San José City Council Meeting – September 22, 2026

The San José City Council convened on September 22, 2026, at 1:30 PM in a hybrid meeting to discuss ceremonial recognitions, routine consent items, and several major reports. Key topics included the 2026 Summer Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Report, the status of open audit recommendations, an employee turnover audit, and the stormwater management annual report. A robust debate occurred over a resolution to restore local land-use control, ultimately adopted 9-2 after a substitute motion failed 4-7.

Ceremonial Items

• Rhonda Berry, Executive Director of Our City Forest, was honored for 30 years of service. Under her leadership, over 80,000 trees and 20,000 shrubs were planted, mobilizing more than 175,000 volunteers and 35,000 students. The city saved an estimated net $75 million in tree-planting costs.
• MLV NorCal (NorCal Rumble), a new professional women’s volleyball team, was welcomed with a proclamation. The team will play at Tech CU Arena starting in 2027. Heather Vaughn, President, emphasized the brand’s connection to Northern California’s natural landscapes.
• The Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center was recognized for its 45th anniversary. CEO Gabrielle Antalovich highlighted the center’s volunteer-run model and ongoing challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community, including attacks on trans women.
• A proclamation declared September 2026 as International Literacy Month. Councilmember Kamei noted that only 54% of Santa Clara County third graders read at grade level, while the San José Public Library hosted over 8,100 literacy programs reaching nearly 170,000 participants.

Consent Calendar

• Councilmember Candelas pulled Item 2.9 (Amendment to Funding Agreement with East Side Union High School District for a Community Wireless Network), highlighting that the agreement provides free internet access to 200,000 students and families at Overfelt, Evergreen Valley, and Silver Creek high schools. Councilmember Doan also thanked library staff for including digital equity efforts at Yerba Buena and Andrew Hill high schools. The consent calendar, including all routine approvals, was adopted unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Brian (speaker) expressed appreciation for audit work and raised concerns about police overtime spending and the need to focus on state-level issues.
• Jordan Muldaur (District 3) urged the city to conduct regular employee engagement surveys and follow up on results, citing his private-sector experience.
• User one (Michael Censini) complained about trash piles on Speake and Luchessi avenues (District 9) and urged better coordination with Valley Water for flood preparation, noting that the city’s electrical grid and sewer system are not ready for growth.
• Betsy spoke during Open Forum about her brother’s homelessness and banishment, criticizing the city’s policies.
• Additional speakers during stormwater and turnover audits offered brief supportive comments.

Discussion Items

• 3.3 – 2026 Summer Intergovernmental Relations Report:

  • Emily Lamb (Director of IGR) and Han Kang (Chief IGR Officer) presented the report. Key achievements included securing approximately $6.2 million in federal earmarks for mobile home repairs, fire equipment, and park improvements; $21 million for transportation infrastructure; $3.3 million for seven firefighter positions to open Fire Station 32 in Little Saigon; and state funding for homeless housing assistance (HHAP).
  • The city successfully advocated for two bills now before the governor: SB 1375 (CEQA exemption for Diridon Station modernization) and AB 1941 (anti-copper wire theft). E-bike safety bills were also shaped (SB 1167 and AB 2346), and a Superior Court ruling protected 3,000 cardroom jobs.
  • Mayor Mahan thanked the IGR team and highlighted the city’s proactive stance on data centers, emphasizing that local standards will go beyond state regulation.
  • Councilmembers Casey and Candelas introduced a memo calling for the city to support a League of California Cities resolution to restore local control over housing and land use. Councilmember Tordillos offered a substitute motion to instead direct staff to return with recommendations for providing flexibility to pro-housing cities while retaining enforcement tools for bad actors. After debate, the substitute motion failed 4-7 (with Kamei, Cohen, Tordillos, and Campos in favor). The underlying motion to adopt the IGR staff recommendation and support the Casey/Candelas memo passed 9-2 (Kamei and Tordillos opposed).

• 3.4 – Status of Open Audit Recommendations:

  • City Auditor Joe Royce reported that 102 recommendations were tracked; 29 were implemented since the last update, leaving 73 open. Over 10 years, 90% of all recommendations have been closed. Of the 12 priority recommendations, three were implemented (vacant land reporting, SEQA guidelines, procurement handbook), and two new ones were added (police overtime monitoring and encampment abatement outreach protocols).
  • Mayor Mahan and Councilmembers Campos, Doan, and Vice Mayor Foley engaged: The administration committed to closing the remaining seven priorities within six months. Eric Sullivan (Housing Director) confirmed that outreach and BSJ databases are now aligned, and the Bell Properties contract will implement a work-order system for interim housing maintenance, saving an estimated $900,000 over six months.
  • The report was accepted unanimously.

• 3.5 – Employee Turnover Audit Report:

  • Joe Royce and Michelle Millary presented the audit. Non-sworn annual turnover averaged 8.7% (including retirements) from FY 2022-2025, well below the public-sector average of 18%. Two key findings: (1) limited employee sentiment data hinders retention efforts; (2) inconsistent succession planning practices across departments. Four recommendations included: provide guidance on stay/exit interviews, re-establish a citywide employee survey, share workforce analytics with departments, and develop succession planning guidance.
  • Ram Kayum (HR) noted the administration has already started work and expects to implement recommendations within the fiscal year. Councilmember Campos underscored the importance of acting on survey results, citing San Diego’s example of a child-care subsidy. The report was accepted unanimously.

• 6.1 – Stormwater Management Annual Report FY 2025-2026:

  • Jeff Provenzano (ESD), Reggie Nair, Garrett Hurdle (Public Works), and Olympia Williams (PRNS) presented. The city met the critical December 31, 2025 deadline for 100% trash load reduction, a result of 15 years of investment and installation of 40 small trash capture devices last year. 30 miles of no-encampment zones were established, 3.4 million pounds of trash collected, and bio-waste services provided to 2,600 lived-in vehicles. The total stormwater program investment was estimated at $88 million, down $34 million from the previous year due to the completion of interim housing facilities.
  • The current permit is expected to be extended through June 2028. Councilmembers Mulcahy and Kamei raised issues about jurisdictional coordination with Valley Water, particularly regarding woody debris and flood preparation, and the need for a public dialogue. The report was accepted unanimously.

• 8.2 – FY 2025-2026 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER):

  • Councilmember Ortiz highlighted successes in East San Jose: 725 door-to-door visits, Somos Mayfair’s leadership program reaching 170 residents, and Vivo serving 182 residents (nearly double its goal of 100). The report was accepted unanimously (with Councilmember Tordillos absent).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
• IGR Report (3.3): The council adopted the staff recommendation and supported the Casey/Candelas memo directing the city to advocate for restoring local land-use control. Substitute motion failed 4-7; underlying motion passed 9-2.
• Open Audit Recommendations (3.4): Accepted unanimously; administration to prioritize seven remaining recommendations by next report.
• Employee Turnover Audit (3.5): Accepted unanimously; HR to implement all four recommendations by end of fiscal year.
• Stormwater Report (6.1): Accepted unanimously; city to continue coordination with Valley Water and regulators on creeks and flood preparedness.
• CAPER (8.2): Accepted unanimously.