The Cupertino Courier

City makes preparations for El Niño--just in case

By Pam Marino

City officials are preparing for the worst in case El Niño-fueled storms come to Cupertino this winter.

"We're getting a lot more calls than we ever had in the past," Public Works Director Bert Viskovich told the City Council at a recent meeting. Crews are busy cleaning storm drains and creeks in preparation for the rainy season.

Viskovich said that according to local experts, the Bay Area could possibly be spared the worst storms because those are expected to primarily hit Southern California.

"However, we are getting prepared in case it's a bad one," Viskovich said.

Community Development Director Bob Cowan told the council that his department formed a joint committee with public works staff to review building plans, including those already under construction.

He said five homes are being built in Cupertino's hillsides. The grading for those homes will be completed in October. "They have all got their erosion-control plan in place," Cowan said.

The construction of additions on the hillsides is allowed during the winter, as long as no grading is needed.

"It's the grading operations we're going to prohibit unless there is an emergency," Cowan said.

He said grading in the nonhillside areas of Cupertino will be allowed, as long as developers can show there will be no adverse effect on surrounding properties.

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