Choose one of the following four pre-written emails to send to City Council, or send one of your own (ideas are here)! The more personal the letter, the more impact it has.
(You will be able to edit any of these letters before you send it in your email program.)
Cupertino Resident
Cupertino Parent
Community Member
Longtime Resident
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Cupertino Resident
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Dear City Councilmembers and Mayor Scharf,
I am a Cupertino resident and I urge you to continue to move forward with the Regnart Creek Trail. As we’ve talked about the last three years, the trail will be a real benefit to everyone for needed recreation space, easier access to parks, and encouragement of alternative transportation, which will make us a greener Cupertino.
This process has taken too long, and this should be the final vote. We allocated funds for this project last September, and Measure B funds will completely cover the trail itself. Another vote isn’t necessary if the construction bids come in under budget. Three years is more than enough time for every resident to share their concerns and be heard. It should be approved now, and start construction as soon as possible.
I do not support adding any additional costs to the projects to spend more on private fencing. The current costs for these private land improvements are already $765,000–approximately 30% of the total budget of the project. We should not spend more city taxpayer money on individual personal property simply based on complaints and not objective data. The Sheriff said and the environmental study show that there are not risks of increased crime or noise. This is also a terrible precedent for future Cupertino public works projects.
For these reasons and many more, I ask that you vote yes to start construction on the Regnart Creek Trail without another vote and without adding any additonal costs or delays to this project. Thank you very much for your work on behalf of all our residents.
Best regards,
Your name
Longtime Resident
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Dear City Councilmembers and Mayor Scharf,
I am a longtime resident and I ask today that you start construction on the Regnart Creek Trail without any delays and without increasing its budget any more. The trail itself will be funded by state Measure B funds–so the only consideration now is whether to give more than the $765,000 for new fencing to residents adjacent to the trail.
This process has taken too long for a project that will benefit so many people–including neighbors who have been against this project. It will be great for exercise, for going to our parks more easily, and for encouraging biking and walking to the City Center. The environmental study and the Sheriff said there will not be additional noise or increased crime problems. There is no reason to add more than the $765,000 already set aside (30% of the project costs) for the neighbors for private fencing or walls to address problems that are not going to happen.
If this trail isn’t started by February, we will have another seven month delay. Do the right thing for all the residents and get construction started on this trail without requiring yet another vote. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Your name
Cupertino Parent
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Dear City Councilmembers and Mayor Scharf,
I am a Cupertino resident and parent who asks you today to vote yes to move the Regnart Trail to construction without more delays or more costs added to the project. The trail will be a safer and easier route for students of all ages, especially those traveling to Cupertino High and Eaton Elementary. It would also give my family more walking and biking exercise space, which is needed especially during these times.
This project needs to move forward now. It’s already been three years we’ve been talking about it. The trail will be paid for with state Measure B funds– not out of our city general fund. The fences that that the neighbors adjacent have asked and received $765,000 to build will need to be from our city funds, though. It’s clear that the Council would like to make the local neighbors happy with the project, but adding more cost to the trail budget to give them even more money for problems that experts say will not occur is not an appropriate use of our taxes, and sets a terrible precedent for future biking and walking projects.
Let’s not delay this project another seven months by requiring another vote. Moving forward to construction without another vote and without increasing the budget is the best way to show that you want what’s best for all the residents of Cupertino, including adults, seniors and our students. I ask you to do so at the Council meeting on November 17.
Thank you,
Your name
Community Member
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Dear City Councilmembers,
I am a concerned community member and I urge you to continue to move forward with the Regnart Creek Trail without any further delays or added costs for fencing for the nearby neighbors. It will give everyone more recreational and exercise space, which is really needed especially now, with everyone exercising outdoors. The cost of the trail itself has been covered by state Measure B money, which means that no more funding is required from the city to build the trail, other than the fencing.
This process has gone on too long, with too many votes and delays for one simple project. Adjacent neighbors have been granted already $765,000 for new fences on their private land, which is more than enough to address their concerns, especially when the environmental study said that they would not face any expected adverse noise and the Sheriff said that the trail would be safe.
We have the budget already allocated for this project, and Measure B funds will cover the trail itself. If the bids come in on budget, another vote isn’t necessary. Three years is plenty of time for every residents to share their concerns and be heard.
For these reasons and others, I ask that you vote yes to bring the Regnart Creek Trail to construction without another vote and without adding any additonal costs or delays to this project.
Thank you.
Your name
3 Key Ideas to put in your letter
Send your letter to: citycouncil@cupertino.org; manager@cupertino.org; cityclerk@cupertino.org.
Don’t forget to include in the subject line that this is for Regnart Trail agenda item#20.
The information in this article is solely the opinion of the author and Walk-Bike Cupertino and does not reflect the opinions of any other organization or entity. For more information, contact WBC at info@walkbikecupertino.org.