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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

San Jose City Council Meeting on September 16, 2025: Healthcare Cuts, Public Safety, and Development

City Council — Tuesday, September 16, 2025

BodySan Jose, California

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, September 16, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 6:52:15

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0:07

All right, good afternoon, good afternoon, welcome.

0:12

I would like to like to call to order this meeting of the San Jose City Council for the afternoon of September 16th.

0:20

Tony, would you please call the role?

0:23

Sorry, Kamehameha Campos, present.

0:26

Tordillos here.

0:27

Cohen.

0:30

Cohen.

0:32

Ortiz.

0:33

Present.

0:33

Okay, he's here.

0:35

Candelas.

0:36

Here.

0:37

Casey.

0:37

Here.

0:38

Foley Mayhan.

0:39

Here.

0:40

You have a quorum.

0:41

Great.

0:41

Thank you.

0:41

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

0:48

I pledge the allegiance to the United States.

0:57

One nation.

0:58

One of God.

1:05

Thank you.

1:06

Today's invocation will be provided by the Evergreen Studio of Music and the Arts.

1:12

And Council Member Condelas will tell us more.

1:15

Thank you, Mayor.

1:16

It is my pleasure to introduce today's invocation.

1:19

The Evergreen Studio of Music and the Arts, also known as Isoma.

1:24

Isoma is a vibrant music and arts school dedicated to providing high quality education to the visual and performing arts.

1:32

They serve students of all ages, ranging from youth, young adults, adults, offering lessons in instruments, voice, uh, dance, and visual arts.

1:40

We've been fortunate enough to actually have uh their performances during our the music in the square series in the summer at the village square, and each time uh they have left a lasting impression on on my neighbors and residents uh in in my district.

1:53

We're honored to have uh them with us this afternoon.

1:57

So please join me in welcoming Elvi Todoro, executive director of Isoma, along with her talented students as they lead us in today's invocation.

2:07

Thank you so much, and uh, we're so grateful to be invited here, and uh, I will be presenting to you our performers for our next musical production at Hammer Theater here in downtown Tennessee that is Disney's Aladdin Jr.

2:24

And to perform to us for this afternoon is our Princess Jasmine, which will be uh performed by Kyla Murphy, and of course, the title roll of Aladdin.

2:39

We have Troy Kalupin.

2:42

Thank you all.

2:52

I can show you the world, shining, shimmering splendid.

3:00

Tell me, Princess.

3:01

Now, when did you last let your heart decide?

3:07

I can open your eyes, take you wonder by wander over sideways and under on a magic carpet ride, a whole new world, a new fantastic point of view.

3:28

No one to tell us now or where to go, or say you're only dreaming.

3:35

A whole new world, a dazzling place.

3:41

I never knew.

3:43

But when I'm way up here, it's crystal clear, and now I'm in a whole new world with you.

3:52

Now I'm in a whole new world with you.

3:55

Unbelievable sides.

4:02

Soaring tumbling, freewheeling through an endless diamond sky, a whole new one.

4:10

Don't you dare world a hundred thousand things to see.

4:16

I like a shooting star.

4:19

I've come so far.

4:20

I can't go back to where I used to be.

4:25

Every turn a surprise.

4:29

Every moment, I'll chase a manywhere.

4:33

There's time to spare.

4:36

Let me share this whole new world with you.

4:42

A whole new world.

4:44

A whole new one, that's where we'll be a chase.

4:51

Oh, a one just place.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Municipal Finance█████████████████████████████████████37%

Public Safety██████████████████████████26%

Miscellaneous███████7%

Land Use██████6%

Procedural█████5%

Economic Development████4%

Community Engagement███3%

Homelessness███3%

Personnel Matters██2%

Summary of Proceedings

San Jose City Council Meeting on September 16, 2025

The San Jose City Council convened on September 16, 2025, addressing a packed agenda that included federal healthcare funding impacts, public safety enhancements, and land use decisions. The council heard detailed reports on the fiscal consequences of HR1, debated the reinstatement of the police horse mounted unit, and approved several development and ceremonial items.

