Letters from the Public - 3 of 4 — San Jose City Council, June 13, 2023

June 13, 2023
Re: Agenda Item 3.1: Preserve full funding for Climate Smart in 2023-24 budget Dear Mayor Mahan, Vice Mayor Kamei, and Councilmembers Jimenez, T orres, Cohen, Ortiz, Davis, Doan, Candelas, Foley and Batra,
The 114 residents—mothers, fathers, youth, allies, and community leaders—and the 10 local organizations who’ve signed this letter urge you to preserve the proposed funding for Climate Smart San José in the 2023-24 budget.

The City Manager’s Budget Proposal originally proposed $400,000 for non-personnel Climate Smart expenses. However, the City Manager’s Budget Addenda (MBA) Item #21 suggested Council could cut this in half to just $200,000 if it wishes to reallocate this funding elsewhere.

We urge you to decline to adopt MBA Item #21 and instead preserve the proposed Climate Smart $400,000 line item (or increase it). This funding is urgently needed to implement our climate plans and fulfill your pledge to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.

Cutting it would be penny wise and pound foolish, as part of this funding can be leveraged to submit competitive proposals for federal, state, and private grants. If we win any of these grants, this will bring more resources to our City and help support an equitable transition to energy-efficient, sustainable homes and transportation.

In addition, to align with city carbon neutrality goals and climate investments in other major cities, millions more is needed in staffing and non-personnel funding. Yet Item #21, as explained in the City Manager’s Addenda, would reduce
“technical consultant services and Community Based Organization (CBO) partnerships to support the City in developing these programs. With reduced levels of funding, the implementation and development of programs will be slowed and will require staff to adjust projects to require less input and engagement with the community through CBOs and technical support services.”
No matter how urgent other issues may be, we can and must preserve (and increase) our funding for climate action and maintain community engagement. The environment is the bedrock upon which our health and lives depend, and we must do all we can to protect it in every budget cycle, with input from our diverse communities.

T o jog your memory of some of the local climate impacts we’ve experienced in just the past five years:
● The 2017 Coyote Creek flood forced 14,000 residents to evacuate, causing $100,000,000 in damages.
● Dangerous air quality from the 2018 Camp Fire made it unsafe to venture outside for days on end.
● The 2020 SCU fire turned the sky eerily orange and forced evacuations from our foothills.
● In 2021, Santa Clara County declared a local drought emergency. ● In 2022, record-breaking heat led PG&E to issue Flex Alerts 10 days in a row. ● As 2023 began, nine atmospheric rivers in 20 days caused widespread power outages, flooding and school closures.

Without bold, immediate action and focus on climate, this list is sure to grow. 39% of San José’s buildings are at risk of wildfire and 41% at risk of flooding, depending on location, and our Eastside neighborhoods disproportionately endure the urban heat island effect.

In March, Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley asked you to publicly affirm the ongoing climate emergency declared by the City Council in 2019, name climate safety and justice as a top priority, and direct the City Manager to allocate additional funding so that our Climate Smart staff have the resources to secure generous funding for climate action from federal, state and nonprofit entities. Instead, the City Manager’s Budget Addenda Item 21 goes in the opposite direction by providing the option of a dramatic cut to the Climate Smart non-personnel budget.

Over the past six years, this Council has championed key climate initiatives: San José Clean Energy, Climate Smart San José, Coyote Valley preservation, building electrification, EV charging, and bike lanes. T o keep up this good work and ensure equitable implementation of the Climate Smart plan, the Climate Smart team needs sufficient resources. Will you vote today to continue San Jose’s climate leadership–or will you propose to dramatically reduce its non-personnel funding?
In the accelerating climate emergency, we don’t have the luxury of focusing on just a few priorities. The climate can’t wait. As Henry David Thoreau observed: “What’s the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?”
Can we count on you to preserve a livable climate for our children and communities? Sincerely,
10 local organizations:

Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley
Linda Hutchins-Knowles, T eam Coordinator
Acterra: Action for a Health Planet
Laura Weston, Executive Director
350 Silicon Valley
Cheryl Weiden, Steering Committee Member
Children’s Garden Preschool
Isabelle Chappuis, Director and T eacher
Climate Reality Project: Silicon Valley Chapter
Karen Nelson, Chair Emeritus, Executive T eam Dir.

The Harker School Green T eam
Diana Moss, Advisor
Project Green Home
Sven Thesen, Co-founder
Salamander Nature Awareness School
Meg Pelose, Founder
Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action
Danica Kubota, San José Co-Lead and Rohan Pandit, Executive Director Sustainable Silicon Valley
Jennifer Thompson, Executive Director
111 residents:

Hoi Poon, District 1
Adam Sweeney, District 1
Stacy Levy, District 1
Daphne Zhu, District 1
Lotina Nishijima, District 1
Scott Lor, District 1
Maria Carroll, District 1
Jeannie Entin, District 2
singgih tan, District 2
Amanda Senior, District 2
Andrew Gendel, District 2
Kathleen Nunes, District 3
Kathryn Funk, District 3
Heather Guillen, District 3
LIsa Feldberv, District 3
Audrey Rust, District 3
Sandra Hayden, District 3
Katja Irvin, District 3
Michael Kutilek, District 3
Mila Bekele, District 3
Ralf Buengener, District 3
Ken MacKay, District 3
Mani Bekele, District 3
Brenda Rodriguez, District 3
Tim Wallace, District 3
Serena Zhao, District 4
NM Schringer, District 4
Allan Campbell, District 4
Isabelle Chappuis, District 4
Phuong Nguyen, District 4
Chloe T sai, District 4
Miranda Kim, District 4
Vivian Zhang, District 4
Lisa Kobayashi, District 4
Miranda Kim, District 4
Blanca Alvarado, District 5
Juan Estrada, District 5
Marco Velasco, District 5
Lilia Pantoja, District 5
Ashley Bowman, District 5
Muneerah Lalani, District 5
Elizabeth Drioane, District 5
Lydia Heinrich, District 5
trudy ellerbeck, District 5
Marilynn Smith, District 5
Meg King, District 5
Perla Arellano, District 5
Elaine Travers, District 5
Cynthia Rodriguez, District 5
Minh Pham, District 5
Bruce Smith, District 5
Emma Seagrim, District 6
Hoai-An Truong, District 6
Ruth Merino, District 6
Diana Moss, District 6
Karen Nelson, District 6
Danica Kubota, District 6
Meg Pelose, District 6
Mary Perry, District 6
Casey Cameron, District 6
T odd Weber, District 6
Jimmie Yonemoto, District 6
Anna Fox, District 6
Consuelo Yepiz, District 6
Rachel Welch, District 6
Barbara Rose, District 6
Patti Bossert, District 6
Charles Chew, District 6
William Benson, District 6
Kelly Robertson, District 6
María Ramírez, District 6
Shreya Krishnan, District 7
Moria Merriweather, District 7
Rajiv Onkar, District 7
Kerrie Romanow, District 7
Julie Allingham, District 8
Susan Trivisoon, District 8
Jennifer Loft, District 8
Robert Reese, District 8
Yolanda Amaro, District 8
Helen Ansted, District 8
Linda Hutchins-Knowles, District 9
Kristine Karnos, District 9
Susan Butler-Graham, District 9
Patricia Blevins, District 9
Joel Masser, District 9
Jenny Green, District 9
Glen Garfunkel, District 9
Patty Linder, District 9
Rebecca Habermann, District 9
Michael Wittig, District 9
Carole Gonsalves, District 10
Genie Bernardini, District 10
Claire Bleymaier, District 10
David Poeschel, District 10
Mary Lindemuth, District 10
Lawrence Deng, District 10
Rebecca Newhouse, District 10
Cheryl Weiden
Laura Weston
Hanan Abdillahi
Sven Thesen
Jennifer Thompson
Kathleen Wright
Roy Nordblom
Kevin Ma
Rebecca Young
Lorin Peritz-Sharp
mark hoffberg
Kristel Wickham
Leane Eberhart
Linh Dan Do
Rohan Pandit
Bruce Naegel

