Community briefs
Managing economic development
Christine L. Velasquez has been named Sunnyvale's economic development manager, effective Feb. 9.
“She'll lead our city through an exciting period of post-pandemic recovery and continued commercial growth,” said city manager Kent Steffens in a statement.
Velasquez has been serving as development engagement manager for Lendlease, Google's development partner for the Downtown West Master Plan development in San Jose. She has more than 20 years of public and private sector experience focusing on business attraction and retention, commercial real estate development, project management and stakeholder engagement.
She has also worked for the San Jose Redevelopment Agency and Portland's Economic and Redevelopment Agency.
“Sunnyvale is home to many of the world's most exciting and innovative companies and development projects,” said Velasquez, a Bay Area native, adding that she's looking forward to helping the city's business community “continue to shape the success and vitality of the Silicon Valley.”
Velasquez holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from San Jose State University.
District of Distinction
Last month, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space
Authority received the Special District Leadership Foundation's District of Distinction Accreditation. The district is one of only 40 statewide, and only eight districts in the Bay Area have achieved this recognition.
“This accreditation is designed as a way for districts to highlight their prudent fiscal practices along with other areas important to effectively operate and govern a special district and is valid for three years,” reads the foundation's website.
To be eligible for accreditation, a district must first earn the foundation's District Transparency Certificate of Excellence, which allows special districts to showcase their transparency efforts.