1 MEETING MINUTES OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
AND MEETING OF THE WHOLE
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024
The Public Safety, Finance and Strategic Support Committee Meeting was held in a hybrid format, in the Council Chambers and from remote locations. The meeting convened at 1:34 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers - Jimenez, Doan, Kamei, Torres, Batra.
Absent: Councilmembers - All present.
Staff: Assistant City Manager, Lee Wilcox; Senior Deputy City Attorney, Terra Chaffee; Council Policy and Legislative Director, Mayor’s Office, Sara Garcia; and Deputy City Clerk, Yasmin Johnson.
B. Review of Work Plan
1. Cardroom Status Report.
Public Comment: None provided.
No motion was taken.
The update report was added as directed by the Rules Committee at its January 17, 2024 meeting (Agenda Item C.1).
C. Consent Calendar
None provided.
D. Reports to Committee
1. Cardroom Status Report.
Director, Administration Policy and Intergovernmental Relations, City Manager’s Office, Sarah Zarate offered the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comment: None provided.
2 General Counsel, Bay 101 Casino, Augustine Woodson and a speaker whose name was not provided, spoke on behalf of Bay 101/ Casino Matrix in response to Councilmember Jimenez’ questions.
Motion: Councilmember Torres made the motion to withdraw the joint memorandum he co-authored with Councilmember Doan dated, February 14, 2024, and requested to agendize it to the March Public Safety, Finance and Strategic Support (PSFSS) Committee Meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan.
Assistant City Manager Lee Wilcox spoke to the budget process and recommended referring the joint memorandum co-authored by Councilmember Torres and Councilmember Doan dated, February 14, 2024, to the Joint Meeting for the Rules and Open Government Committee and Committee of the Whole (Rules) to expedite the process.
Senior Deputy City Attorney Terra Chaffee confirmed that the (PSFSS) Committee could refer the joint memorandum co-authored by Councilmember Torres and Councilmember Doan dated, February 14, 2024 to the (Rules) Committee.
Amendment to Motion: Councilmember Torres amended his motion on the floor to refer the joint memorandum he co-authored with Councilmember Doan dated, February 14, 2024, to the February 21, 2024 (Rules) Committee.
Action: On a call to question, the amended motion carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the verbal status report on State of California legislation that could impact City of San José cardrooms; and referred the joint memorandum co-authored by Councilmember Torres and Councilmember Doan dated, February 14, 2024, as is to the February 21, 2024 Joint Meeting for the Rules and Open Government Committee and Committee of the Whole (Rules). (5-0-0)
2. Second Quarter Financial Reports for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
City Auditor, Joe Rois offered the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Arjun Batra, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the Second Quarter (period ending December 31, 2023) Financial Reports for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 for the following programs: (a) Debt Management; (b) Investment Management; (c) Revenue Management; and (d) Purchasing & Risk Management; referred and cross-referenced the Second Quarter Financial Reports for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 to the *March 5, 2024 City Council Meeting for full adoption; and forwarded the recommendation to the *March 5, 2024 City Council Meeting to adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Finance to write-off uncollectible debts in an amount up to $1,053,825.71. (5-0-0)
3 Assistant City Manager Lee Wilcox made a Point of Order to inform the Committee that all of the Staff recommendations on today’s Agenda should be cross-referenced to the March 12, 2024 City Council Meeting, but later corrected his Point of Order to the *March 5, 2024 City Council Meeting.
3. City of San José Investment Policy Annual Review.
Director of Finance, Rick Bruneau; Assistant Director of Finance, Luz Cofresi-Howe; and Deputy Director of Finance, Debt & Treasury Management, Qianyu Sun offered the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Bien Doan, seconded by Councilmember Arjun Batra, and carried unanimously, the Committee approved the City of San José Investment Policy, as amended; and referred the City of San José Investment Policy as well as the appropriate resolution to the full City Council for consideration at the *March 5, 2024 City Council Meeting. (5-0-0)
4. Non-Management Employee Appraisals Audit Report.
City Auditor, Auditing Department, Joe Rois offered the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Bien Doan, seconded by Councilmember Arjun Batra, and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the report on the nonmanagement employee appraisals audit; and referred and cross-referenced the audit report for approval at the *March 5, 2024 City Council Meeting. (5-0-0)
5. Cannabis Business Regulations and Annual Operating Fee Comparisons.
SJPD, Police-Cannabis Regulation, Division Manager, Wendy Sollazzi; SJPD, Sergeant, David Woolsey; and SJPD, Interim Chief of Police, Paul Joseph offered the presentation and/or responded to questions.
Public Comment: Sean Kali-Rai (Silicon Valley Cannabis Alliance), Brando Duong, and Sharmi Shah offered public testimony regarding the item.
Councilmember Torres requested that staff return with a status update on the 600+ tobacco Retailers in the City.
Councilmember Sergio Jimenez requested that the Item be cross-referenced to the full City Council at a meeting within 30 days in March 2024. Assistant City Manager, Lee Wilcox stated that request was feasible.
4 Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Arjun Batra, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the report on how San José’s cannabis regulations compare to State of California regulations and how San José’s cannabis business annual operating fee compares to other jurisdictions, and crossreferenced the item to the full City Council at a meeting within 30 days in March 2024. (5-0-0)
OPEN FORUM
None provided.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Sergio Jimenez adjourned the Public Safety, Finance and Strategic Support Committee Meeting at 3:33 p.m.
Minutes Recorded, Prepared, and Respectfully Submitted by, _______________________________
Yasmin Johnson
Deputy City Clerk, City of San José
Approved at Council on: 12/03/2024
Attest By:
_______________________________
Toni J. Taber, CMC
City Clerk, City of San José