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June 12, 2023

San José City Council
San José City Hall
200 E. Santa Clara St.

San José, CA 95113
Sent via electronic mail
Re: Item 3.1, June 12, and Items 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, June 13 Dear Mayor Mahan and Members of the City Council:

This letter was prepared by members of the Race Equity Action Leadership (REAL) coalition.

Background
The REAL Coalition has been deeply engaged throughout the budget process, discussing our proposals to advance racial justice and economic equity with the Mayor and every councilmember at least once.

We appreciate the inclusion of a pilot program to establish non-police responses to interpersonal violence (as well as several other items we’ll delineate later), and are grateful to Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei and Councilmembers Pam Foley, David Cohen, and Sergio Jimenez for their thoughtful efforts to preserve money for permanent affordable housing.

However, with the release of the Mayor’s June message we see there are still several shortcomings in the proposed budget and call on Council to make these changes:

Measure E
We have always been supportive of “an all of the above'' approach to end our homelessness crisis. The city needs to invest in emergency interim shelter but it must not shy away from its commitment to affordable and permanent supportive housing by even a single dollar. The REAL Coalition supports the memo from Councilmembers Davis, Ortiz and Torres that preserves Measure E, taps more of the excess fund balances, and outlines a plan to expand emergency interim 2 | P a g e

shelter in collaboration with other partners. This memo should be adopted as-is as part of the FY 23-24 budget.

BEST Programs
We are disappointed to see no additional funding for Bringing Everyone’s Strengths Together (BEST) programs. As we stated in our March letter, council should double down on the city’s investment in prevention and intervention of violence by adding $5 million to the BEST appropriation. Whereas the mayor has acknowledged the importance of prevention and intervention in his message, the budget should express this stated value.

Recovery Task Force
The pandemic may be considered over but the needs identified by the Recovery Task Force persist. We appreciate the use of unspent money to continue progress in workforce development but there should be further allocation to continue the task force’s work in health equity, early childhood education and housing. The city should budget an additional $2 million to further high priority and high impact recommendations. As staff and council committees assess which priorities to move forward, task force members should be consulted as appropriate.

Racial Equity Work
Although the Mayor’s Message spoke to racial equity, we need to put our money where our mouth is. We should advance racial equity work in the City of San José by ensuring that City positions dedicated to this work are filled. In light of failure to hire key positions in Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services; Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement; and Transportation, those positions should be converted to permanent Program Manager positions.

City Manager’s Budget Addenda and Council Budget Documents We are glad to see the following items included in the mayor’s June message:
• Extension of the Eviction Help Center
• Additional staff to raise money for Vision Zero and manage Vision Zero projects
• Tree canopy projects in Calle Willow and Luna Park
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• Investments in digital equity programs
• Investment in pedestrian safety projects
• Enhanced traffic and pedestrian safety through road and intersection design
• Investment in youth education and afterschool programs • Investments to serve our LGBTQ+ residents
• Investing in cultural spaces including the Vietnamese Heritage Garden and African American Community Services Agency
• Enhanced lighting for safety
Further, with the extension of the automated license plate reader program, the City needs to acknowledge that its data management and transparency policy is inadequate and convene relevant stakeholders to write a stronger and more equitable policy.

Lastly, we are interested in the references in the March message to divert calls from 911 and other possibly innovative ways to move away from unnecessary policing and carceral approaches. We call on the City to involve the community at a deep level in these conversations. The REAL Coalition stands ready to participate in these dialogues and to support the City in bringing the voices of community members with relevant lived experiences to the table.

We appreciate the Council offices that engaged in dialogues with Coalition members during this process and all of the offices and staff for their hard work on the budget.

About the REAL Coalition
The REAL community of nonprofit leaders and allies has been meeting since June 2020 to use our positional power to advocate for a more racially-just and equitable society; to establish a peer network of leaders committed to fighting white supremacy and systemic racism in ourselves and our institutions; and to hold each other accountable to the promises we made in the Nonprofit Racial Equity Pledge. The REAL coalition is broadly representative of the nonprofit community including human and community services, behavioral health and health, arts and culture, domestic violence, older adults, food distribution, education, environmental, farming, legal, disability rights, LGTBQ rights, ethnic, immigrant rights, housing and homelessness, criminal justice 4 | P a g e

reform, urban planning, and intermediary organizations, and others. Over 125 organizations have participated in the REAL coalition.

Signed by:

Vaughn Villaverde
AACI

Lavere Foster
African American Community Service
Agency

Steve Eckert
Alum Rock Counseling Center

Jeremy Barousse
Amigos de Guadalupe

Richard Konda
Asian Law Alliance

Josh Selo
Bill Wilson Center

Jahmal Williams
Black Leadership Kitchen Cabinet

Carlos Rosario
Bay Area Community Health

Greg Kepferle
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara
County

Frederick Ferrer
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley

Erin O’Brien
Community Solutions

Jennifer Loving
Destination: Home

Pete Settelmayer
Downtown College Prep

Shawn Gerth
Educare California at Silicon Valley

Beth Leary
Family Supportive Housing

Reymundo C. Espinoza
Gardner Health Services

Veronica Goei
Grail Family Services

Bob Nuñez
La Raza Roundtable

Darcie Green
Latinas Contra Cancer

Gabriel Manrique
Latinos United for a New America
(LUNA)

Alison Brunner
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley

Dr. Angelica Cortez
LEAD Filipino

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Gisela Bushey
Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen

Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez
MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura
Latino Americana

