HILPID REGULAR MEETING OF THE MILPITAS
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
CALIFORNIA
JAMUARY 30,1014 TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026
The City Council of the City of Milpitas convened in a Regular Meeting of the Milpitas City Council on January 20, 2026, in the City Council Chamber, 455 E. Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas, CA, and via teleconference/Zoom CALL MEETING TO ORDER by Mayor and ROLL CALL by City Clerk Mayor Montano called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:02 PM. Roll Call was taken by City Clerk Guzzetta.
PRESENT: Mayor Montano, Vice Mayor Barbadillo, Councilmember Chua, Councilmember Lam, Councilmember Lien
ABSENT: None
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
Acting City Attorney Creech briefed the City Council. There were no public comments. The City Council adjourned to Closed Session at 6:03 PM.
(a) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4)
Anticipated Litigation: City as Plaintiff
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT:
The City Council reconvened in open session at 7:04 PM. Acting City Attorney Creech had nothing to report out from Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Chua led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION
Councilmember Lam provided the invocation.
PRESENTATIONS
Mayor Montano, joined by the Milpitas City Council, presented certificates of recognition to individuals who contributed to the Milpitas José Estevez Library mural project.
PUBLIC FORUM
There were the following public speakers.
1. Jack Lin
2. Rob Means
3. Joe Lowry
4. Kaveri
5. Alex Li
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6. Milton Cadena
7. Arzhang Kalbali
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS Acting City Attorney Creech asked the Mayor and City Councilmembers if they had any personal conflicts of interest. By roll call, there were no conflicts of interest. Acting City Attorney Creech asked the Mayor and City Councilmembers if they had any reportable campaign contributions. By roll call, there were no reportable campaign contributions.
READING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT
Vice Mayor Barbadillo read the City Council Code of Conduct.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
After discussion, motion: to approve the agenda, moving Item 11 to be heard immediately after the approval of the agenda.
Motion/Second: Councilmember Chua / Councilmember Lien
Motion carried by the following:
AYES: Mayor Montano, Vice Mayor Barbadillo, Councilmember Chua, Councilmember Lam, Councilmember Lien
NOES: None
LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT SERVICES
11. Adopt a Resolution to Appoint Acting City Manager (Staff Contact: Matt Cano, Assistant City Manager, 408-586-3012)
Assistant City Manager Cano introduced the item and presented the staff recommendation.
There were the following public speakers:
1. Rob Means
After discussion, motion: to adopt Resolution No. 9468 appointing Jared Hernandez as Acting City Manager and providing acting pay effective on adoption and continuing until the appointment of an interim or permanent City Manager or until the City Council takes further action..
Motion/Second: Councilmember Chua / Councilmember Lien
Motion carried by the following:
AYES: Mayor Montano, Vice Mayor Barbadillo, Councilmember Chua, Councilmember Lam, Councilmember Lien
NOES: None
CONSENT CALENDAR
After discussion, motion: to approve the Consent Calendar.
Motion/Second: Vice Mayor Barbadillo / Councilmember Chua Motion carried by the following:
AYES: Mayor Montano, Vice Mayor Barbadillo, Councilmember Chua, Councilmember Lam, Councilmember Lien
NOES: None
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Receive City Council Calendar of Meetings (Staff Contact: Suzanne Guzzetta, City Clerk, 408- 586-3001)
Received City Council Calendar of Meetings for January and February 2026.
2. Approve City Council Meeting Minutes (Staff Contact: Suzanne Guzzetta, City Clerk, 408-586- 3001)
Approved City Council Meeting minutes of January 12 and 13, 2026.
Receive the Preview List of Anticipated Items for the Next Regular City Council Meeting (Staff Contact: Suzanne Guzzetta, City Clerk, 408-586-3001)
Received the list of anticipated agenda items for the next regular City Council meeting.
Receive and Review the List of Agenda Items Requested by City Councilmembers (Staff Contact: Suzanne Guzzetta, City Clerk, 408-586-3001)
Received the list of items that have been requested by City Councilmembers and received consensus in previous meetings to date.
Consider Recommendations from Mayor Montano for Appointments to City Commissions (Contact: Suzanne Guzzetta, City Clerk, 408-586-3024)
Received Mayor Montano's recommendations and approve and confirm the following recommendations for appointments to City Commissions:
Community Housing Commission:
1. Appoint Jack Lin to a term ending January 2029
2. Appoint Vinod Garg to a term ending January 2029
3. Reappoint Armilyn Quijano to a term ending January 2029
4. Reappoint Suraj Viswanathan to a term ending January 2029
5. Appoint Raymond Fuentes as Alternate No. 1 with a term ending January 2029 Economic Development and Trade Commission:
1. Appoint Robert Jung as the MUSD Representative to a term ending April 2028.
Veterans Commission:
1. Appoint Bill Chuan as Alternate No. 2 with a term ending March 2029 Adopt a Resolution Accepting Completed Public Improvements and Authorizing a Bond Reduction and Release for the Holiday Inn and Springhill Suites Hotel Projects at 1100 and 1201 Cadillac Court (Staff Contact: Christian Di Renzo, Public Works Director, 408-586-2602; and Michael Silveira, City Engineer, 408-586-3303)
Adopted Resolution No. 9469 to (1) accept the completed public improvements; (2) approve a reduction in the faithful performance bond to $55,397; and (3) authorize the City Engineer to release the performance bond after the one-year warranty period without further City Council action, provided all required warranty work has been completed to the satisfaction of the City Engineer for the Holiday Inn and Springhill Suites Hotel Projects at 1100 and 1201 Cadillac Court.
