OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/San Jose, California/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San Jose City Council Regular Meeting - September 15, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, September 15, 2026
BodySan Jose, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 5:49:49

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:26

Good afternoon, welcome everyone.

0:28

I'd like to call to order this meeting of the San Jose City Council for the afternoon of September 15th.

0:34

Joy, would you please call the role?

0:35

Come on.

0:37

Present.

0:38

Tordillos.

0:41

Cohen.

0:42

Ortiz.

0:43

Mokey.

0:44

Here.

0:44

Duan.

0:45

Here.

0:46

Candelas.

0:46

Here.

0:47

Casey.

0:48

Foley.

0:49

And Mahan.

0:49

Here.

0:50

We have a quorum.

0:51

Great.

0:51

Thank you.

0:51

Now, if you're able, please stand and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:14

Thank you.

1:15

Today's invocation will be provided by Dr.

1:18

Marilyn Flores, president of San Jose City College, and Councilmember Candelas will tell us more.

1:24

Thank you, Mayor.

1:25

I'm excited to welcome Dr.

1:27

Marilyn Flores, president of the San Jose Community College, right here to City Hall.

1:32

She uh began, Dr.

1:34

Flores began her new role as president earlier this year following 25 plus years of service within California's community college system.

1:42

She's the first Latina president of San Jose City College in its hundred-year history as a first generation college graduate and uh second second language learner.

1:52

Dr.

1:52

Flores understands firsthand the transformative power of education and its ability to change lives, strengthen families, and create opportunities for future generations.

2:02

Dr.

2:02

Flores, thank you for your leadership and service to our students and community.

2:06

Now I'd like to invite you to get our invocation started.

2:10

Thank you.

2:21

So thank you so much for having me here.

2:23

Um it gives me great pride in the month of Latin A Heritage Month to be here, and as was mentioned to serve as the president of San Jose City College.

2:32

And this month we celebrated our 105th birthday party.

2:35

And so we're 105 years old, and what was already stated is that I am the first Latina president in the 105-year history, and that's a big weight on my shoulders to make sure that I represent the community that we serve.

2:56

One of the newest buildings that we just brought on board is our career education building.

3:00

And if you haven't been to San Jose City College, it is beautiful.

3:04

It is 80,000 square feet, and it costs 188 million dollars.

3:09

It opened up for classes on spring of 2026.

3:12

So you can imagine I arrived in January and I had to open up the building in March, and we had over 140 classes in the building, and it can accommodate up to 5,700 students.

3:25

So really proud.

3:26

If you haven't been to the college, please do join us.

3:28

And just some quick facts about San Jose City College.

3:32

We're in the heart of what I say the heart of San Jose.

3:35

We uh have about more than 12,000 students, both in credit and non-credit and apprenticeship.

3:42

And just to kind of give you an idea, the majority of our students are part-time, so we have about 64% of our students that are part-time, and about 30 percent that are um that are uh full-time.

3:52

This last year we awarded 1,426 associate degrees, associate degrees for transfer, as well as certificates.

4:02

And with that said, we were able to have 196 students transferred to the UCs and 744 students transfer at graduation um to the Cal State Universities, which includes San Jose State University.

4:15

Um we were able to award more than 24 million dollars in financial aid, so we're definitely accessible, affordable, um, to provide education.

4:25

And as was mentioned, I am a product of the educational system and the impact that it can have on you.

4:31

Um being raised by a single mother, my uh second language was English, my first language was Spanish, um, which I'm proud of that I'm bilingual.

4:41

And I was raised by a single mother as well, and really didn't understand the system and managed to be able to figure it out, obtain my bachelor's, my master's, and proudly to say that I'm one of the two percent that holds a PhD.

5:00

And that's just an example that we can all do it, and I really encourage you know to have students continue their academic path so that we can prepare them for transfer or to join the workforce.

5:07

Um, and I will end with I was looking at our our economic impact that we have.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Homelessness████████████████████████████28%
Procedural████████████12%
Public Safety██████████10%
Transportation Safety███████7%
Public Comment██████6%
Housing█████5%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Cultural Recognition████4%
Land Use████4%
Summary of Proceedings

San Jose City Council Regular Meeting - September 15, 2026

The San Jose City Council met on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, starting with a closed session at 9:30 AM and the regular session at 1:30 PM. The meeting included ceremonial recognitions, a detailed annual performance review of council focus areas, an updated plan to reduce unsheltered homelessness, several land-use decisions, and unanimous approval of a temporary moratorium on detention facilities. Key votes were unanimous across all items requiring a vote, with the moratorium requiring and receiving nine affirmative votes.

