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Record of Proceedings

San Jose Rules Committee Meeting - May 13, 2026: Ministerial Approval Deferral and Remote Participation Reinstatement

City Council — Wednesday, May 13, 2026
BodySan Jose, California
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, May 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:00:55
Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

Alright, it's two o'clock.

0:10

So we're going to call today's meeting with the rules and open government committee to order and start with roll calling.

0:14

Candelas.

0:15

Here.

0:16

Duan.

0:17

Foley?

0:18

Here.

0:18

Come here.

0:19

Cohen.

0:20

Here.

0:20

We have a quorum.

0:21

Alright, we're going.

0:23

Oh, Duan's here.

0:24

Duan's coming down the stairs.

0:27

First thing is to review the agenda for next week's council meeting May 19th.

0:31

It's scheduled for 9:30 closed session, 1.30 regular session, evening session cancellation.

0:37

And the agenda starts on page five.

0:44

And we'll be all about our district people.

0:50

It's not working out.

0:51

It continues on page six.

0:54

Seven.

1:05

Section three, we have our citywide customer experience transformation update.

1:11

And section five item is deferred.

1:14

Section six, our San Jose Clean Energy Programs Roadmap Status Report.

1:19

And land use item 10.2 environmental review policy.

1:24

Do we have any public comment?

1:26

No public comment.

1:29

Second.

1:30

All right, I don't see any hands, so let's vote.

1:38

Can you vote verbally?

1:40

Okay, all in favor say aye.

1:42

Aye.

1:43

Opposed?

1:44

Abstentions?

1:44

All right.

1:45

Motion carries five zero.

1:47

Now we're on to we don't have a meeting to review for the week after.

1:52

Happy Memorial Day.

1:55

Consent calendar has six items.

1:57

Do you have any public comment and consent?

1:59

Ms.

2:00

Rain, please go ahead and make your way to the podium.

2:03

Okay.

2:04

All right.

2:05

Back to the committee.

2:11

Verbal vote, please, yes.

2:20

Motion carries 5-0.

2:22

We're on to item C1.

2:24

The ministerial approval memo, Tordillos, Campos, Cohen, and Kamei.

2:30

Um I think we already had a presentation last week.

2:33

We have our early consideration form, so I'll turn it over to Lee to review early consideration form.

2:37

I know Chris is here as well if he wants to win.

2:41

Sure.

2:41

Uh the administration has deemed this a yellow light.

2:44

I will ask Chris and his team to come in the box in case the rules committee has any uh detailed questions about the analysis and why it's a yellow.

2:54

Okay.

2:54

Do we have any public comment?

2:57

Yes, Alison, please go ahead and make your way to the podium.

3:12

Good afternoon.

3:12

Alison Cingalani, Director of Policy with SV at home.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement████████████████████████████████████████████44%
Land Use███████████████████████████████████35%
Technology and Innovation███████7%
Public Comment██████6%
Climate and Environment████4%
Affordable Housing███3%
Disability Access█1%
Summary of Proceedings

San Jose Rules and Open Government Committee Meeting - May 13, 2026

The Rules and Open Government Committee met on May 13, 2026, at 2:00 PM to review the upcoming council agenda, discuss two major items: a proposal to expand ministerial approval for housing and a memo to reinstate remote public participation, and hear public comment. Both items passed unanimously, with the ministerial item deferred to the next budget cycle and the remote participation item approved for immediate implementation.

Consent Calendar

  • The committee approved the agenda for the May 19, 2026 council meeting and the consent calendar (6 items) by a 5-0 vote. No public comment was offered.

Discussion Items

Item C1: Ministerial Approval Memo (Tordillos, Campos, Cohen, Kamei)

  • The committee considered a memo recommending expansion of ministerial approval processes citywide for housing projects qualifying for CEQA exemption under AB 130. Planning Director Chris Burton presented a workload analysis showing the department at 130% capacity for the next fiscal year and recommended deferral to the 2027-28 budget cycle due to competing priorities, including the four-year housing element review.
  • Councilmember Tordillos argued for full council deliberation, noting that Mountain View completed similar work in under four months and that San Jose already has a strong ministerial foundation. He suggested the proposal could complement or replace other work plan items like the downtown ministerial ordinance.
  • Vice Mayor Foley moved to defer the item to the 2027-28 budget cycle but with a cross-reference to the October CED committee meeting for earlier discussion. Councilmember Candelas seconded, expressing concern about impacts on community engagement but supporting the compromise.
  • Public comment: Alison Cingalani (SV@Home) spoke in favor, stating the proposal is a "practical governance strategy" that would streamline housing production.
  • Outcome: Motion carried 5-0. The item is deferred to the 2027-28 budget cycle, with a cross-reference to the October CED meeting for prioritization discussion.