David K. Mineta
Momentum for Health

Héctor Sanchez-Flores
National Compadres Network

Colsaria Henderson
Next Door Solutions to Domestic
Violence

Rhonda Berry
Our City Forest

Pamela Campos
Parent Voices Santa Clara County

Heather Cleary
Peninsula Family Service

Sharon Winston
Project HIRED

Nathan Svoboda
Project MORE

Dontae Lartigue
Razing The Bar

Kathy Cordova
Recovery Café San Jose

Poncho Guevara
Sacred Heart Community Service

Wisa Uemura
San Jose Taiko

Vanessa Shieh
School of Arts and Culture at Mexican
Heritage Plaza

Gabriel Hernandez
Sí Se Puede Collective

Deanna Chevas
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition

Kyra Kazantzis
Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits

Sheri Burns
Silicon Valley Independent Living
Center

Saul Ramos
SOMOS Mayfair

David Cox
St. Joseph’s Family Center

Regina Celestin Williams
SV@Home

Yvonne Maxwell
Ujima Adult and Family Services

Michael Elliott
Valley Health Foundation

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Cayce Hill
Veggielution

Sujatha Venkatraman
West Valley Community Services

Shelene Huey-Booker
Youth Utilizing Power and Praise
Organization

Adriana Caldera
YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley

[External Email]
RE: Final Public Hearing: 2023-24 Proposed Capital/Operating Budgets and 2023-24 Carman Gaines < >
Mon 6/12/2023 6:14 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>;The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;Mahan, Matt <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;Kamei, Rosemary <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;Jimenez, Sergio <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;Torres, Omar <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;Cohen, David <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;Ortiz, Peter <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;Davis, Dev <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;Doan, Bien <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;Candelas, Domingo <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]> Cc:Erin Salazar < >

Honorable Mayor and City Council,
My name is Carman Gaines, and I am an Arts Advocate through my personal practice and as the Associate Director of Local Color. I want to thank the Mayor and Administration for including one-time resources for arts and cultural programs in the proposed FY 2023-2024 City Budget. These one-time resources will help sustain the creative industry during a period of severely diminished Transient Occupancy Tax revenues.

However, the one-time nature of this investment only underscores that the time has come for city leaders to identify and prioritize pathways to sustainable funding for arts, cultural, and tourism programs.

With that in mind, I stand with San José Arts Advocates in calling on the City Council to:

1. Direct the Administration to pursue a percentage for art allocation from private development and return with a policy framework for Council consideration as soon as possible; and

2. Support recommendation #4 in the memo from Councilmembers Torres, Davis, Ortiz, Batra, and Doan to “Direct staff to explore additional revenue options and a budget policy strategy to re-invest 2% of the General Fund portion of TOT incrementally starting with an increase of .5% in Fiscal Year 2024-2025.” Thank you for your service and consideration.

Regards,
Carman Gaines
A San José Native, D3 Resident & Worker
----------------------

[External Email]

AS A RESIDENT, I AM ASKING ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE WITH MAYOR MATT MAHAN ON

MOVING MONIES TO HOMELESS THINGS
Kevin Larsen
Mon 6/12/2023 7:05 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>;The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;Mahan, Matt <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;Kamei, Rosemary <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;Jimenez, Sergio <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;Torres, Omar <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;Cohen, David <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;Ortiz, Peter <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;Davis, Dev <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;Doan, Bien <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;Candelas, Domingo <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>

June 12, 2023
To: City Council Members and Mayor Matt Mahan
I am in support of the direction Mayor Mahan is
taking. I ask all city council members to assist
the mayor in his vision (which is a good vision) to
spend the monies on extra homeless things

SUPPORT OUR M A Y O R
I have taken time to attend public meetings
where the mayor has presented his vision. I
ask all of you city council people who are
suppose to honor the will of the people to
honor the Mayor's Vision and stop causing

This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. trouble with your myopic (my opinion)
views.

I support Mayor's Vision to move monies to
assisting homeless needs.

KEVIN LARSEN THE WRITER

Mayor budget
Surjit Bains < >
Mon 6/12/2023 7:21 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
Cc:Mahan, Matt <[email protected]>;Bajwa, Monica <[email protected]> [External Email]
I support the Mayor balance budget since he is prioritizing the critical need at this time.

Surjit S Bains
Resident D 8
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

[External Email]
Comments for Agenda Items 3.4 and 3.5 for 6/13/23
HuyTran 4SanJose
Mon 6/12/2023 11:07 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>;The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;Mahan, Matt <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;Kamei, Rosemary <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;Jimenez, Sergio <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;Torres, Omar <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;Cohen, David <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;Ortiz, Peter <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;Davis, Dev <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;Doan, Bien <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;Candelas, Domingo <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>

Good evening Councilmembers, I submit this comment for budget agenda items 3.4 and 3.5. I am a member of our Housing and Community Development Commission, but speak only for myself in these comments.

The narratives surrounding this budget process have been confusing. The framing of this debate has appeared to take the perspective that our city's current approach is to prioritize only the construction of affordable housing when that is not true. On a broader scale, our housing strategy has allowed San Jose to blow past all of its market rate housing goals but only meet a small fraction of its goals for ELI, VLI, and LI housing development. Specific to Measure E, our city has taken an "all-of-the-above" approach that dispersed those funds towards a variety of housing solutions, including interim housing
and permanent supportive housing.

Measure E only passed in 2020. Three years is not a long time when we look at development and budget cycles. In taking on a strategy that partners with the County to connect with the unhoused at multiple points and creates opportunities for interim housing and permanent housing along with services, the City is actually already showing results with our current unhoused population dropping nearly 5% from last year.

Mayor Mahan sought to credit this decrease to the availability of interim housing by highlighting Rue Ferrari. Certainly Rue Ferrari is an example of how interim housing is a crucial element of a holistic approach to addressing affordable housing and homelessness. That said, there is nothing to support the assertion that the decrease is due solely to interim housing - Rue Ferrari has been open since 2020, the same year Measure E was adopted.

The arguments that have been presented to support the supposed "one-time allocation" have all co-opted the arguments that have long been asserted to support the development of affordable housing. We heard that it is compassionate to put people in housing immediately, but this is not what happens with a budget reallocation because it still takes time to put out bids, secure permits, and do the actual construction. It is also unrealistic to lead our communities to believe that a temporary solution can actually address a long-term problem. At best, this temporarily sweeps the problem under the rug for political points.

We heard that the solution to homelessness is getting people into homes, but that is precisely what our current strategy seeks to do. By having multiple points of contacts paired with county services, we can get folks who need permanent housing the most while having interim options available as well.

