San José Rules and Open Government Committee Meeting Summary - May 27, 2026

The Rules and Open Government Committee met on May 27, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. to review upcoming council meeting agendas and discuss two memos: ranked choice voting for council vacancies and uniform standards for data center development. The committee approved both agenda items and both discussion items unanimously (5-0).

Consent Calendar

• Agenda Review for June 2, 2026: The committee approved the agenda (including reinstatement of remote participation, public hearings on sidewalk liens, affordable housing grants, sewer and garbage rates, water management plans, and business improvement districts) with a 5-0 vote after public comment. No additional changes were made.
• Agenda Review for June 9, 2026: The committee approved the consent agenda (covering the mayor’s budget message, approval of operating/capital budgets, fees and charges, and wastewater facility security) with a 5-0 vote. No public comment.
• Consent Calendar Items: Two items were approved unanimously—including a donation-related item—after a public comment from Brian about donating computers to the library.

Public Comments & Testimony

• On the June 2 Agenda: A speaker thanked the committee for reinstating remote participation, noted the effort of advocacy, and apologized for harassment directed at Councilmember Cohen, urging accountability.
• On Consent Items: Brian requested assistance donating several computers, noting difficulty reaching city offices.
• On Ranked Choice Voting for Vacancies (C1):
  • Gabby Chavez Lopez (Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley) expressed strong support, citing cost savings (the D3 runoff alone cost $1.5 million) and increased voter choice for communities of color.
  • Tom Sharon (California Ranked Choice Voting Coalition) supported the measure, emphasizing that implementation costs are less than a single runoff and provide long-term savings.
  • Vicky Muller Alveira (South San Jose resident) supported the reform, arguing it gives voters more voice and increases engagement.
  • Jordan Muldell (District 3) supported but suggested the proposal should apply to all council elections, not just special elections, to reduce confusion.
• On Data Center Uniform Standards (C2):
  • Brian urged strong guardrails, expressing concern about corporations replacing people.
  • Vanessa Tapia (South Bay Labor Council) supported standards that include strong labor standards (PLAs, SB 887) alongside environmental protections.
  • Dasha Leeds (Sierra Club Loma Prieta) expressed distrust due to lack of public transparency, citing 34 data center projects in the pipeline, absence of community engagement, and requested six specific safeguards (quantitative thresholds, public dashboard, suspension of new agreements, cumulative environmental review, stakeholder process).
  • Emmanuel (IBW Local 332) supported labor-friendly regulations and noted data centers can be built with air cooling to reduce water use.
  • Jordan Muldell supported the memo but called for a programmatic EIR to assess cumulative impacts of 30+ data centers.
  • Doug Block (Silicon Valley MEPS) supported the memo, noted San Jose was first U.S. city to require workforce agreements on data centers, and urged adoption of SB 887’s labor and community benefit language.
  • Alina (Santa Clara University) questioned the city’s water usage assumptions, noted lack of public data post-operation, and challenged the financial projections (Santa Clara: ~$750,000 per data center vs. San Jose’s projected $7 million). Also warned of property value loss.
  • Christopher Pop (IBEW 332) supported strong labor standards to ensure living wages and prevent a race to the bottom.

Discussion Items

• C1: Ranked Choice Voting for Council Vacancies

  • Chair Cohen introduced the memo (co-authored with Councilmembers Kamei, Kehi, and Tordillos) to place a charter amendment on the November ballot allowing the council to use ranked choice voting in special elections to fill vacancies. The current charter prohibits this option.
  • Vice Mayor Foley expressed support but raised concern about cost to place it on the ballot (~$600,000); staff confirmed funding is already in the elections appropriation. Foley made a motion to approve; it was seconded.
  • Councilmember Kamei supported, noting past vacancies have been costly to both city and candidates.
  • Assistant City Attorney Kevin Fisher confirmed that if approved, the city attorney’s office would bring a draft resolution and charter measure to the full council by June 23. The deadline for November ballot is August 7.
  • The motion carried 5-0.

• C2: Data Center Uniform Standards

  • Councilmember Candelas introduced the memo (co-authored with Chair Cohen, Mayor, and Councilmember Ortiz) seeking a workload analysis to develop uniform standards addressing environmental concerns (water, energy, air quality) and labor standards.
  • Chair Cohen noted the intent is to codify standards that are guardrails, not overly prescriptive, to allow for technological improvements.
  • Councilmember Kamei asked whether the standards would be council policy or administrative; staff clarified that either path requires similar work, and that the TNE committee has already begun discussions. Final standards would come back to council for review.
  • The committee approved the motion (5-0) to request a workload analysis and return to the committee in two weeks (likely June 10) to move forward to full council.

Key Outcomes

• C1 (Ranked Choice Voting): Approved 5-0. The item will go to the full council on June 23 with a draft resolution and charter amendment for the November ballot.
• C2 (Data Center Standards): Approved 5-0. Staff will present a workload analysis at the next rules committee meeting (estimated two weeks), after which the item will advance to council for further discussion and adoption of standards.
• The meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m.