Item C2: Remote Public Participation Memo (Candelas, Ortiz, Cohen, Casey)

  • The committee reviewed a memo to reinstate remote public participation for city council meetings, in advance of SB 707's July 1, 2026 deadline. City Clerk Tony provided an update: the system can be operational by the June 2 council meeting, using the same Zoom-based process used during COVID, and would be ready for the June 8 budget hearing.
  • Councilmember Candelas emphasized accessibility for working families, people with disabilities, and those unable to attend in person. The motion aimed to implement remote participation for the rest of the fiscal year (June meetings) with permanent adoption under SB 707.
  • Councilmember Kamei raised concerns about potential abuse by non-local actors but acknowledged the need for compliance. The committee discussed safeguards, including pre-speaker warnings and having the city clerk handle disruptions.
  • Councilmember Duan clarified the SB 707 deadline is July 1, 2026 (not 2027 as originally typed). The motion was amended to extend the implementation beyond June to align with the legal requirement.
  • Public comment: Eleven speakers (including representatives from Catalyze SV, Working Partnerships, REACH Coalition, and disability advocates) strongly supported reinstatement, reading statements from community members who could not attend in person. They argued remote participation is essential for equity and inclusion.
  • Outcome: Motion carried 5-0. Remote public participation will be implemented starting with the June 2 council meeting, in time for the June 8 budget hearing, and will continue for all council meetings going forward. The city clerk will bring back policy changes (Policy 037) for formal adoption, with potential expansion to committees and commissions discussed for later meetings.

Open Forum

  • Jordan Moldow (D3 resident, BPAC chair) urged the council to monitor state changes to the cap-and-invest program that could reduce funding, and stressed the urgency of prioritizing housing to address displacement and affordability.
  • Alex Shubat (community member) echoed the housing urgency, noting San Jose is far behind its housing goals and that the consequences affect the next generation's ability to live in the city.

Key Outcomes

  • Item C1 (Ministerial Approval): Deferred to the 2027-28 budget cycle, with a directive to discuss prioritization at the October CED committee meeting. Vote: 5-0.
  • Item C2 (Remote Participation): Approved for immediate implementation starting June 2, 2026, for all council meetings, in compliance with SB 707. Vote: 5-0.
  • Open Forum: No formal action taken; comments were received for council consideration.

Meeting Transcript

Alright, it's two o'clock. So we're going to call today's meeting with the rules and open government committee to order and start with roll calling. Candelas. Here. Duan. Foley? Here. Come here. Cohen. Here. We have a quorum. Alright, we're going. Oh, Duan's here. Duan's coming down the stairs. First thing is to review the agenda for next week's council meeting May 19th. It's scheduled for 9:30 closed session, 1.30 regular session, evening session cancellation. And the agenda starts on page five. And we'll be all about our district people. It's not working out. It continues on page six. Seven. Section three, we have our citywide customer experience transformation update. And section five item is deferred. Section six, our San Jose Clean Energy Programs Roadmap Status Report. And land use item 10.2 environmental review policy. Do we have any public comment? No public comment. Second. All right, I don't see any hands, so let's vote. Can you vote verbally? Okay, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Abstentions? All right. Motion carries five zero. Now we're on to we don't have a meeting to review for the week after. Happy Memorial Day. Consent calendar has six items. Do you have any public comment and consent? Ms. Rain, please go ahead and make your way to the podium. Okay. All right. Back to the committee. Verbal vote, please, yes. Motion carries 5-0. We're on to item C1. The ministerial approval memo, Tordillos, Campos, Cohen, and Kamei. Um I think we already had a presentation last week.

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