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Record of Proceedings

San Jose City Council Meeting on October 21, 2025: Budget, Land Use, and Ceremonial Recognitions

City Council — Tuesday, October 21, 2025
BodySan Jose, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, October 21, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:01:43

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:13

Alright, we're good.

0:21

Alright.

0:25

Good afternoon.

0:29

Good afternoon.

0:31

Welcome.

0:33

Good afternoon.

0:34

Great to have you all here.

0:36

It's my pleasure to call to order this meeting of the San Jose City Council for the afternoon of October 21st.

0:44

I'll just note for the record that Rosa Song Tatari, our uh chief deputy city attorney, will be sitting in as the city attorney for this meeting as Nora Freeman is away.

0:54

And with that, Tony, would you please call the role?

0:56

Kamei Campos, present.

0:59

Tordillos.

1:00

Here.

1:00

Cohen.

1:02

Ortiz.

1:02

Present.

1:03

Well, Keyhi.

1:04

Here.

1:04

Juan?

1:05

Here.

1:05

Candellas?

1:06

Here.

1:06

Casey.

1:07

Foley.

1:08

Here.

1:08

Mayhem.

1:09

Here.

1:09

You have a corn.

1:10

Great.

1:10

Thank you.

1:11

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

1:18

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

1:24

To require it, we just dance.

1:28

Under God, indivisible liberty and justice.

1:36

Thank you.

1:37

And welcome once again.

1:39

Good to see you.

1:40

Fairly full chamber here.

1:42

We're on to our invocation, and today's invocation will be provided by Chris Pounders, General Manager of the School of Rock of San Jose, and Vice Mayor Pam Foley will tell us more.

1:58

For today's invocation, I'm thrilled to be joined by Chris Pounders.

2:02

Growing up in San Jose, Chris began his musical journey as a drummer before expanding into singing and guitar.

2:10

His career highlights include touring with Stomp and performing on America's Got Talent.

2:16

The Conan O'Brien Show with 30 Seconds to Mars, The Vans Warp Tour, as well as sharing the stage with artists artists like Katy Perry.

2:26

Today he serves as the general manager of School of Rock in San Jose, the company's top performing location located in District 9.

2:35

As a longtime supporter of the arts in our community, I can say that we are so lucky to have talent like Chris introducing the world of music to students throughout San Jose.

2:46

Chris, thank you for providing our invocation for today.

2:50

Thank you, Vice Mayor Foley.

2:52

Sorry.

2:55

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

2:57

It's been a long journey to get to this point where I'm standing in front of you.

3:02

Well, it started when I was 13 years old driving around with my friends, listening to a Green Day record called Dukey.

3:10

I was taking drum lessons at the time, but after I heard that record, I knew that I wanted to pursue more in music.

3:17

It was very inspired.

3:19

My parents divorced when I was eight years old.

3:24

He was a drummer as well.

3:26

And he used to take me to his band practices and performances.

3:29

So from a very young age, I was surrounded by that energy.

3:34

The music, the creativity, the lifestyle, and it became a huge part of who I am today.

3:42

The summer after I turned 18 and graduated from high school, tragedy struck.

4:32

Everything changed again for me.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Municipal Finance███████████████████████████27%
Community Engagement██████████████████████22%
Public Safety██████████████14%
Late Night Uses██████████10%
Affordable Housing████████8%
Procedural█████5%
Technology and Innovation███3%
Economic Development███3%
Animal Services███3%
Summary of Proceedings

San Jose City Council Meeting on October 21, 2025

The San Jose City Council meeting on October 21, 2025, covered a wide range of topics including ceremonial recognitions, the city's annual budget report, and key land use decisions. The council discussed and voted on several significant items, with particular focus on the county sales tax measure and police equipment contracts.

Consent Calendar

  • Consent calendar items were approved unanimously, including a transition plan for the 311 app. Councilmember Kamei expressed concerns about the two-year timeline and emphasized the need for better implementation resources in future budgets.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Housing Legal Services: Representatives from the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, Bay Area Legal Aid, and Project Sentinel urged the city to lift the pause on housing legal services contracts, stating that the funding cut harms tenants and increases homelessness risk.
  • Santa Clara County Measure A: Multiple speakers expressed opposition, arguing that the measure lacks accountability and will burden taxpayers without solving structural budget issues. Supporters, including healthcare advocates and community leaders, emphasized that Measure A is necessary to prevent hospital closures and maintain critical services amidst federal funding cuts.
  • Other Issues: A resident shared concerns about inefficiencies at the San Jose Animal Care Center, citing personal experience with a dog rescue. A representative from Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley thanked the city for partnership but highlighted a funding shortfall affecting their programs.

