FROM: Mayor Mahan
Councilmember Campos
Councilmember Cohen
Councilmember Mulcahy
Councilmember Salas
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW
DATE: April 22, 2025
Approved:
Date: 4/18/2025
COUNCIL AGENDA: 4/22/2025
FILE: 25-405
ITEM: 6.1
SUBJECT: San José Clean Energy Programs Roadmap Status Report.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Accept the staff recommendations.
2. Include in the June agenda item related to workforce development plans for an "Ecohome High Road Contractor" badge to recognize and promote contractors who integrate high- road business practices into their operations. This badge will support workforce standards, promote values-aligned contractor selection, and align with Ecohome program values.
3. Continue development of the electric leaf blower rebate program and return to Council for approval when it is ready to be deployed.
BACKGROUND
We’d like to thank staff for their efforts to improve and expand SJCE programs for our residents and ensuring that they have access to electrification, reducing GHG-emissions, and improving resilience. We’d also like to ensure that residents who take advantage of these programs are directed to the most qualified contractors to make sure the work is done using the highest possible standards, and that those doing the work experience the best possible conditions. If residents are able to decide to opt for 100% green renewable energy through our TotalGreen program they should also be able to opt in to using contactors who have adopted the highest possible labor standards. Council will be hearing an item on Workforce Development in June and we look forward to hearing how qualifying contractors will be identified as “high road” contractors on the list of recommended contractors for HVAC, electrical, and other work.
We also appreciate the thorough work being done by SJCE to develop a program to help gardening contractors phase out the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in San Jose. We look forward to hearing the final proposal later this calendar year.
The signers of this memorandum have not had, and will not have, any private conversation with any other member of the City Council, or that member’s staff, concerning any action discussed in the memorandum, and that each signer’s staff members have not had, and have been instructed not to have, any such conversation with any other member of the City Council or that member's staff.