I am happy to know that the Mayor has backed off of his reckless proposal to zero out Measure E funds for affordable housing projects. However, a proposal that reduces the disruption it causes to the affordable housing pipeline does not zero out that disruption. Why would we risk the strategy that is actually working right now? Why risk losing projects that have proven fruitful?
The Davis/Ortiz/Torres memo preserves our current winning strategy and still allocates money towards the interim housing the Mayor seeks. If this is truly a one-time allocation, then this should address it. If this idea is as popular as folks

This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. want to make it seem, then finding private partnerships to supplement the one-time allocation should not be a problem at all.
--
Thank you,
Huy Tran

[External Email]
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Supporting the Davis, Ortiz, Torres Momorandum
Wendy Greenfield
Mon 6/12/2023 11:14 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>;The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;Mahan, Matt <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;Kamei, Rosemary <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;Jimenez, Sergio <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;Torres, Omar <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;Cohen, David <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;Ortiz, Peter <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;Davis, Dev <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;Doan, Bien <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;Candelas, Domingo <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>

Hello, my name is Wendy Greenfield and I’ve lived in San Jose District 9 for almost 30 years. I’m here to support the memorandum by Council members Davis, Orz, and Torres to provide both temporary, interim housing as well as long term aﬀordable housing. This is the only raonal soluon to this terrible humanitarian crisis in our midst. People cannot be housed in the short term, only to be thrown out into the streets. This solves nothing for them or for the larger community. They need to be housed temporarily and provided with wrap-around services so that they can obtain the employment and stability they need to enter long term housing that they can aﬀord. Council members, you have the awesome opportunity and responsibility to vote for a plan that truly serves the residents of this city. You have no responsibility greater than to vote to support this memorandum.

I've been waiting on zoom with the "hand raised" icon up, but no one has called on me, so I'm emailing you all my comments in the hope that you may see it during the meeting.

Thank you!

FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:36 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Duyen Bui < >
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 5:27 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>; District1 <[email protected]>; District2 <[email protected]>; District3 <[email protected]>; District4 <[email protected]>; District5 <[email protected]>; District 6 <[email protected]>; District7 <[email protected]>; District8 <[email protected]>; District9 <[email protected]>; District 10 <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget [External Email]
Dear City Clerk:

My mother is a San Jose resident and am writing on her behalf to state her strong support for the increases for Animal Services in the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. My mother had a feral cat give birth to kittens in her yard. Without the support of kind trappers and the Shelter, she would have had a colony of cats in her yard! I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year.

Converting the temporary overstrength position of Supervisor Shelter Operations to permanent status, and adding more full-time positions, a night shift and a dedicated senior resource for facilities repair and maintenance will improve the shelter’s ability to provide greatly needed support to our community and increase live outcomes for the animals.

The night shift is a critical addition, as it will enable the shelter to provide care for underage kittens, the highest volume and most vulnerable animals at the shelter. The allocation of monies for support of adoption and rescue outcomes is also essential. It will allow more animals in need to move to organizations that can provide the specialized care necessary for such animals to be placed for adoption.

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substantial progress, I believe the following matters are still in need of additional funding and attention.

The data produced and used by the shelter to direct its operations, measure its performance and predict future community needs is incomplete and/or inaccurate. The shelter needs a dedicated IT Business Analyst to review and develop systems and processes for the collection, use, and transparency of data, including the collection of critical missing data integral to development of a long-term strategy, such as the number of animals turned away at intake and the reasons admission was denied.

Expanding and staffing the Trap, Neuter & Return (TNR) program for community cats is mandatory. During May the shelter accepted 743 kittens and as of June 6th was holding 340 kittens, representing the majority of the animals in the shelter. The shelter, rescue organizations, and fosters are at or over capacity and animals are being turned away. Friendly community kittens are being found throughout San Jose; there is no place for them to go and it is still the beginning of “kitten season”.

This problem results directly from the reduction in TNR services in 2019 by Animal Services and its termination of all TNR services in May 2022. It has recently reinstated TNR, but on a very limited basis, relying heavily on rescues and volunteers to transport cats outside of the county for spay and neuter services. Since the reduction of TNR service began, the cities served by Animal Services have been experiencing an increasing cat population that will continue to grow exponentially unless a robust TNR program is established and maintained.

Reinstating low cost spay/neuter and vaccination services is also essential. Pet overpopulation results in unwanted animals that are abandoned or otherwise become strays. Unvaccinated animals spread disease. The economy and the shortage of vets has made it difficult for many people to neuter and vaccinate their pets. The reinstatement of low cost spay and neuter services will greatly reduce animal suffering. It will also reduce the number of animals brought to the shelter, which will increase the live release rate. Fewer animals in the shelter increases an animal’s probability of adoption and the shelter’s ability to house the animal. This effect was recognized by John Cicirelli when he was Assistant Director of Public Works. The following is his quote from a May 31, 2016, article in sanjoseinside entitled “San Jose Councilman Proposes No-Kill Shelter”:
“One of the most significant contributors to our high save rate has been preventing animals from being born through low cost and free spay-neuter services. We have learned that this is one of the best ways to invest in our community and achieve our goal of reducing the number of stray animals.”
The shelter needs a full time animal behaviorist. A dedicated position would enable the shelter to structure enrichment, socialization, behavior modification and offset the stressful conditions of the shelter environment on the animals. An animal behaviorist would also provide post-adoption support and owner-retention programs, increasing positive outcomes.

The challenges facing the shelter will not be resolved overnight. The proposed budget increases represent positive forward movement, but much more needs to be done. Animal Services requires oversight at the City Council level, and your participation in making sure Animal Services meets the current and future needs of the community is vital.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Please add my comments to the public record and distribute to the Mayor and City Councilmembers.

Sincerely,
Duyen Bui
Sent from my iPhone
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:37 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Amanda Jo Fisk
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 5:37 PM
To: CouncilMeeting <[email protected]>
Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget [External Email]
Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,
I am a San Jose resident and am writing to state my strong support for the increases for Animal Services in the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year.

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substantial progress, I believe the following matters are still in need of additional funding and attention.

This problem results directly from the reduction in TNR services in 2019 by Animal Services and its termination of all TNR

services in May 2022. It has recently reinstated TNR, but on a very limited basis, relying heavily on rescues and volunteers to transport cats outside of the county for spay and neuter services. Since the reduction of TNR service began, the cities served by Animal Services have been experiencing an increasing cat population that will continue to grow exponentially unless a robust TNR program is established and maintained.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Sincerely,
Amanda Jo Fisk
Sent from my iPhone
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

[External Email]
FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:38 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Olivia Gonzales <
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 5:59 PM
To: CouncilMeeng <CouncilMee[email protected]>
Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget

Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,
I am a San Jose resident and am wring to state my strong support for the increases for Animal Services in the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year.

Converng the temporary overstrength posion of Supervisor Shelter Operaons to permanent status, and adding more full-me posions, a night shi and a dedicated senior resource for facilies repair and maintenance will improve the shelter’s ability to provide greatly needed support to our community and increase live outcomes for the animals.

The night shi is a crical addion, as it will enable the shelter to provide care for underage kiens, the highest volume and most vulnerable animals at the shelter. The allocaon of monies for support of adopon and rescue outcomes is also essenal. It will allow more animals in need to move to organizaons that can provide the specialized care necessary for such animals to be placed for adopon.

