City Council faces landfill closure responsibilities and opposes SB 79 housing bill

The Sunnyvale City Council meeting held on July 1, 2025, addressed several key issues, including the status of the closed landfill and a proposed state housing bill.

The meeting began with a discussion regarding the city's closed landfill, which ceased operations in 1993 and completed its closure in 1994. A speaker highlighted that the landfill is subject to a 30-year post-closure care requirement, which concluded in February 2024. The speaker noted that the city has not submitted the necessary application to exit this post-closure care requirement, raising concerns about compliance and financial implications. It was mentioned that the city budget allocates $800,000 for post-closure care, despite a previous letter to CalRecycle indicating a need for only $400,000. The speaker emphasized the importance of addressing methane gas emissions separately while ensuring the integrity of the landfill's final cover.

Following this, Zachary Kaye addressed the council regarding an information-only item related to California Senate Bill 79. Kaye expressed opposition to the bill, which seeks to facilitate housing development near major transit stops, arguing that it undermines local control and disregards existing land use. He noted that the bill has already progressed through the state senate and is now in the house, suggesting that earlier advocacy from the council would have been beneficial.

The meeting concluded with a clear focus on compliance issues related to the landfill and the implications of state legislation on local governance. The council's next steps regarding these matters remain to be seen as they continue to navigate these significant challenges.