Discussion Items

  • City Manager's Report: City Manager Jennifer Maguire reported on International Day of the Girl, recognizing female city leaders. The annual budget report, presented by Budget Director Jim Shannon, showed a small general fund surplus and recommended adjustments for various funds. Councilmember Ortiz proposed reallocating $53,000 for public art and beautification in Alum Rock Village via a blue memo.
  • City Attorney Appointment: The council appointed Susanna Alcala Wood as city attorney effective November 9, 2025, with an annual salary of $390,000.
  • Resolutions of Support:
    • State Proposition 50: Councilmember Cohen moved support for the proposition, which addresses redistricting, and it was approved unanimously.
    • Santa Clara County Measure A: A resolution of support was debated extensively. Councilmembers expressed divergent views: some opposed due to lack of a structural plan and fiscal concerns, while others supported it as a temporary measure to address healthcare funding gaps. The motion passed with a 9-1 vote (Councilmember Casey opposed, Vice Mayor Foley absent).
  • Land Use Items:
    • Outdoor Vending Permits: Amendments to simplify regulations for outdoor vending on private lots were approved, with a joint memo from councilmembers directing staff to explore long-term solutions.
    • Conditional Use Permit for Fuse Bar: An amendment for 58 South First Street was approved with modified hours for amplified music on the outdoor patio (10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 2 a.m. Friday-Saturday, midnight Sunday) following a compromise between the applicant and neighbors.
  • Other Business:
    • Axon Enterprises Agreement: The council approved an amended agreement for police equipment, including tasers and body cameras, saving over $6 million through bundling contracts.
    • Additional items approved included an airport marketing strategy, street resurfacing contract, and home buyer down payment assistance program.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent calendar passed unanimously.
  • Annual budget report approved with adjustments, including Councilmember Ortiz's blue memo for Alum Rock Village art.
  • Susanna Alcala Wood appointed as city attorney unanimously.
  • State Proposition 50 supported unanimously.
  • Santa Clara County Measure A supported with a 9-1 vote (Casey no, Foley absent).
  • Axon Enterprises agreement approved unanimously.
  • Outdoor vending amendments approved unanimously.
  • Conditional use permit for Fuse Bar approved with modified hours, unanimously.
  • Airport marketing, street resurfacing, and home buyer assistance programs approved unanimously or with majority votes.

Meeting Transcript

Alright, we're good. Alright. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Welcome. Good afternoon. Great to have you all here. It's my pleasure to call to order this meeting of the San Jose City Council for the afternoon of October 21st. I'll just note for the record that Rosa Song Tatari, our uh chief deputy city attorney, will be sitting in as the city attorney for this meeting as Nora Freeman is away. And with that, Tony, would you please call the role? Kamei Campos, present. Tordillos. Here. Cohen. Ortiz. Present. Well, Keyhi. Here. Juan? Here. Candellas? Here. Casey. Foley. Here. Mayhem. Here. You have a corn. Great. Thank you. Now, if you're able, please stand and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. To require it, we just dance. Under God, indivisible liberty and justice. Thank you. And welcome once again. Good to see you. Fairly full chamber here. We're on to our invocation, and today's invocation will be provided by Chris Pounders, General Manager of the School of Rock of San Jose, and Vice Mayor Pam Foley will tell us more. For today's invocation, I'm thrilled to be joined by Chris Pounders. Growing up in San Jose, Chris began his musical journey as a drummer before expanding into singing and guitar. His career highlights include touring with Stomp and performing on America's Got Talent. The Conan O'Brien Show with 30 Seconds to Mars, The Vans Warp Tour, as well as sharing the stage with artists artists like Katy Perry. Today he serves as the general manager of School of Rock in San Jose, the company's top performing location located in District 9. As a longtime supporter of the arts in our community, I can say that we are so lucky to have talent like Chris introducing the world of music to students throughout San Jose. Chris, thank you for providing our invocation for today. Thank you, Vice Mayor Foley. Sorry. Thank you, Vice Mayor. It's been a long journey to get to this point where I'm standing in front of you.

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