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substanal progress, I believe the following maers are sll in need of addional funding and aenon.

The data produced and used by the shelter to direct its operaons, measure its performance and predict future community needs is incomplete and/or inaccurate. The shelter needs a dedicated IT Business Analyst to review and develop systems and processes for the collecon, use, and transparency of data, including the collecon of crical missing data integral to development of a long-term strategy, such as the number of animals turned away at intake and the reasons admission was denied.

Expanding and staﬃng the Trap, Neuter & Return (TNR) program for community cats is mandatory. During May the shelter accepted 743 kiens and as of June 6th was holding 340 kiens, represenng the majority of the animals in the shelter. The shelter, rescue organizaons, and fosters are at or over capacity and animals are being turned away. Friendly community kiens are being found throughout San Jose; there is no place for them to go and it is sll the beginning of “kien season”. This problem results directly from the reducon in TNR services in 2019 by Animal Services and its terminaon of all TNR services in May 2022. It has recently reinstated TNR, but on a very limited basis, relying heavily on rescues and volunteers to transport cats outside of the county for spay and neuter services. Since the reducon of TNR service began, the cies served by Animal Services have been experiencing an increasing cat populaon that will connue to grow exponenally unless a robust TNR program is established and maintained.

This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. animal suﬀering. It will also reduce the number of animals brought to the shelter, which will increase the live release rate. Fewer animals in the shelter increases an animal’s probability of adopon and the shelter’s ability to house the animal. This eﬀect was recognized by John Cicirelli when he was Assistant Director of Public Works. The following is his quote from a May 31, 2016, arcle in sanjoseinside entled “San Jose Councilman Proposes No-Kill Shelter”:
“One of the most signiﬁcant contributors to our high save rate has been prevenng animals from being born through low cost and free spay-neuter services. We have learned that this is one of the best ways to invest in our community and achieve our goal of reducing the number of stray animals.”
The shelter needs a full me animal behaviorist. A dedicated posion would enable the shelter to structure enrichment, socializaon, behavior modiﬁcaon and oﬀset the stressful condions of the shelter environment on the animals. An animal behaviorist would also provide post-adopon support and owner-retenon programs, increasing posive outcomes.

The challenges facing the shelter will not be resolved overnight. The proposed budget increases represent posive forward movement, but much more needs to be done. Animal Services requires oversight at the City Council level, and your parcipaon in making sure Animal Services meets the current and future needs of the community is vital.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Sincerely,
Olivia Gonzales

[External Email]
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

FW: Measure E affordable housing issue
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:38 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Mary Idso
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 6:31 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Measure E aﬀordable housing issue

Please support the Ortiz, Torres, Davis version of how to allocate Measure E funds. This amendment to the budget addresses both interim and longterm affordable housing. Long term housing takes a long time to build for many reasons and we can't afford to delay starting projects. Interim housing is not a long term solution - we need both.

Mary Id o
District 3.

[External Email]
FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:39 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Ching Lewis
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 6:48 PM
To: The Oﬃce of Mayor Ma Mahan <[email protected]>
Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget

Dear Mayor Mahan:

I am a San Jose resident and am wring to state my strong support for the increases for Animal Services in the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year.

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substanal progress, I believe the following maers are sll in need of addional funding and aenon.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Sincerely,
Ching Lewis

FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:39 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Rachel Wirth
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 6:51 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>; District1 <[email protected]>; District2 <[email protected]>; District3 <[email protected]>; District4 <[email protected]>; District5 <[email protected]>; District 6 <[email protected]>; District7 <[email protected]>; District8 <[email protected]>; District9 <[email protected]>; District 10 <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget [External Email]
Dear City Clerk:

I am a San Jose resident and am writing to state my strong support for the increases for Animal Services in the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year.

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substantial progress, I believe the following matters are still in need of additional funding and attention.

shelter, rescue organizations, and fosters are at or over capacity and animals are being turned away. Friendly community kittens are being found throughout San Jose; there is no place for them to go and it is still the beginning of “kitten season”.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Please add my comments to the public record and distribute to the Mayor and City Councilmembers.

Sincerely,
.

Sent from my iPhone
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. [External Email]
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

FW: I Support Keeping the Current Measure E allocation
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:40 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Sarah Vaccaro
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 7:00 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>; info
Subject: I Support Keeping the Current Measure E allocaon

Dear Council Members,

I don't want to reduce city funding for loans to build aﬀordable housing so I'm urging you to maintain the City Council's 2022 allocaon of Measure E funding as recommended by Councilmembers David, Orz, and Torres.

Permanent housing is the soluon to homelessness. Measure E is our tool to increase the availability of permanent housing soluons for those who need them most.

This is a moment to call for a comprehensive approach and a home for everyone. We are looking to leadership within City Council to step up and recommit to real aﬀordable housing and be proacve in ﬁnding funds for interim housing that do not upend the intent of Measure E.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Sarah Vaccaro

FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:40 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Mignonne Abbott <
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 7:07 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>; District1 <[email protected]>; District2 <[email protected]>; District3 <[email protected]>; District4 <[email protected]>; District5 <[email protected]>; District 6 <[email protected]>; District7 <[email protected]>; District8 <[email protected]>; District9 <[email protected]>; District 10 <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget [External Email]
Dear City Clerk:

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substantial progress, I believe the following matters are still in need of additional funding and attention.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Please add my comments to the public record and distribute to the Mayor and City Councilmembers.

Sincerely,
Mignonne Abbott
.

Sent from my iPhone
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. [External Email]
FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:40 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Tina Jones
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 7:27 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc: The Oﬃce of Mayor Ma Mahan <[email protected]>; District1 <[email protected]>; District2 <[email protected]>; District3 <[email protected]>; District4 <[email protected]>; District5 <[email protected]>; District 6 <[email protected]>; District7 <[email protected]>; District8 <[email protected]>; District9 <[email protected]>; District 10 <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget

Dear City Clerk:

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substanal progress, I believe the following maers are sll in need of addional funding and aenon.

This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Reinstang low cost spay/neuter and vaccinaon services is also essenal. Pet overpopulaon results in unwanted animals that are abandoned or otherwise become strays. Unvaccinated animals spread disease. The economy and the shortage of vets has made it diﬃcult for many people to neuter and vaccinate their pets. The reinstatement of low cost spay and neuter services will greatly reduce animal suﬀering. It will also reduce the number of animals brought to the shelter, which will increase the live release rate. Fewer animals in the shelter increases an animal’s probability of adopon and the shelter’s ability to house the animal. This eﬀect was recognized by John Cicirelli when he was Assistant Director of Public Works. The following is his quote from a May 31, 2016, arcle in sanjoseinside entled “San Jose Councilman Proposes No-Kill Shelter”:
“One of the most signiﬁcant contributors to our high save rate has been prevenng animals from being born through low cost and free spay-neuter services. We have learned that this is one of the best ways to invest in our community and achieve our goal of reducing the number of stray animals.”
The shelter needs a full me animal behaviorist. A dedicated posion would enable the shelter to structure enrichment, socializaon, behavior modiﬁcaon and oﬀset the stressful condions of the shelter environment on the animals. An animal behaviorist would also provide post-adopon support and owner-retenon programs, increasing posive outcomes.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Please add my comments to the public record and distribute to the Mayor and City Councilmembers.