Ceremonial Items

  • Commendation for Ivan the Angelfish: Councilmember Mulcahy presented a commendation to Evan Johnson, founder of Ivan the Angelfish, a student-led nonprofit that provides therapeutic aquariums and workshops to clinics, schools, and senior centers, now with 40 chapters across 24 countries.
  • Proclamation – Mexican Independence Day: Councilmembers Ortiz, Campos, and Candelas proclaimed September 16, 2026, as Mexican Independence Day. Consul General Pérez Gonzalez and Kiara from Viva Cultura Collective spoke.
  • Proclamation – Hispanic Heritage Month: Councilmembers Candelas, Ortiz, and Kamei proclaimed September 15 through October 15, 2026, as National Hispanic Heritage Month. Christopher Cobillas, president of Los Bomberos of Northern California, accepted the proclamation.
  • Proclamation – September 11th Remembrance: Councilmember Doan proclaimed September 11, 2026, as September 11th Remembrance and National First Responders Day, honoring the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the 2001 attacks.

Consent Calendar

  • The Consent Calendar, including approval of minutes, ordinances, committee minutes, travel requests, contract amendments, and financial reports, was approved unanimously by voice vote. A single public comment was made by Roland, who urged the council to work with Councilmember Casey on a community benefit agreement regarding a nearby project.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Consent Calendar: Roland spoke about a community benefit agreement and fireproof equipment.
  • Council Focus Area Annual Report (3.4): Several speakers addressed the report. Brian expressed concern over rising traffic fatalities. User one criticized subsidies for luxury housing and speed cameras. Dashiel (Sierra Club) urged transparency on data center projects and questioned the city's partnership with PG&E. Jordan Moldow called for a mobility and climate focus area and more traffic safety projects.
  • Updated Functional Zero Model (3.5): Many unhoused residents and advocates testified. Lori described trauma from encampment sweeps and lack of case managers. Albert feared exiting shelter without permanent housing. Shannon (SVCN/Real Coalition) demanded equitable shelter with appropriate services. Dizzy reported complaints about Motel 6 conditions. Grateful read a statement about evictions and mandatory programs. Other speakers highlighted inadequate mental health services and the need for permanent housing.
  • Glider Residential Project (10.2): Supporters included Oak Grove School District staff and teachers, who cited $26.6 million needed for schools, declining enrollment, and safety issues at the vacant site. Opponents (neighbors) raised concerns about density, privacy, construction noise, traffic, and requested a lower density alternative, larger setbacks, and no Saturday construction.
  • Temporary Moratorium (3.3): Numerous speakers supported the moratorium, including Raymondosa (Amigos de Guadalupe), Ashley (Eastside resident), Sean Baker, Rania Mosin (Rep. Licardo’s office), Dashiel (Sierra Club), Jeremy Baruze (IPEN), and others, citing threats to immigrant safety and the environment. One speaker opposed, arguing the city should cooperate with federal enforcement.
  • Open Forum: Multiple speakers criticized the city’s Flock ALPR cameras after a sworn officer was found to have abused access to stalk a domestic violence victim. They demanded independent oversight, an audit, and termination of the Flock contract.

