OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San José City Council Meeting - April 22, 2025: Earth Day, Homelessness Update, and Policy Approvals

City Council — Tuesday, April 22, 2025
BodySan Jose, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, April 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:38:57

Transcript — Verbatim
0:10

Welcome everyone.

0:11

I would like to call to order this meeting of the San Jose City Council for the afternoon of April 22nd.

0:17

Tony, would you please call the role?

0:20

Campos.

0:21

Present.

0:21

Salas.

0:22

Here.

0:23

Cohen.

0:23

Here.

0:24

Ortiz.

0:25

Present.

0:25

Mulcahi.

0:26

Here.

0:26

Don.

0:27

Here.

0:27

Candeles.

0:28

Here.

0:29

Casey.

0:29

Here.

0:30

Fully.

0:30

Mayhan.

0:31

Here.

0:31

You have a quorum.

0:32

Great.

0:33

Thank you so much.

0:34

All right.

0:34

Now, if you're able, please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:57

Thank you.

0:58

Today's invocing will be provided by Ann Spainhauer of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

1:07

And Councilmember Cohen will tell us more.

1:10

Thank you, Mayor.

1:11

In honor of Earth Day, I wanted to highlight one of the great outdoor locations in District 4 up in Alviso.

1:19

We along the shoreline there have the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

1:26

Anne Spainhauer is the refuge manager for the U.S.

1:28

Fish and Wildlife Service.

1:30

She has a master's degree in environmental studies and is an expert in endangered aquatic species and risk management.

1:36

As a refuge manager, Anne manages 30,000 acres of bayfront lands along the southern half of San Francisco Bay that supports Self March Marsh Habitat, nine threatened and endangered species, and provides green space for people living around the bay to enjoy the outdoors and engage in nature study and recreational activities.

1:53

Anne.

1:57

Thank you very much.

2:01

As we gather here today on Earth Day, please join me in acknowledging the deep interconnectedness of our communities with the natural environment.

2:10

A little bit about Earth Day.

2:12

Earth Day began right here in the United States just 55 years ago, and it's now observed all around the world.

2:20

On this day in 1970, an estimated 20 million people, Americans raised their voices to say it was time to prioritize the health of our environment because our individual and community well being is deeply intertwined with the health of the world around us.

2:38

Some tragic environmental events spurred the nationwide call to action, such as a massive oil spill that occurred off the coast of Santa Barbara that contaminated over 40 miles of California coastline.

2:51

And then there was the Coyoga River in Ohio, which caught fire in 1969.

2:56

And there was severe and widespread smog in cities like Los Angeles and New York that made it dangerous to breathe.

3:04

These events galvanized people from neighborhoods to the national stage.

3:09

People united around a shared concern for our future.

3:13

Their voices helped launch a golden decade for environmental progress, leading to some of the greatest accomplishments in the United States environmental history, such as the passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

3:32

It also led to the establishment of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge here in your backyard, which was one of the first urban national wildlife refuges at the time.

4:15

Today, Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge is a major landholder in South San Francisco Bay with properties in Alviso, Fremont, Redwood City, and Palo Alto.

4:29

We're busy restoring tidal wetlands and wildlife habitats, working with cities like Alviso on flood control, and protecting nine different endangered species that occur in South in San Francisco Bay.

4:45

And we're also building more trails to give you some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the South Bay.

4:52

Don Edwards is your urban refuge, and every day is Earth Day at Don Edwards.

5:00

We invite you to join us for programs that introduce you to the refuge, deepen your understanding of local wildlife, and offer opportunities for you to give back.

5:09

In the coming weeks, we're hosting just this Saturday an event called Tending for Tomorrow, and it's a habitat restoration event.

5:18

We'll be meeting in Elviso, our Alviso property at 8 45 a.m.

5:23

And volunteers will help remove invasive plants and plant native ones.

5:29

In May, we have a Twilight Marsh Walk that's also open to the public.

5:34

It's a peaceful sunset stroll to explore the refugees' beauty and learn more about the refuge.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Homelessness███████████████████19%
Public Comment███████████████15%
Climate and Environment█████████9%
Public Safety████████8%
Procedural██████6%
Public Works██████6%
Immigration Policy██████6%
Cultural Recognition███3%
Affordable Housing███3%
Summary of Proceedings

San José City Council Meeting - April 22, 2025

The City Council of San José met on April 22, 2025, at 1:30 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting began with ceremonial proclamations for Earth Day, Arbor Day (celebrating San José's 40th consecutive year as a Tree City USA), and National Fallen Firefighters Weekend. The Council then adopted a consent calendar, heard public testimony, and debated several major policy items, including the Welcoming San José Plan 2025-2030, the Market Street Garage Improvements Project, San José Clean Energy Programs, the Climate Smart San José semi-annual report, and the Consolidated Annual Homelessness Mid-Year Report. The meeting adjourned in memory of Nguyên Trung Chinh (aka Chinh Nguyên).