Sincerely,

Tina Jones
Wanda Brown

Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget Rosanne Wirth
Mon 6/12/2023 7:39 PM
To:CouncilMeeting <[email protected]>
Cc:City Clerk <[email protected]>
[External Email]
Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,
I am a San Jose resident and am writing to state my strong support for the increases for Animal Services in the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year.

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substantial progress, I believe the following matters are still in need of additional funding and attention.

following is his quote from a May 31, 2016, article in sanjoseinside entitled “San Jose Councilman Proposes No-Kill Shelter”:
“One of the most significant contributors to our high save rate has been preventing animals from being born through low cost and free spay-neuter services. We have learned that this is one of the best ways to invest in our community and achieve our goal of reducing the number of stray animals.”
The shelter needs a full time animal behaviorist. A dedicated position would enable the shelter to structure enrichment, socialization, behavior modification and offset the stressful conditions of the shelter environment on the animals. An animal behaviorist would also provide post-adoption support and owner-retention programs, increasing positive outcomes.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Sincerely,
Rosanne Wirth
Sent from my iPhone
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. [External Email]
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

FW: I Support Keeping the Current Measure E allocation
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:42 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Pamela Campos
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 7:44 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: I Support Keeping the Current Measure E allocaon

Thank you Sincerely, Pamela
--
Pamela Campos (She/Ella)
SJ4ALL Advisory Member | MTC Policy Advisory Council, Vice Chair

[External Email]
FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:42 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Marcella Antone
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 8:22 PM
To: CouncilMeeng <CouncilMee[email protected]>
Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substanal progress, I believe the following maers are sll in need of addional funding and aenon.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Sincerely,
Marcella Antonel

FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:42 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Urla Hill
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 8:37 PM
To: CouncilMeeting <[email protected]>
Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget [External Email]
Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,
I am a San Jose resident and am writing to state my strong support for the increases for Animal Services in the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year.

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substantial progress, I believe the following matters are still in need of additional funding and attention.

This problem results directly from the reduction in TNR services in 2019 by Animal Services and its termination of all TNR

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Sincerely,
Urla Hill
Sent from my iPhone
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. [External Email]
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

FW: Measure E
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:42 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: pegelwel
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 7:56 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>; Cohen, David <[email protected]> Subject: Measure E

While we do need some interim soluons for unhoused people - I was glad to hear of plans for RV safe parking not to far from my home - what we really need is permanent aﬀordable housing. I support the Davis, Orz, Torres memo for the maximum use of Measure E funds for permanent aﬀordable housing.

Peggy Elwell
District 4 homeowner
Sent from AOL on Android

FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:42 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Francis Camacho
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 8:40 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>; District1 <[email protected]>; District2 <[email protected]>; District3 <[email protected]>; District4 <[email protected]>; District5 <[email protected]>; District 6 <[email protected]>; District7 <[email protected]>; District8 <[email protected]>; District9 <[email protected]>; District 10 <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget [External Email]
Dear City Clerk:

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substantial progress, I believe the following matters are still in need of additional funding and attention.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Please add my comments to the public record and distribute to the Mayor and City Councilmembers.

Sincerely,
Francis Camacho
Sent from my iPhone
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:42 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Virginia >
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 8:41 PM
To: CouncilMeeting <[email protected]>
Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget [External Email]
Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,
I am a San Jose resident and am writing to state my strong support for the increases for Animal Services in the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year.

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substantial progress, I believe the following matters are still in need of additional funding and attention.

This problem results directly from the reduction in TNR services in 2019 by Animal Services and its termination of all TNR

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Sincerely,
Sent from my iPhone
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

FW: Budget Addendum Pertaining to Animal Services in San Jose City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:43 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Lucas S Stamos
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 9:30 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Budget Addendum Pertaining to Animal Services in San Jose [External Email]
I urge you to address the overwhelming surge in feral cats on the streets of San Jose. We desperately need an active TNR program to reduce the suffering and to stop the reproductive cycle and ever-increasing population. The volunteers are overwhelmed and have been carrying the full load far too long. The City Of San Jose needs to do their part by providing the neuter services through hiring veterinarians - how about contract vets? - spay and neuter vans, and vouchers.

Please do your part to end the suffering and provide the animal services care you are responsible for.

Sincerely,
Anne Stamos
Sent from my iPad
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

[External Email]
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

FW: Support the Davis/Ortiz/Torres Memo (Item 3.1)
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:43 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Karandeep Takhtani
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 9:40 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Support the Davis/Orz/Torres Memo (Item 3.1)

Hello,

My name is Karan Takhtani and I live in District 3 in San Jose. I am wring to ask that you support the Davis/Ortiz/Torres memo o that we can pre erve the Mea ure E allocation for permanent affordable hou ing a well a fund new emergency interim housing. All people deserve to live in dignity and security, but that is incredibly difficult when struggling to simply have a roof over one's head. Far too many in our city are put into this position by the lack of affordable housing available and unsustainable rent costs. It is imperative that more resources are allocated towards this end, so that one day we may end homelessness in San Jose and no person will have to worry about how they or their families will manage to live in dignity and security.

Thank you for your time,
--
Karandeep Takhtani
District 3
San Jose, CA 95116

[External Email]
FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:44 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Liz Holtz <
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 10:15 PM
To: CouncilMeeng <CouncilMee[email protected]>
Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget

Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers:

I am a San Jose resident and volunteer TNR (Trap-Neuter/Spay-Return) trapper in the Evergreen and East Foothills area of San Jose and feral kien foster for local cat rescues.

I am wring to state my strong support for the increases for Animal Services in the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year.

I would STRONGLY encourage you to also fund the City Manager's Budget Addendum #46 to expand the TNR program and provide spay/neuter/vaccinaon services to low income households and our homeless populaon to STOP THE BREEDING!!

The TNR program limitaons in place for at least the LAST 5 YEARS has led to an "out of control" breeding situaon with free roaming cats - despite the best eﬀorts of the TNR trappers and rescues in San Jose.

My calculaons using a spreadsheet created by a vet school and loading it with data from a na onally recognized study that was conducted in Santa Clara County esmates that at least 220,000 kiens will be born and survive in 2023 and result in a BREEDING POPULATION of 3,275,000 CATS by the end of the year - AND THIS ASSUMES 2019 AS YEAR ZERO!!!

