San Jose City Council Meeting: October 28, 2025

This meeting of the San Jose City Council, held on the afternoon of October 28, 2025, began with ceremonial proclamations recognizing the D9 Stars, Republic of China (Taiwan) Day, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The council also adjourned in memory of educator and veteran Ton No. Major agenda items included an audit on homelessness coordination, a fire apparatus purchase, restrictions on immigration enforcement on city property and a ban on officers concealing their identities, a grant agreement for the Arena Hotel interim housing site, and the adoption of the 2025 California building codes with amendments. Key votes included unanimous approval of the homelessness coordination recommendations, a 10 – 1 approval of the fire apparatus purchase, unanimous approval of the immigration-related ordinances, unanimous approval of the Arena Hotel grant, and a 9 – 2 approval of the building code update with a substitute motion to study single-stair construction.

Consent Calendar

• The consent calendar was approved unanimously without any items pulled.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 3.3 (Homelessness Audit): Multiple speakers from Surge Santa Clara County and Showing Up for Racial Justice, including Andrew Sigler, Lori Catcher, Hazel Holmquist, Debbie Ow, Brie Mendoza, Catherine Hedges, Deb St. Julian, Kayla, Kim Gaptel, and Sean, expressed support for the audit and memos but urged stronger inclusion of disability access, reasonable accommodations, and outcome tracking. They cited concerns about the treatment of unhoused residents with disabilities and the need for accountability in outreach and housing placements.
• Item 3.9/4.1 (ICE on City Property and Mask Ban): Speakers from Surge, Pasos Community, Secret Heart Community Service, and Amigos de Guadalupe urged the council to adopt policies restricting ICE use of city property and requiring officers to show identification. They described fear in immigrant communities and the need for transparency. One speaker (Mark Trout) opposed, calling for support of ICE. Other residents, including Deb St. Julian, Kayla, Kim Gaptill, Catherine Hedges, Cindy Bautista, Dilisa Gonzalez, Jeremy Barus, Lawrence Dang, and Sean, supported the measures.
• Item 8.1 (Arena Hotel Grant): Christopher, a resident of the Arena Hotel, supported the transition to WeHope but highlighted concerns about dog attacks and lack of resident communication. Gail (absent) had submitted a card; another speaker expressed support for WeHope while cautioning against concentration of contracts.
• Item 8.2 (Building Codes): Greg Tuyor (San Jose Firefighters Local 230) supported the fire chief’s recommendations and opposed single-stair construction. Alex Shore (Catalyze SV) supported studying single-stair buildings. Danny Mangan (Sprinkler Fitters Local 483) raised safety concerns about single-stair designs.
• Open Forum: One speaker criticized the council’s stance on immigration. Another requested a meeting with the police chief regarding human trafficking. A third speaker raised multiple accessibility complaints about seating and parking validation.

Discussion Items

• Item 3.3 – Coordination of Homelessness Activities Audit: City Auditor Joe Royce presented findings on interdepartmental coordination and grant oversight, noting limited outreach resources and gaps in performance monitoring. The Housing Department accepted most recommendations. Councilmembers Ortiz, Campos, Duan, Mulcahy, Cohen, Kamei, and the mayor discussed the need for better data, accountability, and disability accommodations. The council voted unanimously to accept the audit and the memos from Ortiz and from Mahan/Foley/Kamei/Campos/Tordillos.
• Item 3.4 – Fire Apparatus Purchase (Tractor-Drawn Aerials): The purchase of fire trucks was presented. Councilmember Cohen moved a memo to direct staff to report on electrification and compact fire apparatus feasibility. Councilmember Duan opposed, citing operational concerns and safety. The memo passed 10 – 1 (Duan dissenting).
• Items 3.9 and 4.1 – Restricting ICE on City Property and Banning Concealed Identities: These items were heard concurrently. Councilmember Ortiz presented the ordinances. The council discussed legal limits on restricting public property and praised the police department’s cooperation. Both items passed unanimously.
• Item 8.1 – Grant Agreement with WeHope for Arena Hotel Interim Housing: The Housing Department presented a transition plan from HomeFirst to WeHope, with a $2.1 million annual subsidy from the Housing Authority and a long-term redevelopment plan. Councilmember Mulcahy and others asked about resident communication and transition logistics. The grant was approved unanimously.
• Item 8.2 – Adoption of 2025 California Building Standards with Local Amendments: Staff presented updates, including fire code amendments and deletion of outdated reach codes. Councilmember Tordillos moved a substitute memo to approve staff recommendations but direct evaluation of single-stair buildings up to six stories. Councilmember Duan offered a competing memo to wait for the state work group report. After debate, the substitute motion passed 9 – 2 (Ortiz and Duan dissenting) with friendly amendments to include stakeholders such as firefighters and building trades.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
• Item 3.3 – Homelessness Audit: Adopted unanimously with memos directing improved outreach, performance metrics, and reasonable accommodation review.
• Item 3.4 – Fire Apparatus: Approved 10 – 1; staff to report on electrification and compact vehicle feasibility by spring 2026.
• Item 3.9 – Restricting ICE on City Property: Approved unanimously; staff to identify city properties and develop ordinance.
• Item 4.1 – Ban on Concealed Identities for Law Enforcement: Approved unanimously; ordinance to require visible identification.
• Item 8.1 – Arena Hotel Grant Agreement: Approved unanimously; WeHope to assume operations, with three-year subsidy and redevelopment planning.
• Item 8.2 – Building Code Update: Approved 9 – 2; staff to evaluate single-stair construction for buildings up to six stories and report back with stakeholder input, including fire and building trades.
• Adjournment in Memory: Honored veteran and community leader Ton No.