7. Authorize the City Manager, or Designee, to Execute a Purchase Order with Good Guard Security, Inc. for After-Hours Security Services at the Militas José Estevez Library (Staff Contact: Luz Cofresí-Howe, Finance Director, 408-586-3111; and Christian Di Renzo, Public Works Director, 408-586-2602)
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Adopted Resolution No. 9470 to authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute a purchase order with Good Guard Security, Inc. to provide after-hours security services at the Militas José Estevez Library for one-year term and an amount not-to-exceed $105,000, subject to the appropriation of funds.
8. Authorize the City Manager, or Designee, to Negotiate and Execute Agreements with Multiple Vendors for As-Requested Architectural and Engineering Services (Staff Contact: Luz Cofresí- Howe, Finance Director, 408-586-3111; and Christian Di Renzo, Public Works Director, 408-586- 2602)
Adopted Resolution No. 9471 authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to (1) negotiate and execute agreements with twelve (12) firms to provide as-requested architectural and engineering services for a total aggregate amount not to exceed $6,370,968 for a five-year term, subject to the appropriation of funds; (2) adjust the not-to-exceed amounts between awarded vendors as required; and (3) enter into negotiations with the next highest ranked vendors) in the event the City is unable to successfully negotiate and execute agreements in substantial accordance with the City's standard terms and conditions in a timely manner with any of the 12 highest-ranking vendors.
9. Authorize the Assistant City Manager, or Designee, to Negotiate and Execute an Amendment to the Agreement with waterTALENT, LLC (Staff Contact: Luz Cofresí-Howe, Finance Director, 408- 586-3111; and Christian DiRenzo, Public Works, 408-586-2603) Authorized the Assistant City Manager, or designee, to negotiate and execute an amendment to the agreement with waterTALENT, LLC increasing the compensation by $105,000 for a revised total not to exceed amount of $195,000.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
10. Review Applications Received for the 2026-2027 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan (Staff Contact: Matt Cano, Assistant City Manager, 408-586-3222) Assistant City Manager Cano introduced the item. Michelle Sliva presented the report.
Mayor Montano opened the public hearing
There were the following public speakers:
1. Michele Schroeder
2. Melanie Faure
3. Jonathan Darr
4. Marina Sanchez
5. Carole Conn
6. Cathy Weselby
7. Deanne Everton
8. Michael Thomas
9. Kal Zubair
Mayor Montano closed the public hearing.
Councilmember Chua questioned the Economic Development team about their two separate requests, learning that the technical assistance program would complement the grant program.
Councilmembers Chua and Lam inquired about the urgency of Terrace Gardens' safety equipment replacements. Councilmember Lam asked for details about the replacement pull cord systems.
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Councilmember Chua expressed concerns about the Upwards childcare provider support program, discussing how school district preschool programs have affected home childcare providers.
Vice Mayor Barbadillo expressed frustration that public services receive only 15% of the total CDBG funding, while capital projects claim a significantly larger portion. He inquired about possible methods to allocate funds differently within the program.
Mayor Montano asked staff to research and provide information on service providers with overlapping functions to inform better funding decisions and suggested that applicants disclose their financial reserves as part of the application process.
Housing Commissioner Oscar De Leon addressed the Council, highlighting the persistent challenge of having only approximately $75,000 earmarked for public services, which falls short of meeting the considerable demand.
LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT SERVICES
12. Setting a Salary Range for the Position of City Manager (Staff Contact: Matt Cano, Assistant City Manager, 408-586-3012)
Assistant City Manager Cano introduced the item and presented the staff recommendation.
Vice Mayor Barbadillo inquired about the salary compaction and the factors determining the range for the City Manager. Assistant City Manager Cano explained that internal salary structures and comparable positions in other jurisdictions were considered.
There were no public comments.
After discussion, motion: to Adopt Resolution No. 9472 amending Resolution No. 1626, the Classification Plan, to adjust the Salary Schedule for the classification of City Manager..
Motion/Second: Vice Mayor Barbadillo / Councilmember Lien Motion carried by the following:
AYES: Mayor Montano, Vice Mayor Barbadillo, Councilmember Chua, Councilmember Lam, Councilmember Lien
NOES: None
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Acting City Manager Jared Hernandez expressed gratitude to the City Council for their trust in appointing him to the role, highlighted his long-standing service with the city since 1991, and committed to supporting Council priorities, city staff, and the residents of Militas in his new position. He also announced Assistant Chief Frank Morales as the acting police chief during his tenure as acting city manager.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Montano adjourned the meeting at 9:05 PM.
The foregoing minutes were approved by the Militas City Council of February 3, 2026.
Milpitas City Clerk
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