San José City Council Regular Meeting – April 29, 2025

The San José City Council met on April 29, 2025, at 1:30 PM in Council Chambers to consider a range of routine and substantive items, including ceremonial proclamations, consent calendar approvals, a major land use rezoning under SB 1333, adoption of a park master plan and naming of a new park, and formation of the first new property-based improvement district in 15 years. The meeting also featured an intergovernmental relations update, a policy revision for multifamily housing revenue bonds, multiple public works contracts, and an open forum.

Ceremonial Items

• Raymond Townsend Day: A proclamation declaring April 29, 2025, as Raymond Townsend Day was presented to honor the first Filipino American to play in the NBA, a San José native. Townsend spoke about his career and community service.
• Black April: A proclamation declaring April 30, 2025, as Black April was presented to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and honor the Vietnamese American community’s resilience. Councilmember Bien Doan and a community member spoke.
• Older Americans Month: A proclamation declaring May 2025 as Older Americans Month was presented by Vice Mayor Pam Foley and the Senior Citizens Commission, with a theme of “Flip the Script on Aging.”

Consent Calendar

All consent items were approved unanimously (Councilmember Doan absent) after Mayor Mahan briefly commented on Item 2.13, the CalAIM grant application for interim housing sites. Key items included:

• 2.13: Grant application for up to $3,000,000 in CalAIM funding to pilot health service reimbursements at interim housing sites.
• 2.7: Agreement with Holland & Knight for federal legislative advocacy services (up to $780,000 over five years).
• 2.8: MOU with SAP Center and Sharks Ice for security improvements.
• 2.9: Sixth Amendment with Calpine Energy Solutions ($2.3 million increase).
• 2.11: Amendments with Smart Wave Technologies for broadband and radio frequency equipment (up to $720,000 total increase).
• 2.10: Ordinance amendment to align building performance audit requirements with industry standards.
• Various sewer repair and assessment projects (Items 2.14, 2.15, 2.16) totaling over $14 million.
• Travel authorization for Mayor Mahan to attend a Mayoral Roundtable in Denver (Item 2.17).

Public Comments & Testimony

Land Use Consent (10.1A) – Rezoning Under SB 1333: Six speakers opposed the rezoning of properties along Glen Erie Avenue and Creek Drive to open space, arguing it would devalue property, intrude on homes, and could enable future trail development or homeless access. Several noted the line ran through bedrooms. One speaker (Pablo Mendoza) opposed a commercial-to-residential zoning change on Kerner Avenue. Councilmember Mulcahy, representing the district, requested additional time for community engagement, leading to a decision to defer the second reading to late May.

Park Master Plan (7.1): Five speakers addressed the proposed Eiichi Edward Sakauye Park. Ben Leach and Mike Sodergren (Preservation Action Council) and Vanessa Hatakiyama (Japanese American Museum) expressed disappointment that the historic Sakauye farmhouse would not be preserved onsite and urged meaningful commemorative elements and support for relocation to History Park. They noted the house is currently on cribbing and vulnerable. Deanna Chalfont (Hanover Company) expressed support for the naming and the park design.

Alameda Community Benefit Improvement District (8.1): Two speakers supported formation: Ani Aghian (consultant) thanked staff and Councilmember Mulcahy; a Plant 51 resident praised the collaboration and potential.

Open Forum: Two speakers appeared: Raika Cholich alleged the city is withholding $375,000 from her subcontracting firm for over a year; Christopher West raised concerns about interim housing at the Arena Hotel, including lack of tenant rights and inadequate wellness checks.

Discussion Items

• 3.3 – Special Primary Election Results: Approved resolution declaring results of the April 8, 2025 special election and establishing tie-breaking procedures. Passed.
• 3.4 – Spring Intergovernmental Relations Report: Staff presented updates on state and federal advocacy, including monitoring 238 bills, loss of $5.5 million in federal earmarks due to continuing resolution, state budget uncertainties, and legislative priorities on homelessness, transit, and public safety. Councilmembers (Mayor, Cohen, Campos) asked about Prop 36 implementation, child care legislation, CEQA streamlining, and AB 1061 (SB9 in historic districts). Report accepted and positions reaffirmed. Passed unanimously.
• 3.5 – Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds Policy Revisions: Approved resolution amending Council Policy 1-16 to allow external conduit issuers and expand Director of Finance authority for TEFRA hearings, with direction to return with comprehensive revisions in fall 2025. Passed.
• 5.1 – Better Bikeway San José – San Fernando Corridor Re-Bid: Delegated authority to award contract up to $9.9 million. Passed.
• 5.2 – 2025 Major Streets Sealing Project: Awarded contract to Graham Contractors, Inc. for $7,445,538.90 plus 10% contingency. Passed.
• 7.1 – Park Master Plan at 0 Seely Ave (Eiichi Edward Sakauye Park): Approved master plan for 2.5-acre park, turnkey agreement including $11.1 million in park fees, and official park naming. Councilmember Kamei expressed frustration over communications regarding funding for the Sakauye farmhouse relocation. After discussion, her motion was accepted with a friendly amendment (“explore the acquisition of funding”) to seek grants and other sources. Passed unanimously.
• 8.1 – Alameda Community Benefit Improvement District (Joint Meeting): After a presentation showing 38.75% of property owners (by assessment) signed petitions, Council approved resolutions to set a public hearing on June 17, 2025, for final approval, and to negotiate a management agreement with the Alameda Business Association. The district covers 419 parcels, with an annual budget of $340,977 focused on clean and safe services. Passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (Doan absent).
• Land Use Consent (10.1A): First reading approved; second reading deferred to late May 2025 to allow further community outreach.
• Election Results: Resolution adopted (unanimous).
• IGR Report: Accepted, legislative logs reaffirmed (unanimous).
• Policy 1-16 Revision: Approved (unanimous).
• Bikeway and Streets Sealing Contracts: Approved (unanimous).
• Sakauye Park: Master plan, agreement, and naming approved; council directed staff to explore relocation funding for the farmhouse (unanimous).
• Alameda CBID: Initial petitions approved, public hearing set for June 17, 2025 (unanimous).