San José City Council Meeting — August 18, 2026

The City Council of San José convened at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in a hybrid format after a closed session that began at 9:30 a.m. The meeting included ceremonial recognitions, a unanimous consent calendar, a housing loan portfolio audit, a response to a Civil Grand Jury report on the Animal Care Center, a land use appeal for 1295 Curtner Avenue, and a major policy framework discussion on the General Plan Four-Year Review. Members of the public spoke extensively on several items, especially the General Plan changes. The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:30 p.m.

Ceremonial Items

• The invocation was delivered by Than Phong Taekwondo Institute, arranged by Councilmember Doan.
• A commendation was presented to the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI), recognizing its 21 years of service, support of over 29,000 children and youth, 80+ coaches, and more than 9,800 volunteers. CEO Dana Weintraub accepted on behalf of the organization.
• Valley Services was recognized for its 40th anniversary as a family-run waste and sanitation company. Councilmember Mulcahy and Doan presented the commendation, and a representative accepted, highlighting the company's second-chance employment practices and nearly 100 employees.
• Air traffic controllers at Mineta San José International Airport received a commendation recognizing their work in ensuring safety for nearly 12 million annual passengers. Victor Ramirez accepted on their behalf.
• The council adjourned the meeting in memory of Reverend Peter G. Pabst, S.J., who died on May 2, 2026. Kayla Quinto, a Cristo Rey alumna, shared personal reflections on his legacy of expanding educational opportunities.

Consent Calendar

• The consent calendar was approved unanimously. Routine items included approval of minutes, ordinances, committee minutes, excused absences, and travel reports.
• Several substantive items were also on consent, including:
  • Airside Lighting Replacement Project: $2,300,000 increase in federal revenue and $300,000 from the Airport Renewal and Replacement Fund.
  • Amendments to master consultant agreements with Project Controls Joint Venture LLC (increase of $750,000 to $6,750,000, term extended to June 30, 2028) and PMA Consultants LLC (term extension only).
  • Northern California Regional Intelligence Center (NCRIC) agreement amendment with the County of San Mateo, increasing compensation by $141,569 to a total of $424,707 and extending to July 31, 2026.
  • Resilient Facilities Coalition adoption and Proposition 4 climate bond readiness, authorizing grant applications estimated between $300,000 and $27,500,000.
  • Amendment to the Heritage Tree List.
• Public comment on consent items included concerns about the NCRIC item and the consent process, but the Mayor explained these were routine reimbursements and grant applications.

Land Use Consent — 650 Harry Road (Item 10.1)

• Councilmember Casey pulled this item from the consent calendar for discussion.
• Staff explained the request was a conforming rezoning of the former IBM Almaden Research Center (approximately 600 acres total) to align zoning with the General Plan: 35.097 acres to IP Industrial Park and 565.063 acres to OS Open Space.
• Applicant Eric Shanaw said IBM is selling the property and that the rezoning would preserve open space while allowing modern economic uses for the industrial portion, preventing vandalism and fires.
• Public comment was overwhelmingly in favor of deferral or denial. Speakers, including adjoining property owner Evan Brooks, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, Sierra Club Loma Prieta, Green Foothills, and many Almaden residents, raised concerns about:
  • The lack of permanent protection (conservation easement) for the open space.
  • Potential future data centers or advanced manufacturing under the IP zoning.
  • SB 131, which exempts advanced manufacturing uses from CEQA on industrially zoned parcels.
  • Water and power impacts, fire risk, and the perception that the rezoning was rushed through the consent process.
• Council discussion: Staff confirmed that a conservation easement cannot be required as a condition of rezoning, but they would include information about a possible voluntary easement in future discussions with the property owner. Councilmember Casey made a motion to approve the rezoning, seconded by Councilmember Cohen.
• Vote: The motion passed 9 to 2, with Councilmembers Kamei and Campos voting no.

Report of the City Manager

• City Manager Jennifer Maguire reported no items.

Housing Department Loan Portfolio Audit (Item 3.3)

• City Auditor Joe Royce presented the audit of the Housing Department’s affordable housing loan portfolio, which totaled over $745 million with nearly 25,000 units across approximately 220 properties.
• The audit found that the asset management team had not completed all annual property reviews and inspections in recent years due to vacancies, unclear expectations, and insufficient software tools. A limited sample of 878 units (4% of total) found that 13% had tenants above their income cap, and 5% earned 140% or more of the cap. The audit also found no documented escalation process for repeated violations.
• Housing Director Eric Sullivan accepted the findings, noting the department's complex regulatory environment.
• Councilmembers asked about vacancies and future updates on income-limit policies. The council accepted the audit report unanimously, with Councilmember Casey absent.

