OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Joint Meeting of Rules and Open Government Committee and Committee of the Whole - September 2, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
BodySan Jose, California
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, September 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 9:12

Transcript — Verbatim
0:24

Afternoon.

0:25

It is two o'clock.

0:27

And this is the joint meeting of the rules and open government committee.

0:33

Roll call, please.

0:34

Candelas.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Here.

0:37

Foley.

0:38

Come here.

0:39

Here.

0:39

Go and absent.

0:40

We have a quorum.

0:41

Thank you so much.

0:42

Item A one.

0:45

Uh we uh don't have a meeting on September 8th, which has been canceled due to the holidays.

0:51

So we'll move on to item number two, review draft agenda for September 15th.

0:58

And we have the 9 30 closed session, I believe.

1:04

Let's see here.

1:05

I can't see.

1:09

And then 1 30 regular session.

1:12

Uh we have consent starting on page five.

1:19

Six, seven, eight, ending on page nine.

1:24

We have strategic support starting on nine.

1:30

Uh we have a temporary moratorium, detention of custodial facility and private property, page 11.

1:37

We have uh council focus areas report on page 12.

1:42

Uh updating functional zero model.

1:45

Uh we have item five, transportation, still page 12.

1:50

Moving on to page 13.

1:52

We have community economic development.

1:54

Uh, and land use to be heard immediately after consent on Title 20 zoning and plan development permit for uh property 5651 Cottle Road, and we have land use on page 15.

2:15

And that's it.

2:17

Public is there any public comment.

2:21

No public comment at this time.

2:23

Okay.

2:26

There's a motion and a second.

2:28

Let's vote.

2:32

That passes unanimously.

2:34

Thank you very much.

2:36

And going on to our consent item.

2:39

We have two items.

2:41

We have our public records, and we have uh infrastructure financing tools for economic development.

2:48

Uh I don't see any questions.

2:50

Is there any public comment?

2:51

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

2:57

My last letter, my letter, last on the list has a mislabeled topic open forum.

3:04

The actual topic is request repeal of the blanket prohibition of pedestrians from expressways.

3:10

In 1989, the city council, at my request, voted 11 to 0 to repeal the prohibition of bicyclists from expressways, despite huge opposition from SJ DOT.

3:24

The same ordinance is now a blanket prohibition of pedestrians.

3:27

There is no exception for sidewalks, paths, bike lanes, or bus stops.

3:32

Highway staff from the county use your ordinance as authority to destroy sidewalks, which kills people to obtain more car lanes.

3:42

This is proven in my slideshow.

3:45

In 1991, the BOS at my request required pass or sidewalks along the quote entire expressway system, unquote.

3:55

Highway staff cites your ordinance to refuse to comply.

3:59

Thank you, Aquas.

4:00

That's your time.

4:01

Thank you.

4:02

Moving on to virtual speakers.

4:03

Blair.

4:07

Hi, hi Ban.

4:08

I wish we could have more time to hear uh the words of the previous speaker.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment█████████████████████████████████████37%
Procedural█████████████████████████████████33%
Technology and Innovation█████████████13%
Parking█████████9%
Transportation Safety████████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Joint Meeting of Rules and Open Government Committee and Committee of the Whole - September 2, 2026

The committee met to review the draft agenda for September 15, 2026, and to approve consent calendar items. Public comments were heard on various topics.

Consent Calendar

  • Public Record for August 20-27, 2026: Received and filed.
  • Infrastructure Financing Tools for Economic Development Study Session: Set for Friday, October 2, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and approved the study session agenda. Both items were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Akkos (in-person): Requested repeal of the blanket prohibition of pedestrians from expressways (City Code 1130-70). Referenced a 1989 council vote to repeal a similar prohibition on bicyclists and argued that the current ordinance is used by county highway staff to justify destroying sidewalks, endangering pedestrians. Also noted that council members have directed him to the county, but county counsel states the city has jurisdiction.
  • Blair (virtual): Commented on two public record items: missing middle housing, expressing support for a humble, neighborhood-focused approach; and surveillance technology, urging more openness and accountability. Also raised concerns about the data center project at Harry Lane, questioning the adequacy of the public process and suggesting the area may be poisoned.
  • Caller user one (virtual): Criticized the Parking Commission meeting for being Zoom-only with poor audio, called the meeting an embarrassment. Opposed proposed parking charges and compliance expansion, stating it would harm downtown. Also noted a pile of leaves at Speak and Luchese that remains unremoved.

Discussion Items

  • Review of Draft Agenda for September 15, 2026: The committee reviewed the agenda including closed session at 9:30 a.m., regular session at 1:30 p.m., consent calendar, strategic support, temporary moratorium on detention of custodial facility on private property, council focus areas report, transportation, community economic development, and land use items. The agenda was approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • The draft agenda for September 15, 2026, was approved.
  • The consent calendar items (public record and study session) were approved.
  • No other votes or decisions were made. The meeting adjourned at 2:08 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Afternoon. It is two o'clock. And this is the joint meeting of the rules and open government committee. Roll call, please. Candelas. Here. Here. Foley. Come here. Here. Go and absent. We have a quorum. Thank you so much. Item A one. Uh we uh don't have a meeting on September 8th, which has been canceled due to the holidays. So we'll move on to item number two, review draft agenda for September 15th. And we have the 9 30 closed session, I believe. Let's see here. I can't see. And then 1 30 regular session. Uh we have consent starting on page five. Six, seven, eight, ending on page nine. We have strategic support starting on nine. Uh we have a temporary moratorium, detention of custodial facility and private property, page 11. We have uh council focus areas report on page 12. Uh updating functional zero model. Uh we have item five, transportation, still page 12. Moving on to page 13. We have community economic development. Uh, and land use to be heard immediately after consent on Title 20 zoning and plan development permit for uh property 5651 Cottle Road, and we have land use on page 15. And that's it. Public is there any public comment. No public comment at this time. Okay. There's a motion and a second. Let's vote. That passes unanimously. Thank you very much. And going on to our consent item. We have two items. We have our public records, and we have uh infrastructure financing tools for economic development. Uh I don't see any questions. Is there any public comment? Yes, Akkos, please go ahead and make your way to the podium. My last letter, my letter, last on the list has a mislabeled topic open forum. The actual topic is request repeal of the blanket prohibition of pedestrians from expressways. In 1989, the city council, at my request, voted 11 to 0 to repeal the prohibition of bicyclists from expressways, despite huge opposition from SJ DOT. The same ordinance is now a blanket prohibition of pedestrians. There is no exception for sidewalks, paths, bike lanes, or bus stops. Highway staff from the county use your ordinance as authority to destroy sidewalks, which kills people to obtain more car lanes.

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