the city's Economic Development department
  • Help guide new tenancy of retail areas toward resident needs
    • Vallco, Toll Brothers, Civic Park, the Oaks
• Get the new Vallco open
• Balancing growth control and evolution
• Continue to work on parks and trails
  • Develop Stevens Creek Trail Reach A and B
  • Open up Blackberry Farm and McClellan Ranch as a non-fee community nature park
  • Open up pedestrian and bike bridge over 280
  • Push for new parks on Stevens Creek at Tantau, on Pruneridge, Lawrence Expressway, and elsewhere

Key long term goals

• Develop a sense of appreciation for our cultural strengths
• Create a more walkable city
• Make Cupertino a good place for youth
• Develop more park space for Cupertino residents
• Improve the variety of retail services in Cupertino
• Make a "downtown" experience in Cupertino
• Hillside and open space protection
• Improve Customer Service at City Hall

Please contact me at richard@lowenthal.com