June 8, 2023
MINUTES OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023
The Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Meeting was held in a hybrid format, in the Council Chambers and teleconferenced from remote locations. The meeting convened at 1:30 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers- Ortiz, Doan, Torres, Candelas, Davis.
Absent: Councilmembers- All present.
Staff: Deputy City Manager, Angel Rios Jr.; Senior Deputy City Attorney, Karin Murabito; Chief Policy Officer, Mayor’s Office, Mackenzie Mossing; and Deputy City Clerk, Grace Turner.
B. Review of Work Plan
1. City Initiatives Roadmap: American Rescue Plan Spending Plan on Child Care Status Report. (City Manager/Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services/Library/Housing).
2. Park Destinations, Events and Sports Status Report. (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services).
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Omar Torres, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, Items B.1 and B.2 of the Review of Work Plan were dropped per the May 24, 2023 Joint Meeting for the Rules and Open Government Committee meeting. (5-0)
C. Consent Calendar
None provided.
June 8, 2023
D. Reports to Committee
1. Public Life in San José Annual Report. (City Manager/Economic Development and Cultural Affairs/Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services).
Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs Assistant Director Kerry AdamsHapner; Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Recreation Superintendent Ed Solis; and Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Deputy Director Avi Yotam provided the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comment: Blair Beekman offered public comment.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Omar Torres, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the annual report on public life in San José, including citywide efforts to activate and improve San José’s Public Life was accepted. (5-0)
2. City Initiatives Roadmap: Advancing Equity through Culture and Practice Status Report. (City Manager - Racial Equity).
Office of Racial Equity’s Director Zulma Maciel, Racial Equity Manager Andrea Truong, and Acting Inclusion & Belonging Manager Jasmine Hartenstein provided the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Omar Torres, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the status report on Advancing Equity through culture and practice as part of the approved City Initiatives Roadmap for 2022-2023 was accepted. (5-0)
3. City Initiatives Roadmap: BeautifySJ Encampment Services Status Report. (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services/Housing/Transportation/Planning, Building and Code Enforcement/Police/Information Technology).
Deputy City Manager Omar Passons; Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Deputy Director Andrea Flores Shelton; and Information Technology Department Lead Product Manager Dhruv Hemmady provided the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comments: Liz Holtz and Blair Beekman offered public comments.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Omar Torres, seconded by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, and carried unanimously, the status report on the Encampment Services Joint Services and Management System Project for Homelessness Response, including cross-department coordination of services, data and analysis, and reporting as part of the approved City Initiatives Roadmap for 2022-2023 was accepted. (5-0-0.) June 8, 2023
4. Expanding the Youth Commission and Enhancing Youth Participation in the City. (Library).
San Jose Public Library, Senior Librarian, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Nolan; Librarian II, Megan Maloy; and Deputy Director, Public Services, Michelle Ornat provided the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comment: Aanya Mishra (Youth Commission, D1), Thy Luong (Youth Commission, D4), Nolan Mascarenhas (Youth Commission, D10), Neyna Pradeepkumar (Youth Commission, D2), Andrew Lieu (Youth Commission, D5), Aldojoell (Youth Commission, D8), Ananya Sriram (Youth Commission, D7), Dietra Hoang (Youth Commission, D3), Megan Luong (Youth Commission, D7), and Blair Beekman offered public comments.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Peter Ortiz, seconded by Councilmember Omar Torres, and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the staff recommendation to (a) maintain the current Youth Commission ages 14-20 and strive to ensure the Youth Commission and Youth Advisory Councils are representative of the diversity of the City of San José; (b) explore the option of compensating appointed Youth Commissioners with stipends, facilitating the participation of economically diverse youth and increasing engagement among Commissioners. This aligns with the citywide policy to reduce financial barriers to serve on boards or commissions; and (c) expand the advisory and recommendation powers of the Youth Commission to City Council and the Mayor and, following the municipal code power and duties, designate youth representatives to other San José Commissions. The work was cross-referenced to the fall to provide time for staff to complete additional work. (5-0-0.)
5. Bill of Rights for the Children and Youth of the City of San José Update. (Library/Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services/City Manager’s Office).
San Jose Public Library’s Senior Librarian Elizabeth “Lizzie” Nolan, Librarian II Megan Maloy and Assistant to the City Manager Laura Buzo provided the presentation and were available for questions with Deputy Director of Public Services Michelle Ornat.
Public Comments: Nolan Mascarenhas (Youth Commission, D10), Cleo Cole (Youth Liberation Movement), Ananya Sriram (Youth Commission, D7), and Blair Beekman offered public comments.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Omar Torres, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the update on the revised Bill of Rights for the Children and Youth of the City of San José was accepted and cross referenced to the June 20, 2023 City Council Meeting. (4-0-1. Absent: Davis.)
June 8, 2023
OPEN FORUM
1. Blair Beekman spoke on American Rescue Plan Act and Measure E funding.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Peter Ortiz adjourned the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Meeting at 3:43 p.m.
Minutes Recorded, Prepared and Respectfully Submitted by,
Grace Turner
Deputy City Clerk, City of San José
Approved at Council on: 9/17/24
Attest By:
_______________________________
Toni J. Taber, CMC
City Clerk, City of San José