Discussion Items

  • City Manager Report (3.1): City Manager Maguire reported on Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, noting a 13% increase in 988 awareness and a tenfold increase in 911-to-988 call transfers.
  • Council Focus Area Annual Report (3.4): Staff presented a 20-minute report on progress across five focus areas: Increasing Community Safety, Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness, Clean Up Neighborhoods, Growing Our Economy, and Building More Housing. Highlights included: safety perceptions up 5 points, 116 new police recruits, 10x increase in 988 transfers, record 707 shelter units added, 60% reduction in oversized/lived-in vehicles, 1.8% decline in illegal dumping tonnage, 6,500 jobs retained/expanded, and 3,053 housing units added via incentive programs. Council members discussed lessons learned, red light camera effectiveness, regional homeless flow, and prevention strategies. The report was accepted unanimously.
  • Updated Functional Zero Model and Homelessness Work Plan (3.5): Housing Director Eric Sullivan and Assistant City Manager Lee Wilcox presented a shift from building shelter capacity to managing system flow. Key points: unsheltered population estimated at 3,702 via new dynamic model (down from PIT count), 30% shelter rejection rate, need for regional accountability, and exploration of length-of-stay and program participation policies. Councilmember Casey moved to approve the amendments with an additional charge to review city-housing authority agreements to expand shelter investment. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Multifamily Housing Incentive Program – 3896 Stevens Creek Blvd (8.1): Staff presented a request to approve a tax and fee waiver of up to $6,934,618 for Phase 1 (311 units, 16 affordable at 50% AMI). The applicant noted construction would begin in October 2026. Councilmember Kamei moved approval, citing redevelopment of a blighted area. Unanimously approved.
  • Glider Residential Project – 80 Single-Family Homes (10.2): Staff explained the project is a Builders’ Remedy application on a former school site. The EIR found significant unavoidable VMT and GHG impacts, requiring a Statement of Overriding Considerations. The project includes 11 deed-restricted low-income homes, a 0.68-acre public park, and a $4 million VMT offset fee. Public comment was divided. Councilmember Casey made the motion, acknowledging the developer’s cooperation with the community. Unanimously approved.
  • Temporary Moratorium on Detention Facilities (3.3): Council considered an interim ordinance banning applications for detention/custodial facilities on private property for 45 days. The mayor’s “blue memo” directed staff to also analyze applicability to public land. The ordinance requires nine affirmative votes. All council members expressed support. Unanimously approved (11-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
  • Council Focus Area Annual Report: Accepted unanimously.
  • Updated Homelessness Work Plan: Approved with added direction to review housing authority agreements by January 2027.
  • MHIP Tax Waiver for 3896 Stevens Creek Blvd: Approved unanimously.
  • Glider Residential Project: Approved unanimously, including certification of the EIR, Statement of Overriding Considerations, vesting tentative map, and site development permit.
  • Temporary Moratorium on Detention Facilities: Approved unanimously (exceeding the required nine votes). Staff to return on September 29, 2026, with an updated ordinance addressing public land.
  • All votes were voice or electronic, with unanimous support on each item requiring a vote.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, welcome everyone. I'd like to call to order this meeting of the San Jose City Council for the afternoon of September 15th. Joy, would you please call the role? Come on. Present. Tordillos. Cohen. Ortiz. Mokey. Here. Duan. Here. Candelas. Here. Casey. Foley. And Mahan. Here. We have a quorum. Great. Thank you. Now, if you're able, please stand and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Today's invocation will be provided by Dr. Marilyn Flores, president of San Jose City College, and Councilmember Candelas will tell us more. Thank you, Mayor. I'm excited to welcome Dr. Marilyn Flores, president of the San Jose Community College, right here to City Hall. She uh began, Dr. Flores began her new role as president earlier this year following 25 plus years of service within California's community college system. She's the first Latina president of San Jose City College in its hundred-year history as a first generation college graduate and uh second second language learner. Dr. Flores understands firsthand the transformative power of education and its ability to change lives, strengthen families, and create opportunities for future generations. Dr. Flores, thank you for your leadership and service to our students and community. Now I'd like to invite you to get our invocation started. Thank you. So thank you so much for having me here. Um it gives me great pride in the month of Latin A Heritage Month to be here, and as was mentioned to serve as the president of San Jose City College. And this month we celebrated our 105th birthday party. And so we're 105 years old, and what was already stated is that I am the first Latina president in the 105-year history, and that's a big weight on my shoulders to make sure that I represent the community that we serve. One of the newest buildings that we just brought on board is our career education building. And if you haven't been to San Jose City College, it is beautiful. It is 80,000 square feet, and it costs 188 million dollars. It opened up for classes on spring of 2026. So you can imagine I arrived in January and I had to open up the building in March, and we had over 140 classes in the building, and it can accommodate up to 5,700 students. So really proud. If you haven't been to the college, please do join us. And just some quick facts about San Jose City College. We're in the heart of what I say the heart of San Jose.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com