Consent Calendar

  • Item 2.7 – Christmas in the Park Agreement: The Council approved a three-year agreement with Christmas in the Park, Inc. with an option to extend, following a memorandum from the Mayor and several councilmembers expressing interest in exploring potential relocation while maintaining the event's free admission. The item passed unanimously after public testimony emphasizing the event's economic impact ($20 million annually) and 700,000 visitors.
  • Item 2.8 – Shuttle Bus Services at SJC: Awarded a contract to Ace Parking III, LLC for up to $5.16 million with a $516,000 contingency, after public comment from outgoing contractor Trans Dev Services thanking the city for 25 years of partnership.
  • Item 2.9 – Homelessness Prevention System Program: Approved an amendment to increase grant funding by $3 million from the County of Santa Clara.
  • Item 2.10 – Agreement with Verizon for Small Cells: Authorized a seventh amendment to include small cell upgrades on SmartPoles.
  • Item 2.11 – Microsoft Corporation Agreement for Guadalupe River Trail Access: Approved funding for construction of trail access from Component Drive.
  • Item 2.12 – Balbach Park Transportation Improvement Project: Awarded contract to Redgwick Construction Company for $1,666,232.
  • Item 2.13 – Annexation to Community Facilities Districts No. 8 and No. 11: Initiated annexation proceedings for Communication Hill and Adeline-Mary Helen areas.
  • Item 2.14 – Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor Vision Study: Adopted the study and appointed Councilmember Kamei as the City's representative on the steering committee. Public speakers urged adoption without delay, citing safety concerns for cyclists and pedestrians.
  • Item 2.15 – Raymond Townsend Celebration: Approved a special event for April 29, 2025.
  • Item 2.16 and 2.17 – Deferred Compensation Advisory Committee and VEBA Advisory Committee Appointments: Approved appointments of Andrew Gardanier and Scott Hamilton.
  • Item 2.5 – Council Travel Report: Councilmember Campos presented a report on her trip to Vienna to study social housing policies, highlighting key takeaways on long-term investment and child-centered urban design.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Christmas in the Park (Item 2.7): Multiple speakers, including Debbie DeGudis (Managing Director), Ellen Coleman (daughter-in-law of founders), and community members, expressed strong support for the event. Speakers highlighted its 75-year history, free admission, and economic benefits. Some urged the Council to keep the event at Plaza de Cesar Chavez but acknowledged the need for flexibility.
  • Stevens Creek Corridor Vision Study (Item 2.14): Several speakers, including transit advocate Harry Neal, urged adoption without changes, citing dangerous conditions for cyclists and pedestrians. They noted that the corridor has seen many injuries and fatalities.
  • Shuttle Bus Services (Item 2.8): The outgoing contractor, Trans Dev Services, expressed gratitude for the 25-year partnership and disappointment over the ending due to a labor violation that has since been resolved.
  • San José Clean Energy Programs (Item 6.1): David Heindel spoke in favor of a leaf blower rebate program. Vince Sugro (Sheet Metal Workers Local 104) supported the inclusion of high-road contractor badges. Jordan Moldow advocated for including e-bike rebates in the EV incentive program.
  • Welcoming San José Plan (Item 3.3): Brian Darby and Mishray Mendoza (Amigos de Guadalupe) urged adoption, emphasizing the need to protect immigrant communities amid federal policy changes.
  • Homelessness Report (Item 7.1): Brian Darby shared personal reflections on the need for housing and praised the city's efforts.

