Cupertino City Council Meeting - September 15, 2026

The Cupertino City Council meeting on September 15, 2026, included extensive discussions on procurement and contracting matters, particularly focusing on the law enforcement services agreement with Santa Clara County. The city faces a significant proposed contract cost increase from approximately $19 million to $25.4 million, driven by new county cost allocation methodologies. The council reviewed an independent audit report challenging the county's overhead cost allocations and debated the implications of California Government Code 51350 on the contract terms. A motion was passed to authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute a long-term law enforcement agreement while reserving the city's rights under the law to ensure appropriate costs. Additionally, the council considered and unanimously approved the fiscal year 2026-27 internal audit work program, including a budget modification and a fourth amendment to the agreement with Baker Tilly, the city's internal auditor. The audit program prioritizes projects such as code enforcement response times, permitting efficiency, and recruitment and retention studies, with tiered project priorities and associated costs discussed in detail. The meeting also addressed public concerns about campaign sign regulations and surveillance issues, but no direct procurement actions were taken on those topics.