RULES COMMITTEE: 9/17/2025
Item: B.1
File ID: ROGC 25-284
TO: Honorable Mayor & FROM: Toni J. Taber, MMC
City Council City Clerk
SUBJECT: The Public Record DATE: September 17, 2025
September 4, 2025 – September 11, 2025.
ITEMS FILED FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD
Letters from Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Letters from the Public
1. Letter from Carol Jones, dated September 5, 2025, regarding: 8/26/25 Item 10.2: GPT25-002 - General Plan Text Amendment.
2. Letter from Akos Szoboszlay, dated September 7, 2025, regarding: Please upload 3 files to agenda item "Open Forum" for 9/9/ 2025.
3. Letter from Department of Toxic Substances Control, dated September 8, 2025, regarding:
Work Notice: 210 Baypointe Parkway - September 2025.
4. Letter from Juan Torres, dated September 8, 2025, regarding: Proposal to Implement an Automatic Noise Detection and Enforcement System in San Jose.
5. Over 100 emails of substaintially the same language were received between September 9 – September 11, 2025, regarding: I oppose 300-foot-tall buildings at the 28th St/Little Portugal BART Station. One example is enclosed. You may contact the City Clerk’s Office to view all letters received.
____________________________
Toni J. Taber, MMC
City Clerk
TJT/tt
9/8/25, 817 AM Mail - Rules and Open Government Committee Agendas - Outlook ~ Outlook
Fw: CAROL J JONES 95110 - 8/26/25 Item 10.2: GPT25-002 - General Plan Text Amendment From Agendadesk <[email protected]>
Date Fri 9/5/2025 1 :59 PM
To Rules and Open Government Committee Agendas <[email protected]> From: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 5, 2025 11:31 AM
To: Agendadesk <[email protected]>
Subject: FW: CAROL J JONES 95110 - 8/26/25 Item 10.2: GPT25-002 - General Plan Text Amendment From: San Jose United
Sent: Friday, September 5, 2025 11:22 AM
To: District2 <[email protected]>; District3 <[email protected]>; District4 <[email protected]>; Districts <[email protected]>; District 6 <[email protected]>; District7 <[email protected]>; District8 <[email protected]>; District9 <[email protected]>; District 10 <[email protected]>; Districtl <[email protected]>; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]>;
Subject: CAROL J JONES 95110- 8/26/25 Item 10.2: GPT25-002 - General Plan Text Amendment [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. learn morel Dear San Jose City Council and San Jose Planning Commission, Regarding the proposal to replace the broad based, cross sector Envision San Jose 2024 General Plan Four Year Review Task Force (Task Force) with the smaller, less representative Planning Commission: To make up for this reduction in expertise, the Council should require that staff identify key stakeholder groups so the Planning Commission can hold deliberate panel input sessions with those stakeholder groups. Key stakeholder groups can fill in the gaps created by the replacement of the Task Force for the third Four Year review cycle.
Use a diverse task force please
Please also consider incorporating language to ensure the use of the Planning Commission, instead of the Task Force, is an exception rather than a default.
Sincerely,
CAROL J JONES
95110
You may not use my contact information for any purpose other than to respond to my concern regarding the topic listed above, nor may you share my address with any other organization(s) or individual(s).
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/ AAQkADhh Yzk3NTk1 L TBmZDAtN Dc4Yi1 h N2Q0L TZjNmZjNTk5MT .. 1 /2 Public Record: 1
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This mail was sent on behalf of a San Jose resident via San Jose United https://www.sanjoseunited.net
Community Working Together
9/8/25, 8:17 AM Mail - Rules and Open Government Committee Agendas - Outlook https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkADhhYzk3NTk1LTBmZDAtNDc4Yi1hN2Q0LTZjNmZjNTk5MT… 2/2 Public Record: 2
9/10/25, 9:55 AM Mail - Rules and Open Government Committee Agendas - Outlook https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkADhhYzk3NTk1LTBmZDAtNDc4Yi1hN2Q0LTZjNmZjNTk5MT… 1/1 To: San Jose City Council Repeal pedestrian prohibition Page of 13 From: Akos Szoboszlay, former President, Modern Transit Society (disbanded in 2011) To: Mayor Mahan and Councilmembers, City of San Jose
Date: Sept. 9, 2025
Subject: Request repeal of ordinance 11.32.070 prohibiting pedestrians on expressways Hon. Mayor Mayan and Councilmembers,
At my request as President of the Modern Transit Society (which existed from 1971 to 2011), the County Board of Supervisors (BOS) required the following along all expressways:
• bike lanes (in 1989, with technical details added in the 2003 County Expressway Plan), • pedestrians paths along the “entire expressway system” (1991), • trimming of shrubs at intersection corners for pedestrian safety (1991 and 2003), • pedestrian use of expressway bridges (1991), and
• approved sidewalks along all expressways, usually on both sides of the road, as shown on Sidewalk Maps for each expressway (part of the 2008 County Expressway Plan).
