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MINUTES OF THE
JOINT MEETING OF THE RULES AND OPEN GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AND
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
SAN JOSÉ, CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2024
The Committee meeting was held in the Council Chambers. The meeting convened at 2:00 p.m.
Present Councilmembers: - Cohen, Foley, Jimenez, and Kamei.
Absent Councilmembers: - Davis.
Staff: Assistant City Manager, Lee Wilcox; Assistant City Attorney, Kevin Fisher; Deputy City Clerk, Megan Roche; City Manager’s Office, Rachelle Blattman; and Deputy City Clerk, Daniel Aguilar.
A. City Council (City Clerk)
1. Review November 5, 2024 Final Agenda.
a) Add New Items to Final Agenda
b) Assign "Time Certain" to Agenda Items (if needed)
c) Review of Notice of Waiver Requirements for Agenda Items or Documents (if needed)
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Pam Foley, seconded by Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei, and carried unanimously, the Committee approved the November 5, 2024 Draft Agenda. (4-0-1;
Absent: Davis)
2. Review November 12, 2024 Draft Agenda - Meeting Cancelled.
B. Consent Calendar
Public Comments: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Pam Foley, seconded by Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei, and carried unanimously, the Consent Calendar was approved as a whole. The below actions were taken as indicated. (4-0-1; Absent: Davis)
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1. The Public Record for October 17 – October 24, 2024 (City Clerk)
The Public Record for October 17 – October 24, 2024, was received and filed.
2. Approval of Thanksgiving Dinner at Evans Lane Interim Housing Sponsored by Council District 6 as a City Council Sponsored Special Event to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Event. (Davis)
The Thanksgiving Dinner at Evans Lane Interim Housing sponsored by Council District 6, scheduled on November 22, 2024 was approved for placement on the November 5, 2024 Council Agenda for action.
3. Retroactive Approval of Various Special Events Sponsored by Council District 5 as City Council Sponsored Special Events to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Events. (Ortiz)
The Various Special Events sponsored by Council District 5 were retroactively approved, and to be placed on the November 5, 2024 Council Agenda for action.
C. Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals
1. San José Innovative Project Pathway Program. (Mayor, Davis, and Foley)
1. Create the San José Innovative Project Pathway Program (Pathway Program) to streamline the approval of development projects that provide an extraordinary benefit to the City of San José. The Pathway Program will provide a clear policy route for securing approval of innovative investment projects. The Pathway Program will:
a. Accept project applications that meaningfully advance city goals and require amendments to general plan text, zoning code allowed uses, or development standards or regulations. b. Establish objective criteria for evaluating Pathway Program applications, ensuring alignment with city goals such as the city’s fiscal health, job creation potential, housing production, and sustainability.
c. Delineate a clear submission process and minimum criteria for applicants, including required documentation and fees.
d. Restrict the initial geographical scope of this new program to the boundaries of the Downtown Growth Area.
e. Establish an early consideration review process at City Council for Pathway Program applications that meet pre-established criteria, enabling the Council to provide clear, timely direction to staff on whether to proceed with processing the application further.
Public Comment: Doug Bloch offered public comment.
Chris Burton, Director, Department of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement, responded to questions from the Committee.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Pam Foley, seconded by Councilmember Sergio Jimenez, and carried unanimously, the San José Innovative Project Pathway Program (Pathway Program) was approved for placement on the November 5, 2024 Council Agenda for action. (4-0-1; Absent: Davis)
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2. Parks Maintenance and Capital Funding Study Session. (Ortiz)
1. Direct the City Clerk and City Manager to schedule a City Council Study Session on parks maintenance, capital funding, and preliminary work plan for a 2026 Parks Funding Ballot Measure in January or February of 2025.
2. Direct the City Manager to support the work already underway and led by Council District 5 to conduct regular stakeholder outreach, which should include, but should not be limited to:
a. A work plan that includes a comprehensive assessment of the current maintenance and repair needs in each park, as well as a clear timeline for when stakeholders can expect these issues to be addressed.
b. Town halls to discuss the current state of parks with residents to create open discussion and receive feedback from community members. [Deferred from 10/16/2024 - Item C.1 (ROGC 24 -719]
Councilmember Peter Ortiz introduced the item, bringing forward the recommendations outlined in the October 10, 2024 memorandum authored by Councilmember Ortiz.
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Pam Foley, seconded by Councilmember Sergio Jimenez, and carried unanimously, the Parks Maintenance and Capital Funding Study Session was approved for scheduling in January or February of 2025. (4-0-1; Absent: Davis)
3. Request for an Excused Absence. (Torres)
Consider addition of the excused absence request from Councilmember Torres from the regular meetings of City Council on October 22, 2024, October 29, 2024, and November 5, 2024 to the November 5, 2024 Council Agenda.
Public Comment: None provided.
No action taken on the item.
D. Open Forum
None provided.
E. Adjournment
Chair David Cohen adjourned the Committee meeting at 2:15 p.m.
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Minutes Recorded, Prepared, and Respectfully Submitted by,
Daniel Aguilar
Deputy City Clerk, City of San José
Approved at Council on:
Number of actions: 4
Attest By:
… . .
Toni J. Taber, MMC
City Clerk, City of San José