San José City Council Meeting – September 29, 2026

The San José City Council met on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, in a hybrid meeting starting at 1:30 p.m. (following a 9:30 a.m. closed session). The council approved consent items, land use items, a wastewater financing program, and an elevator replacement project. A major debate centered on proposed parking meter and garage rate increases, culminating in a compromise motion that passed 7-3 after initial motions failed.

Consent Calendar

• Approved consent calendar (9-0) including:
  • Approval of council/committee minutes and excused absence requests.
  • Amendments to airport leases (Jett Pro Line Maintenance, GSA, PrimeFlight Aviation).
  • Amendment to master consultant agreement with HF&H Consultants ($380,000 to $480,000).
  • Authorization for Interim Independent Police Auditor travel to Louisville for NACOLE training.
  • Amendment to grant agreement with San José Public Library Foundation (increase to $1.3 million).
  • Amendment to tow administrator services agreement (increase to $4,363,076).
  • First amendment for Race Street/Parkmoor Avenue Safety Improvements project (increase to $660,230).
  • Grant application for Highway 237 Trail Rail Crossing Improvement Project.
  • Status report on 2018 Measure T Disaster Preparedness Bond.
  • Travel authorizations for Mayor Mahan and staff to various events.
  • $500 grant to California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Parking item (5.2): Numerous downtown small business owners, employees, residents, and parking board members spoke in opposition to the rate increases, citing harms to downtown vibrancy, employee affordability, safety in garages, and inadequate prior outreach. A downtown business owner stated he would leave San Jose after 20 years. Some speakers supported a pause and more data.
• Moratorium item (3.5): Public comment included support for the moratorium (e.g., from a community member thanking council for protecting public safety) and opposition from a caller criticizing the city's approach to federal immigration enforcement.
• Elevator project (5.1): A speaker with mobility issues urged ensuring elevators are accessible for all users.
• Wastewater financing (Joint agenda): One speaker praised the collaborative effort; another expressed skepticism about city management.
• Open Forum: Speakers raised concerns about a local service provider facing permit issues and noise disturbances at interim housing.

Discussion Items

• 3.3 – Performance Measures Audit: City Auditor presented audit of Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs (OEDCA) with 5 recommendations to improve clarity and documentation. OEDCA accepted all recommendations. Council approved 9-0.
• 3.5 – Temporary Moratorium on Detention/Custodial Facilities: Council adopted an interim ordinance establishing a 45-day moratorium (with possible extensions) on applications for detention or custodial facilities on private/public property, to allow study of zoning implications. Motion passed unanimously (9-0).
• 5.1 – SJC Terminal Elevator Replacement Project: Awarded contract up to $9,415,000 with 15% contingency. Motion passed unanimously (9-0).
• 5.2 – Parking Meter and Garage Rates and Hours: Extensive debate on balancing revenue needs, downtown vibrancy, and equity. Councilmember Tordillos introduced a blue memo with a two-year phased approach vs. staff's five-year plan. Initial motion tied 5-5 (failed). A subsequent motion for a joint council-parking board meeting also failed 5-5. Finally, a compromise motion (items 1A, B, C, F and all of item 2 from the blue memo) passed 7-3.
• 6.1 – Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program: Amendment with County of Santa Clara increasing compensation by $4,083,373 to $5,283,373, retroactive to September 2025. Councilmember Cohen questioned the 400% increase; staff cited reduced fee revenue, increased participation, and higher costs. Motion passed unanimously (9-0).

Key Outcomes

• Parking rates (5.2): Adopted a two-year phased increase (effective October 2026):
  • Special event garage flat rate range $13–$35 (Market/San Pedro Square, Third Street, Second/San Carlos, Fourth Street, The Globe garages).
  • Daily garage rate of $1.25 per 15 minutes.
  • Expanded Downtown Employee Discounted Permit Parking Program: 50% discount off Global Monthly Permit for employees earning ≤50% over minimum wage (excluding gratuities).
  • Extended 90-minute free parking at Convention Center Garage on non-event days through June 2027.
  • No extension of meter hours beyond 6 p.m. (existing hours remain).
  • Directed City Manager to develop a long-term parking and curb management plan, including a return-to-source policy for parking fund revenues, and to provide annual reports to the Downtown Parking Board with utilization data.
• Moratorium (3.5): 45-day temporary moratorium on detention/custodial facilities established.
• Performance audit (3.3): Accepted with recommendations to improve OEDCA performance measures.
• Wastewater financing (Joint): Approved issuance of up to $200 million in subordinate wastewater revenue commercial paper notes (9-0).