All nine BOS votes in this regard, and excerpted quotes, are listed in the first link (below).
Unfortunately, County Roads Department has refused to comply because “that would encourage pedestrian to violate the City ordinance.” This has resulted in many fatalities of pedestrians, including “multiple” fatalities (admitted to by County Roads) caused by prohibiting use of the Capitol Expressway bridge and forcing pedestrians to step across the train tracks and Monterey Highway. [See photos, next page.]
Other fatalities included right-turn-on-red caused by the refusal of County Roads to create paths at intersection corners that the BOS requires. It’s now mostly corrected.
The reason for such roadway design failures on expressways is that the City ordinance causes County highway staff to pretend that pedestrians do not exist on expressways. If they would have just checked State law, or counted the pedestrians, it would have shown their belief to be false. Expressway design needs to be the same as the 36 miles of arterial roads in San Jose that have exactly the same speed limit as the 23 miles of expressways in San Jose: 45 or 50 mph.
In 1997, I forced County Roads to comply with State law (which gave no authority to prohibit pedestrians from expressways) and remove all “Pedestrians Prohibited” signs on Capitol Expressway. This had the immediate result of greatly improving pedestrian safety by forcing County Roads to comply with the 1991 BOS actions. However, they only partly complied. They still did not place a path or sidewalk on both sides of Capitol Expressway, as required.
Two speeches of Akos Szoboszlay to San Jose City Council under Open Forum Repeal ordinance 11.32.070 (prohibition of pedestrians on expressways) September 9, 2025 speech:
My name is Akos Szoboszlay. I was President of the Modern Transit Society, which was the organization behind bringing Light Rail and BART to the County, and the tax for transit in 1976, that funds VTA. Please repeal ordinance 11.32.070 that prohibits pedestrians and transit patrons from expressways with no exception for sidewalks, paths and bus stops. The BPAC unanimously requested City Council to repeal.
One of our members lived two blocks from the Capitol Light Rail station. You prohibited him from using Light Rail because you only allow car owners driving into the parking lot to use the station. If that sounds absurd, repeal the ordinance. All bus lines crossing expressways stop at expressways so transit patrons can use expressways. You also prohibit them.
State law gave no authority to prohibit pedestrians from expressways, so I forced removal of your Pedestrians Prohibited signs.
I won all votes of the County Board of Supervisors requiring pedestrian facilities on expressways. See the list, and details, that I uploaded under Open Forum. Despite these votes, County’s highway staff refused to comply because, “that would encourage pedestrians to violate the City ordinance.” Your ordinance resulted in many pedestrian fatalities. It is discriminatory, unjust and dangerous. Please repeal this ordinance.
August 12, 2025 speech:
My name is Akos Szoboszlay. I have been the victim of police harassment for years, for bicycling in bike lanes. At the time, only expressways had bike lanes, then called “shoulders.” This Council, at my request in 1989, voted 11 to 0 to repeal the bicycle prohibition. I also lead the successful effort at the County Board of Supervisors, who voted to require bike lanes in 1989, required pedestrian paths in 1991, and approved sidewalks in 2008, on all expressways.
Highway staff of the County has used the City’s prohibition of pedestrians as a ruse, to refuse to comply with BOS requirements for pedestrian safety. For example, they killed multiple people by forcing them to step across train tracks and Monterey Highway, rather than use the safest crossing: the existing bridge on Capitol Expressway.
State law only authorized prohibiting pedestrians from freeways. Highway staff claimed, “Expressways are freeways.” I proved that to be a lie by forcing removal of Pedestrians Prohibited signs, which forced them to comply with safety requirements.
San Jose BPAC voted unanimously (in January 2025) to request the Council to repeal City ordinance
11.32.070 that prohibits pedestrians. In San Jose, there are 23 miles of expressways, and 36 miles of arterial roads with the same speed limits, 45 or 50. Please correct this injustice and discrimination against people not using cars by repealing the ordinance.
