1 MINUTES OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023
The Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Meeting was held in a hybrid format, in the Council Chambers and from remote locations. The meeting convened at 1:31 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers - Davis, Ortiz, Doan, Torres, Candelas.
Absent: Councilmembers - All present.
Staff: City Manager’s Office, Angel Rios Jr.; City Attorney’s Office, Karin Murabito; Mayor’s Office, Mackenzie Mossing; City Clerk’s Office, Yasmin Johnson.
B. Review of Work Plan
1. Community Plan to End Homelessness 2020-2025 San José Report.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, seconded by Councilmember Omar Torres, and carried unanimously, the Committee deferred this item for November 9, 2023 on the Neighborhood Services and Education (NSE) Committee Work Plan to the December 14, 2023 NSE Committee meeting. (5-0-0) C. Consent Calendar
None provided.
D. Reports to Committee
1. BeautifySJ - Neighborhood Blight Reduction Status Report.
Deputy Director, Andrea Flores Shelton; Division Manager, BeautifySJ, Olympia Williams; Supervising Environmental Services Specialist, Ed Ramirez; and Deputy Director, Code Enforcement, Rachel Roberts offered the presentation and responded to questions.
Councilmember Omar Torres requested that cameras be placed on the corner of North Sixth St. and Empire St. and the Wooster Ave. “Porkchop” area as an illegal dumping deterrent.
2 Councilmember Dev Davis requested an offline conversation with staff regarding the current location and budget plans for beautification and landscaping.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Omar Torres, seconded by Councilmember Peter Ortiz, and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the status report on BeautifySJ - Neighborhood Blight Reduction evaluation plan and results for graffiti, litter removal, illegal dumping, and Dumpster Days, and cross-referenced the report to the full City Council (City Council Meeting date not specified on the record). (5-0-0)
2. Park Ranger Annual Report.
Deputy Director, Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services, Avi Yotam; Division Manager, Shannon Heimer; and Supervising Park Ranger, Pam Helmke offered the presentation and responded to questions.
Councilmember Peter Ortiz addressed his concerns and frustrations regarding the public safety of the parks in his district. He also requested that staff strategize different approaches to hire more Park Rangers.
Councilmember Dev Davis requested that staff look into including a potential ballot measure to help with park maintenance and safety when staff begins to survey potential ballot measures.
Action: Upon motion by Omar Torres, seconded by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the annual report on Park Ranger program including updates on programming and hiring efforts. (5-0-0)
3. Flavored Tobacco Ban and Nitrous Oxide Status Report.
Director, Planning, Building and Code Enforcement, Chris Burton and Deputy Director, Code Enforcement, Rachel Roberts offered the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comment: Caller ‘RUP Finance Team’ offered public testimony regarding the item.
Councilmember Dev Davis requested that the maker of motion include the following as a part of the motion: Direct staff to bring the Flavored Tobacco Ban and Nitrous Oxide status report back to the NSE Committee on a regular basis. The report is to include a map of where the cross-training inspections were done with the proximity of how many feet (500 or 1,000) these retailers are from youth-sensitive receptors.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Omar Torres, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the status report on the Flavored Tobacco Ban and Nitrous Oxide work plan, including Staff direction to bring the Flavored Tobacco Ban and Nitrous Oxide Status Report back to NSE Committee on a regular basis. The report is to include a map of where the cross-training inspections were done with the proximity of how many feet (500 or 1,000) these retailers are from youth-sensitive receptors. (5-0-0)
3 Open Forum
None provided.
Adjournment
Councilmember Dev Davis adjourned the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Meeting at 3:15 p.m.
Minutes Recorded, Prepared and Respectfully Submitted by, _____________________________
Yasmin Johnson
Deputy City Clerk, City of San José
Approved at Council on: 11/5/2024
Attest By:
_____________________________
Toni J. Taber, CMC
City Clerk, City of San José