TO: NEIGHBORHOOD
SERVICES AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
FROM: Jon Cicirelli
SUBJECT: See below DATE: November 25, 2024
Approved Date:
12/5/2024
COUNCIL DISTRICT: Citywide
SUBJECT: Blight Reduction Coordination with Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Status Report
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the status report on the Memorandum of Understanding with Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority on blight reduction coordination.
BACKGROUND
On November 14, 2023, the City Council (Item 7.1) directed staff to negotiate a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and BeautifySJ to allow for coordination to address blight and homeless encampments on adjacent properties. This agreement will ensure formalized collaboration and enable more effective and timely blight and homeless encampment response across all VTA properties located in San José.
The BeautifySJ team’s partnerships with public agencies like Caltrans, Valley Water, and the County of Santa Clara have been essential to improving blight abatement and homeless encampment management efforts throughout San José. These collaborative agreements allow the team to access public lands efficiently and leverage cost-sharing arrangements, expediting services across the city.
COMMITTEE AGENDA: 12/12/2024
ITEM: (d)1
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
November 25, 2024
Subject: Blight Coordination with Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Status Report
ANALYSIS
The City of San José, BeautifySJ Program has initiated discussions with VTA to negotiate an MOU that would enable City access to VTA properties for blight reduction coordination and homeless encampment response. Progress has been made, and the City is moving toward the next steps of executing and agreement. Staff has been actively negotiating the roles and responsibilities, notification requirements, and access coordination protocols to address blight reduction and encampment protocol management on VTA properties in San José.
In general, the MOU outlines a structured approach for collaboration between the City and VTA to address blight on both properties. Key elements of the cooperative process are listed below that includes routine communication, planning, reporting, and resourcesharing, to ensure consistent progress in reducing trash, debris, encampments, and graffiti.
1. Coordinated Clean-Ups: The commitment to "Coordinated Clean Ups" emphasizes joint responsibility for both agencies to reduce blight. By explicitly defining a shared effort, this approach encourages both parties to address blight promptly, reduce repeat offenses, and potentially streamline resource use.
2. Regular Communication and Meetings: Schedule regular communication to address ongoing challenges, immediate needs, and the logistics of upcoming clean-ups, which helps in prioritizing areas that need immediate attention.
3. Resource Sharing: Resource sharing is crucial to maximizing the effectiveness of the clean-up efforts. Sharing data, expertise, and resources to address blighted “hot spots” allows both parties to respond quickly and strategically. The notification system ensures that both parties are informed of upcoming activities, which minimizes overlap and maximizes efficiency.
The following timeline outlines the remaining key milestones and projected execution of the MOU:
Timeframe Milestone
November 2024 The draft MOA is currently under review and negotiations by VTA.
December 2024 The Office of the City Attorney reviews and approves the MOA.
February 2025 Final MOA sign-off and execution.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
November 25, 2024
Subject: Blight Coordination with Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Status Report
COORDINATION
This memorandum was coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and the City Manager’s Budget Office.
/s/
Jon Cicirelli
Director of Parks, Recreation and
Neighborhood Services
The principal author of this memorandum is Aurelia Bailey, BeautifySJ Interim Division Manager, at (408) 535-3540 or [email protected], For questions, please contact Olympia Williams, Deputy Director, at (408) 535-3571 or [email protected].