- 1 - December 6, 2021
MINUTES OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021
COVID-19 NOTICE
Consistent with AB 361 and City of San Jose Resolution Nos. 79485, 80237, 80266, 80290 and 80323, this meeting was not physically open to the public, and the Committee Members were teleconferencing from remote locations.
The Council meeting was teleconferenced from remote locations and convened at 1:30 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers - Davis, Cohen, Esparza, Peralez, Foley.
Absent: Councilmembers - All Present.
Staff: Office of the City Manager, Chief of Staff, Lee Wilcox; City Attorney’s Office, Kevin Fisher; Mayor’s Office, Scott Green; City Clerk, Toni Taber; and City Clerk’s Office, Yasmin Johnson.
B. Review of Work Plan
None presented.
C. Consent Calendar
None presented.
D. Reports to Committee
1. City Roadmap: Regional Transportation Activities Quarterly Report. (Transportation)
Deputy Director, Department of Transportation, Jessica Zenk; Deputy Director, Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), Ken Ronsse; and Division Manager, Department of Transportation, Ramses Madou offered the presentation and responded to questions.
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D.1 (Cont’d.)
Public Comments: (1) Blair Beekman spoke to State and Federal funding and charging station issues for electric buses. (2) Eric S. requested that the quarterly written status reports on major projects continue to be prepared and provided to the council and public. (3) Paul Soto spoke to non-disclosure agreements, the importance of having an equity lense on these projects, and the areas in the City being affected by the policies being discussed. (4) Caller ‘User-1’ spoke to the funds being provided by the Federal Government and public transportation costs.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Pam Foley, seconded by Councilmember Maya Esparza and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the verbal quarterly report on regional transportation funding, programs, and projects of interest to the City of San José involving regional, state, and federal agencies such as the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Caltrain, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, California High Speed Rail Authority, and the State Department of Transportation (Caltrans), as part of the approved City Roadmap for 2021-2022. (5-0.)
2. Major Local Transportation Planning Report. (Transportation)
Division Manager, Department of Transportation, Ramses Madou; Station Planning Manager, Eric Eidlin; Transportation Planning Manager, Wilson Tam; and Emerging Mobility Program Lead, Department of Transportation, Laura Stuchinsky offered the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comment: (1) Paul Soto stated that equity needs to be centered within the infrastructure projects with equity needing to be defined by the City. (2) Blair Beekman spoke to the Alum Rock Corridor projects, open public policies, his concerns with surveillance technology being used in the East Side of San José, and equity. (3) Caller ‘User-1’ spoke to his concerns with electric scooters being used throughout the City.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember David Cohen, seconded by Councilmember Raul Peralez and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the report on major local transportation planning efforts being implemented in San José, including an update on the multi-jurisdictional vision, planning, and transit project development along the Stevens Creek Corridor and on the Access and Mobility Plan. (5-0.)
3. Storm Sewer and Sanitary Sewer Annual Reports. (Public Works)
Deputy Director, Department of Transportation, Mathew Nguyen and Division Manager, Department of Transportation, Jennifer Seguin offered the presentation and responded to questions.
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D.3 (Cont’d.)
Public Comment: (1) Paul Soto spoke to equity, grant funding, and infrastructure concerns. (2) Blair Beekman spoke to issues of equity, flood issues and concerns, and natural disaster preparedness. (3) Caller ‘User-1’ spoke to storm drains, the fountain at the Rose Garden, and flooding concerns.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember David Cohen, seconded by Councilmember Maya Esparza and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the attached reports highlighting investments, activities and capital improvements to the City's storm sewer and sanitary sewer collection systems for Fiscal Year 2020-2021. (5-0.)
4. San José Clean Energy Operational Update and Strategic Framework Plan. (Community Energy)
Director of Community Energy, Lori Mitchell and
Assistant Director of Community
Energy, Zach Struyk offered the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comment: (1) Paul Soto addressed the subsidy programs needed on the East Side of San José. (2) Blair Beekman stated that PG&E issues need to be addressed, spoke on renewable energy, the proposed 10% rate increases, and the subsidy process. (3) Brian addressed energy issues, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) concerns, and PG&E issues. (4) Caller ‘User-1’ spoke on renewable energy and mass transit issues.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember David Cohen, seconded by Councilmember Raul Peralez and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the summary report of (1) San José Clean Energy’s performance in 2019 and 2020 as compared to the February 2017 Business Plan, (2) San José Clean Energy’s updated financial outlook for the next 18 months, (3) energy industry trends for the next several years, and (4) strategic framework plan for 2023 to 2025. (5-0.)
• Open Forum
1. Blair Beekman addressed PG&E issues, Vision Zero practices, and open public policies.
2. Roland spoke to the Diridon Station and highway Route 87.
3. Paul Soto thanked Councilmember Dev Davis for her kindness given his past responses.
4. Caller ‘User-1’ spoke to mass transit issues in Downtown San José.
• Adjournment
Councilmember Dev Davis adjourned the Transportation and Environment Committee Meeting at 3:10 p.m.
Dev Davis, Chair
DD/yj:TEMin/12-6-21 Transportation and Environment Committee