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substan al progress, I am fully in agreement with the addional issues that MUST be addressed that have been raised by my cohorts in the Companion & Community Animal Project (CCAP).

I also STRONGLY URGE YOU to have the City's Auditor review the data produced and used by the shelter to direct its operaons, measure its performance and predict future community needs. The data is inaccurate due to a lack of training and data input restricons and periodic review to insure accuracy.

Addionally, there is absolutely NO TRACKING of the animals being refused by the shelter due to its current status of being at 300% of capacity AND there is NO TRACKING of the animals that residents are asked to 'temporarily' house for "72 hours" due to the shelter being unable to accept healthy stray friendly animals - despite senior management telling the NSE Commiee and Angel Rios' Animal Services Stakeholder's group that "it was being recorded on a yellow legal pad" since December 2022.

At the recent SJ City Council Budget Study Session (or other mee ng that I a ended) - SJACS management admi ed to Councilmembers that they were STILL working on how to track the data - even though I personally suggested an excel spreadsheet at the FIRST Stakeholder Meeng months ago.

This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

WE UNDERSTAND that the challenges facing the shelter will not be resolved overnight. The proposed budget increases represent posive forward movement, but so much more needs to be done.

Animal Services requires oversight and they need to be held accountable at the City Council level. The individual and DIRECT commitment by the Mayor's Oﬃce and ALL of the members of the City Council's parcipaon in making certain that Animal Services meets the current and future needs of the community is vital.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services and to do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to serve ALL of the animals in our communies... including Free-roaming "community" cats, stray animals of ALL types, animals belonging to low-income families, families having to surrender the pets that they love, and animals at the homeless encampments.

Thank you for your aenon and consideraon to these dire maers.

Best regards,

Liz Holtz

[External Email]
FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:44 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: tweety2055
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 10:35 PM
To: The Oﬃce of Mayor Ma Mahan <[email protected]>
Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget

Dear Mayor Mahan:

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substanal progress, I believe the following maers are sll in need of addional funding and aenon.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Sincerely,
Nancy Landeros

I'd like to tell you how this personally aﬀected me I never had a cat before and when I moved into this mobile home park with so many trees I found it a cat starving so I took her home and aer a visit to the vet I kept her. I found out I had many feral cats on the property and neighbors wanted them because they had mice. Their dogs don't do the job. My feral cats started disappearing and I found traps everywhere. When the park manager came to talk to me he said, I'm from Kansas and we just take them out to the woods and leave them. He was leaving them at Coyote Creek here. They never came back. He had lied to me when he said he was taking the rest to animal shelter but when I checked with the shelter they had none registered to my address. Aer they are ﬁxed they are brought back to the same place. No more kiens & eventually the populaon would die out. I reported him to the shelter for invesgaon and he doesn't talk to me anymore but I'm hoping that he's not trapping anymore to kill.

Please consider making the shelter more modern, much bigger and w/more staﬀ.

I know there are many priories in San Jose with the homeless but I have lived here my whole life and I can't see destroying so many innocents. I have given so many kiens away to neighbors and Friends. Doing my part! I have worked for so many charies in my life helping people and kids at Christmas me. I am now rered and unable to work for Second Harvest Food Bank or Toys for Tots.

Hopefully I can help here. I voted for you!

FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:45 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Tammie Diaz
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2023 6:26 AM
To: CouncilMeeting <[email protected]>
Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget [External Email]
Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,
I am a San Jose resident and am writing to state my strong support for the increases for Animal Services in the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year.

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substantial progress, I believe the following matters are still in need of additional funding and attention.

This problem results directly from the reduction in TNR services in 2019 by Animal Services and its termination of all TNR

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Sincerely,
Tammie Diaz
San Jose, CA 95148
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

[External Email]
FW: Fiscal 2023%2�� 2024 Animal Care & Services (%2��Animal Services%2��) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 8:05 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Shim JD
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2023 8:02 AM
To: CouncilMeeng <CouncilMee[email protected]>
Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023%2�� 2024 Animal Care & Services (%2��Animal Services%2��) Budget

Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers, I am a San Jose resident and am writing to state my strong support for the increases for Animal Services
in the Mayor and City Manager%2��s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year. Converting the temporary overstrength position of Supervisor Shelter Operations to permanent status, and adding more full-time positions, a night shift and a dedicated senior resource for facilities repair and maintenance will improve the shelter%2��s ability to provide greatly needed support to our community and increase live outcomes for the animals. The night shift is a critical addition, as it will enable the shelter to provide care for underage kittens, the highest volume and most vulnerable animals at the shelter. The allocation of monies for support of adoption and rescue outcomes is also essential. It will allow more animals in need to move to organizations that can provide the specialized care necessary for such animals to be placed for adoption. While the proposed budget for Animal Services

represents substantial progress, I believe the following matters are still in need of additional funding and attention. The data produced and used by the shelter to direct its operations, measure its performance and predict future community needs is incomplete and/or inaccurate. The shelter needs a dedicated IT Business Analyst to review and develop systems and processes for the collection, use, and transparency of data, including the collection of critical missing data integral to development of a long-term strategy, such as the number of animals turned away at intake and the reasons admission was denied. Expanding and staffing the Trap, Neuter & Return (TNR) program for community cats is mandatory. During May the shelter accepted 743 kittens and as of June 6th was holding 340 kittens, representing the majority of the animals in the shelter. The shelter, rescue organizations, and fosters are at or over capacity and animals are being turned away. Friendly community kittens are being found throughout San Jose; there is no place for them to go and it is still the beginning of %2��kitten season%2��. This problem results directly from the reduction in TNR services in 2019 by Animal Services and its termination of all TNR services in May 2022. It has recently reinstated TNR, but on a very limited basis, relying heavily on rescues and volunteers to transport cats outside of the county for spay and neuter services. Since the reduction of TNR service began, the cities served by Animal Services have been experiencing an increasing cat population that will continue to grow exponentially unless a robust TNR program is established and maintained. Reinstating low cost spay/neuter and vaccination services is also essential. Pet overpopulation results in unwanted animals that are abandoned or otherwise become strays. Unvaccinated animals spread disease. The economy and the shortage of vets has made it difficult for many people to neuter and vaccinate their pets. The reinstatement of low cost spay and neuter services will greatly reduce animal suffering.