Discussion Items

  • 3.3 Welcoming San José Plan 2025-2030: Director Sulma Massiel presented the plan, which is rooted in seven strategic focus areas to foster inclusion and belonging. The plan recognizes San José as a city of immigrants (40% foreign-born) and emphasizes trust-building and strength-based approaches. Councilmembers expressed strong support, noting the urgency due to national immigration policies. The resolution was adopted with a vote of 11-0 (corrected from an initial 10-1).
  • 3.4 Market Street Garage Improvements Project: The Council approved a contract with Plant Construction Company, LP for $6,085,340 and authorized $1.8 million for a public art facade. The project includes structural repairs, seismic upgrades, lead abatement, and a perforated metal curtain wall. Construction is expected to be completed by September 2027, with the San Pedro side completed by December 2025. The art design, selected through a public process, will feature an abstract composition of color and light. The vote was 10-1 (Mayor absent).
  • 5.1 2025-2027 LS Resurfacing Project: Awarded a contract to MCK Services, Inc. for $14,522,607 with a 10% contingency. The project covers resurfacing in Districts 2, 9, and 10. The vote was 10-1 (Mayor absent).
  • 6.1 San José Clean Energy Programs Roadmap: The Energy Department presented a status report on eight existing programs and recommended five new programs for FY 2025-2026, including EV concierge services, residential EV rebates, heat pump education, and a home electrification advisor. The Council approved the programs and authorized contracts up to $10.45 million. Councilmembers emphasized the importance of workforce development and a leaf blower trade-in program. The vote was unanimous.
  • 6.2 Climate Smart San José Semi-Annual Report: The Environmental Services Department reported on progress, including $23 million in pending grants, 7.4 miles of new bikeways, and 325 heat pump rebates reserved. The Council accepted the report and noted concerns about federal funding cuts. The vote was unanimous.
  • 7.1 Consolidated Annual Homelessness Mid-Year Report: Deputy City Manager Omar Passons and other staff presented an update on the Engage, Shelter, Clear, Preserve, Restore framework. Key metrics: 1,400 shelter beds in progress, 530 abatements, 9 miles of waterway cleared, 6.5 million pounds of trash removed, and 380,000 pounds of bio waste collected. The OLIV program (oversized/lived-in vehicle enforcement) has addressed 30 high-priority sites. The Council discussed the need for family-focused shelters, data consolidation, and the importance of prevention. The report was accepted unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted Welcoming San José Plan 2025-2030 (11-0).
  • Approved Market Street Garage contract (10-1) and public art facade.
  • Awarded resurfacing contract (10-1).
  • Approved Clean Energy Programs and authorized contracts (unanimous).
  • Accepted Climate Smart San José and Homelessness Mid-Year Reports (unanimous).
  • Consent Calendar adopted (unanimous) with items pulled for discussion.
  • Councilmember Campos presented a travel report on Vienna's social housing.
  • Staff directed to explore further enforcement tools (72-hour parking, registration) and to bring back a report on family homelessness strategies.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome everyone. I would like to call to order this meeting of the San Jose City Council for the afternoon of April 22nd. Tony, would you please call the role? Campos. Present. Salas. Here. Cohen. Here. Ortiz. Present. Mulcahi. Here. Don. Here. Candeles. Here. Casey. Here. Fully. Mayhan. Here. You have a quorum. Great. Thank you so much. All right. Now, if you're able, please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Today's invocing will be provided by Ann Spainhauer of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. And Councilmember Cohen will tell us more. Thank you, Mayor. In honor of Earth Day, I wanted to highlight one of the great outdoor locations in District 4 up in Alviso. We along the shoreline there have the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Anne Spainhauer is the refuge manager for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She has a master's degree in environmental studies and is an expert in endangered aquatic species and risk management. As a refuge manager, Anne manages 30,000 acres of bayfront lands along the southern half of San Francisco Bay that supports Self March Marsh Habitat, nine threatened and endangered species, and provides green space for people living around the bay to enjoy the outdoors and engage in nature study and recreational activities. Anne. Thank you very much. As we gather here today on Earth Day, please join me in acknowledging the deep interconnectedness of our communities with the natural environment. A little bit about Earth Day. Earth Day began right here in the United States just 55 years ago, and it's now observed all around the world. On this day in 1970, an estimated 20 million people, Americans raised their voices to say it was time to prioritize the health of our environment because our individual and community well being is deeply intertwined with the health of the world around us. Some tragic environmental events spurred the nationwide call to action, such as a massive oil spill that occurred off the coast of Santa Barbara that contaminated over 40 miles of California coastline. And then there was the Coyoga River in Ohio, which caught fire in 1969. And there was severe and widespread smog in cities like Los Angeles and New York that made it dangerous to breathe. These events galvanized people from neighborhoods to the national stage. People united around a shared concern for our future. Their voices helped launch a golden decade for environmental progress, leading to some of the greatest accomplishments in the United States environmental history, such as the passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Endangered Species Act. It also led to the establishment of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge here in your backyard, which was one of the first urban national wildlife refuges at the time.

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