Consent Calendar

Councilmember Mulcahy raised concerns about moving a compliance program from environmental services to the energy department, urging a reevaluation to focus on emissions reductions rather than burdensome reporting.
Item 2.11, proposing an increase in gift limits from $50 to $200, was voted on separately and did not pass (6-4), with Councilmembers Mayhan, Ortiz, Campos, and Casey voting against.
The remainder of the consent calendar was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

On HR1 impacts: Numerous speakers, including healthcare providers, community advocates, and county officials, expressed strong support for Measure A to mitigate federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. They argued that without Measure A, hospital closures, longer ER wait times, and reduced access to care would jeopardize public health.
On the horse mounted unit: Public comment was divided. Supporters cited enhanced community engagement and deterrence, while opponents raised concerns about cost, historical associations with oppression, and animal welfare.
On development projects: Residents and business owners provided mixed testimony on the Chick-fil-A project and Little Italy Way renaming, with some emphasizing economic benefits and others criticizing missed opportunities for housing or urban vitality.

Discussion Items

HR1 Fiscal Impacts Report: County Executive James Williams presented on the projected over $1 billion annual revenue loss from federal Medicaid and SNAP cuts due to HR1, advocating for Measure A as a critical but partial solution. Councilmembers engaged in extensive questioning about the accuracy of projections, long-term sustainability, and alternative strategies.
Intergovernmental Relations Report: Staff summarized summer advocacy efforts, highlighting successes in protecting city funding, advancing local legislation, and addressing state budget challenges related to homelessness and housing.
Horse Mounted Unit Reinstatement: The police department proposed a fiscally responsible reinstatement plan using private donations and existing walking beat funds. After debate, a substitute motion to defer the decision to the next budget cycle passed 6-4.
Fixed-Wing Aircraft Purchase: The council approved a $5.1 million purchase for a fixed-wing aircraft, fully funded by grants and forfeiture funds, to enhance air support capabilities and reduce operational costs.
Street Renaming: The council approved renaming a segment of North Almaden Boulevard to Little Italy Way, celebrating cultural heritage and improving downtown wayfinding.
Development Appeal: The council approved an appeal to remove a condition requiring preservation of existing buildings, allowing the Chick-fil-A project at 1301 West San Carlos Street to proceed as planned.

Key Outcomes

Gift limit increase (Item 2.11) failed with a 6-4 vote.
The HR1 verbal report was accepted, with council expressing concern but taking no formal position on Measure A.
Horse mounted unit reinstatement was deferred to the next fiscal year budget process (6-4 vote).
Fixed-wing aircraft purchase was approved unanimously.
Street renaming to Little Italy Way was approved unanimously.
Chick-fil-A project appeal was approved unanimously, removing the contested condition.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good afternoon, good afternoon, welcome. I would like to like to call to order this meeting of the San Jose City Council for the afternoon of September 16th. Tony, would you please call the role? Sorry, Kamehameha Campos, present. Tordillos here. Cohen. Cohen. Ortiz. Present. Okay, he's here. Candelas. Here. Casey. Here. Foley Mayhan. Here. You have a quorum. Great. Thank you. Now, if you're able, please stand and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge the allegiance to the United States. One nation. One of God. Thank you. Today's invocation will be provided by the Evergreen Studio of Music and the Arts. And Council Member Condelas will tell us more. Thank you, Mayor. It is my pleasure to introduce today's invocation. The Evergreen Studio of Music and the Arts, also known as Isoma. Isoma is a vibrant music and arts school dedicated to providing high quality education to the visual and performing arts. They serve students of all ages, ranging from youth, young adults, adults, offering lessons in instruments, voice, uh, dance, and visual arts. We've been fortunate enough to actually have uh their performances during our the music in the square series in the summer at the village square, and each time uh they have left a lasting impression on on my neighbors and residents uh in in my district. We're honored to have uh them with us this afternoon. So please join me in welcoming Elvi Todoro, executive director of Isoma, along with her talented students as they lead us in today's invocation. Thank you so much, and uh, we're so grateful to be invited here, and uh, I will be presenting to you our performers for our next musical production at Hammer Theater here in downtown Tennessee that is Disney's Aladdin Jr. And to perform to us for this afternoon is our Princess Jasmine, which will be uh performed by Kyla Murphy, and of course, the title roll of Aladdin. We have Troy Kalupin. Thank you all. I can show you the world, shining, shimmering splendid. Tell me, Princess. Now, when did you last let your heart decide? I can open your eyes, take you wonder by wander over sideways and under on a magic carpet ride, a whole new world, a new fantastic point of view. No one to tell us now or where to go, or say you're only dreaming. A whole new world, a dazzling place. I never knew. But when I'm way up here, it's crystal clear, and now I'm in a whole new world with you. Now I'm in a whole new world with you. Unbelievable sides. Soaring tumbling, freewheeling through an endless diamond sky, a whole new one. Don't you dare world a hundred thousand things to see.

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