It will also reduce the number of animals brought to the shelter, which will increase the live release rate. Fewer animals in the shelter increases an animal%2��s probability of adoption and the shelter%2��s ability to house the animal. This effect was recognized by John Cicirelli when he was Assistant Director of Public Works. The following is his quote from a May 31, 2016, article in sanjoseinside entitled %2��San Jose Councilman Proposes No-Kill Shelter%2��: %2��One of the most significant contributors to our high

save rate has been preventing animals from being born through low cost and free spay-neuter services. We have learned that this is one of the best ways to invest in our community and achieve our goal of reducing the number of stray animals.%2�� The shelter needs a full time animal behaviorist. A dedicated position would enable the shelter to structure enrichment, socialization, behavior modification and offset the stressful conditions of the shelter environment on the animals. An animal behaviorist would also provide post-adoption support and owner-retention programs, increasing positive outcomes. The challenges facing the shelter will not be resolved overnight. The proposed budget increases represent positive forward movement, but much more needs to be done. Animal Services requires oversight at the City Council level, and your participation in making sure Animal Services meets the current and future needs of the community is vital. I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services. Sincerely, Kyung Rex

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FW: Support the Davis/Ortiz/Torres memo
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 9:00 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: stacy muccino
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2023 8:48 AM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Support the Davis/Orz/Torres memo

I support Davis/Orz/Torres!
Best Regards,
Stacy Muccino

[External Email]
Re: Opposition to Mayor's proposal on how the city spends funds raised from Measure E.

Tito A Cortez <
Tue 6/13/2023 9:43 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>;The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;[email protected] <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>;District 10 <[email protected]>
Cc:District2 <[email protected]>

FYI
On Mon, Jun 12, 2023 at 3:11 PM Tito A Cortez wrote:

On December 6, 2019, I was one of the co-signers in favor of passing Measure E during the March 3, 2020 Primary Municipal Elecon for the City of San Jose. Fortunately, it passed. See aached.

At that me, we were concerned about housing homeless people as well as providing aﬀordable homes to our cizens who keep our city safe including our ﬁreﬁghters, police oﬃcers, nurses and the middle class workers who try to keep San Jose running. These are our teachers, mechanics, bus drivers, including our hospitality workers.

Most of us can't aﬀord to live in San Jose and if we try to live here, we are living in overcrowded condions because this is all we could aﬀord. Overcrowded condions that are not too healthy for raising our families.

The Real Property Transfer Tax Revenue, Measure E, is supposed to be used in addressing the housing problems faced by what was already menoned. I don't believe that it was meant to cover only temporary homeless housing as the Mayor is proposing.

As one of the signers, I believe that the Real Property Tax Revenue was explicitly designed to provide more aﬀordable housing opons, NOT just one. Thus, I am not in favor of using Measure E funds to be completely spent towards temporary homeless shelters.

With honors in serving our country--
Tito A. Cortez, MSW

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Support Measure E
Andrea Perry < >
Tue 6/13/2023 10:07 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>;The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;Mahan, Matt <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;Kamei, Rosemary <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;Jimenez, Sergio <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;Torres, Omar <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;Cohen, David <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;Ortiz, Peter <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;Davis, Dev <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;Doan, Bien <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;Candelas, Domingo <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]> Cc:Andrea Perry
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Dear Mayor and Councilmembers:

Since 1990, I have been an active community volunteer and homeowner in both Willow Glen and downtown San Jose. As a mother, grandmother and longtime child and family advocate, I want all children and families in our community to have a healthy, secure and safe life and thrive! As you well know, San Jose (and SF) have the highest rents and housing costs in the country and many of our families are impoverished and suffering! Many of us voted for Measure E on the promise that it would be used to build affordable housing, but now the Mayor wants to shift funding towards temporary homeless shelters, which would jeopardize funding for new affordable housing construction. This is unacceptable!

I believe this is a misguided short-term gain that will have a devastating long-term impact on our housing affordability. Our working-class families can’t afford to lose this critical resource.

I urge you all to support the Davis, Ortiz, Torres memo as it represents the will of the voters, and works strategically to address both the affordability and unhoused crisis that we are facing.

Andrea M Perry MSW

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FW: Re Item 3.4, 3.5 & 3.6: Labor and Community FY23-24 Budget Recommendations City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 11:20 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Jeﬀrey Buchanan
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2023 10:52 AM
To: The Oﬃce of Mayor Ma Mahan <[email protected]>; Kamei, Rosemary <[email protected]>; Jimenez, Sergio <[email protected]>; Torres, Omar <[email protected]>; Cohen, David <[email protected]>; Orz, Peter <Peter.Or[email protected]>; Davis, Dev <[email protected]>; Doan, Bien <[email protected]>; Candelas, Domingo <[email protected]>; Foley, Pam <[email protected]>; Batra, Arjun <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc: Maria Fernandez >; david ; jean
Subject: Re Item 3.4, 3.5 & 3.6: Labor and Community FY23-24 Budget Recommendaons

Greengs Mayor and Council:

On behalf of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council, the Santa Clara and San Benito County Building Trades Council and Working Partnerships USA, I would like to share the below recommendaons on the Mayor’s June Message, the Measure E Allocaon, and the FY23-24 Operang Budget. Please let me know if you have any quesons.

Best, Jeﬀrey

Jeﬀrey Buchanan
Director of Public Policy
Working Partner
ships USA

Dear Mayor and Councilmembers:

Thank you all for the incredible amount of work and thoughulness that each of you have put into the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget process and for your willingness to engage the community and working families on these important quesons. As representaves of over 100,000 workers and their families across Santa Clara County we know the enormous needs facing San Jose and believe we need a budget that takes a comprehensive approach to solving our biggest problems: housing, homelessness and public safety.

Aer reviewing the memos submied by Councilmembers we would encourage the Council to pass a June Budget Message and FY23- 24 Operang Budget which:

Adopts the 6/8 memo by Councilmembers Davis, Orz and Torres to keep the current allocaon of Measure E dollars, which already balances funding interim shelter spending and permanent housing, and using addional funds from the General Fund Excess Fund Balance to support the funds needed for construcon and operaons of all of the City’s FY23-24’s planned interim shelter sites.

Directs staﬀ to ﬁnd addional resources to fund the addional staﬃng and/or interim shelter needs idenﬁed in Councilmembers Cohen and Jimenez’s 6/9 memo.

Adopts the 6/9 memo from Councilmembers Davis, Orz, Torres, Batra and Doan to not accept the reducon in Med 30 recommended by staﬀ, and to fund poron of MBA #21 idenﬁed in their memo through a reducon in the future deﬁcit reserve.

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Addionally, we encourage the City Council to vote no on the 6/9 memo from Mayor Ma Mahan to break with the City’s promise to voters who passed Measure E in 2020, and to a broad coalion of labor, faith, community and developers who came together working with Mayor Liccardo and City Council to reach a diﬃcult agreement to require any changes to the spending allocaon of those funds to require super majority support by future Councils. We believe unraveling this requirement would be a major blow to our community’s faith in this Council and future ballot measures.

Thank you for your consideraon.

Sincerely,

Jean Cohen, Execuve Oﬃcer, South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council David Bini, Execuve Director, Santa Clara & San Benito Counes Building & Construcon Trades Council Maria Noel Fernandez, Execuve Director, Working Partnerships USA

San Jose City CouncilJune 13, 2023

San Jose City Council
June 13, 2023