Animal Care Center Grand Jury Response (Item 7.1)

• Staff presented the city’s response to the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury report, “San José Animal Care Center: The need to strengthen transparency, performance, and trust.” The response agreed with four findings and partially disagreed with one, related to declining rescue partnerships.
• Public comment was extensive. Animal advocates and volunteers raised concerns about shelter management, euthanasia (citing 154 dogs, 715 cats, and 496 kittens killed in the last fiscal year), the termination of volunteers, lack of spay/neuter capacity, and the need for a community advisory group with actual influence.
• Council discussion: Mayor Mahan noted the city has nearly doubled funding for the animal care center over three years. Councilmember Ortiz pressed for the community advisory group to include critics and asked how its recommendations would be reported. Councilmember Doan recited the completion of all prior audit items and moved to accept the report.
• The motion passed unanimously, 11 to 0.

Appeal — 1295 Curtner Avenue (Item 10.2)

• This was an administrative hearing on the appeal of the environmental determination and Site Development Permit for a project to build 12 residential condominium units (two of which would be affordable), using State Density Bonus Law, with 14 waivers and the removal of 21 trees on a 0.65-acre site.
• Staff recommended denying the appeals and upholding the Planning Director’s approval, including the Class 32 In-fill Exemption under CEQA.
• Appellants Christine and Jennifer spoke about existing traffic safety problems at the Kirtner/Cottle intersection and noted that a road-rage stabbing had occurred at that intersection earlier in the day. They requested a formal traffic safety study.
• Applicant Sarah Johanion described the project as a modest infill development, criticized the appeal process for causing a five-month delay, and noted the project would have 42 parking spaces.
• Public comment was mixed, with neighbors opposed and some supporters. Concerns included traffic, school congestion, parking, tree loss, and construction impacts.
• Council discussion: Vice Mayor Foley and Councilmember Mulcahy acknowledged the intersection’s traffic issues. DOT staff agreed to conduct pre-construction and post-occupancy traffic studies, refresh crosswalk striping, and coordinate with the police on the morning’s incident. Councilmember Mulcahy moved to deny the appeals and approve the permit.
• The motion passed unanimously.

General Plan Four-Year Review Policy Framework (Item 10.3)

• This item presented the policy framework for updating the Envision San José 2040 General Plan, including increasing residential capacity, developing a small multifamily (“missing middle”) housing program, updating the Urban Village strategy, and maintaining the Jobs-to-Employed Residents ratio at 1.1.
• Staff highlighted that the Planning Commission recommended approval, but noted a separate vote on small multifamily was 9–2, and the commission did not reach a majority recommendation on the Winchester Boulevard land use changes. The agenda had stated the Planning Commission recommended 11-0 for items (a)-(d) and 9-2 for item (e), but the transcript indicates the Winchester item lacked a majority.
• Public comment lasted over two hours, with more than 100 in-person and online speakers. The majority of speakers who commented opposed the proposed increase from 8 to 32 dwelling units per acre in residential neighborhoods, citing parking, traffic, infrastructure, tree canopy, neighborhood character, and irreversibility. Many supported the proposal, including representatives from VTA, SV@Home, YIMBY, faith groups, and working families, emphasizing the need for housing and compliance with state law.
• Council discussion was extensive. Councilmember Doan proposed a four-week deferral for additional public outreach; this did not succeed. Councilmember Cohen’s motion, incorporating multiple council memos and friendly amendments, directed staff to study a density range of 16, 24, and 32 units per acre, evaluate parking minimums where legally allowed, address high VMT areas and public safety guardrails, study PQP (public/quasi-public) land conversions, add a second General Plan amendment cycle, explore a local density bonus program, and adopt the Winchester Corridor compromise proposed by Councilmember Mulcahy. Staff will return with draft amendments and environmental analysis in December 2027.
• Vote: The motion passed 8 to 3, with Councilmembers Doan, Candelas, and Casey dissenting.

Open Forum

• Members of the public spoke about topics not on the agenda, including mobile food truck regulations (the 15-minute parking rule), debris at a street corner, and a vacant lot on Menker Avenue that could be used for housing.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved unanimously.
• 650 Harry Road rezoning approved 9–2 (Kamei and Campos dissent).
• Housing Department Loan Portfolio Audit accepted unanimously (Casey absent).
• Animal Care Center response to Civil Grand Jury report adopted 11–0.
• 1295 Curtner Avenue appeal denied and project approved unanimously.
• General Plan Four-Year Review policy framework approved 8–3 (Doan, Candelas, Casey dissent). Staff to return with more detailed proposals and environmental review by December 2027.
• The city committed to improved public outreach and additional traffic studies, including a pre-construction and post-occupancy study for the Curtner Avenue area.