Pedestrians along expressways:
County Board of Supervisors (BOS) policies and orders
Compiled by Akos Szoboszlay, Modern Transit Society
4/12/07, Updated 05/14/2024
This page is an abridged version of a web page that contains links to sources (document scans, or County’s pdf files) for the quotes on this page. The web page also describes (with photos) violations by County staff of these policies and orders of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors:
moderntransit.org/quote
1. 1991 Board Action: Ordered staff to create pedestrian paths on all expressways. “Approve the proposed new program to provide pedestrian pathway facilities along the expressway system at the annual level of $75,000.” [1991]
2. Staff report for that Board Action: “The [predecessor] Transportation Agency’s position is that it will take several years [from 1991] to remove all obstacles [basically, “cut back brush”] in the buffer area [between curb and property-line] from the entire expressway system.” [1991]
3. [Superseded by #4, next]
4. The 2003 County Expressway Plan (formally titled Comprehensive County Expressway Planning Study Implementation Plan, states:
“shoulder or path facilities can serve ... for occasional pedestrian use.” [2003]
5. "Wide shoulder or path" is listed in the map legend on all expressway-pedestrian maps in the 2003 County Expressway Plan, showing exact locations of these wide shoulders and/or paths. [2003]
6. The BOS ordered staff (on 1/10/06) to seek repeal of SB 1233, legal text that County Roads inserted into an unrelated bill, to hide it from the County. It eliminated the right of both bicyclists and pedestrians to use public roads in California. [See ModernTransit.org/restore/contents.htm]
7. "Landscaping needs to be kept trimmed back at intersection areas and along the travel way so pedestrians do not have to enter the travel lane." [2003] Paths are most needed at:
(a) intersection areas, where shoulders are reduced or non-existent, and (b) where people are forced to walk in the traffic lane — all caused by destruction of bike lanes.
8. “Expressway crossings of barriers (freeways, rivers, and railroads): A sidewalk/path on at least one side of the expressway will be provided to the adjacent public street intersection in both directions from the barrier.” [1991]
9. “It is the policy … to not eliminate existing sidewalks/pathways/informal paths.” [1991]
10. The BOS approved sidewalks along all expressways, shown block by block, on pedestrian maps of the 2008 County Expressway Plan. [ See: ModernTransit.org/expy/ped-element.html ] To see original document scans of quoted paragraphs, go to ModernTransit.org/quote and click the quote number.
v3 { re Department of .
DA Tonic Substances Work Notice: 210 Baypointe Parkway - September 2025 = Control
ET S* aT TE EET
210 Baypointe Parkway Site
# soil Cleanup at 210 Baypointe Gi) Find out more
The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is Find the workplan and other distributing this notice to inform the community about project documents online:
upcoming work at the 210 Baypointe Parkway site in envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov San Jose, CA 95134 (Site). The Site was used for Search for site code <60003402= farming until 1985. The soil is contaminated with arsenic, cobalt, hexavalent chromium, lead, and nickel. This Access hard copies at:
came from past farming activities. The City of San Jose DTSC Berkeley Regional Office gave approval to build seven buildings for residential 700 Heinz Avenue use. DTSC approved a cleanup plan in August 2025. Berkeley, CA 94710 (510) 540-2122
What will happen
e Remove contaminated soil from future landscaped Contacts areas and replace it with clean soil. Project Manager
e Cover the remainder of site with hardscape to Michelle Drake prevent exposure to contaminated soils. Examples Environmental Scientist of hardscape are building foundations, sidewalks, [email protected] and parking spaces. (510) 540-3832
e Hauling approximately 5,470 cubic yards of soil (608
truckloads) to a landfill.
Public Outreach
When work is scheduled James Gambrell
Public Participation Specialist
[email protected]
(510) 529-7199
e Work will begin the week of September 14, 2025.
Work will take place on weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m.
Safety measu res Media Requests
Work will follow measures to control dust, noise, and [email protected] other impacts. The work areas will be fenced off.
Workers will cover soil stockpiles with tarps and keep Air Quality Complaints soil moist. Dust will be checked with air monitors along Bay Area Air District the fence line during work hours. If dust levels get too BAAQMD.gov high, work will be paused until it can be safely resumed. (800) 334-6367 Nearby streets will be cleaned with wet-method street
sweepers when needed.
State of California | The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) Page 1 Public Record: 3
cl
Rt Department of . . DA ee SI StAn ea Work Notice: 210 Baypointe Parkway - September 2025 => Control
Truckloads will be covered and tires cleaned before leaving the Site. Trucks will take Highway 237 to Interstate 880 to drive to the landfill. To reach Highway 237, trucks will exit the Site onto Baypointe Parkway. Then, they will turn left on Zanker Road and travel east on Highway 237 and then head north on Interstate 880.
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Map of Baypointe Parkway Site
State of California | The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) Page 2 WY!
~ Department of
BN Toxic Substances
= Control
Sitio 210 Baypointe Parkway
Aviso sobre Obras: 210 Baypointe Parkway - Septiembre 2025 ps Limpieza del suelo en 2010 Baypointe
El Departamento de Control de Sustancias Toéxicas (DTSC, por sus siglas en inglés) difunde este aviso para informar a la comunidad sobre las obras que se realizaran proximamente en el sitio 210 Baypointe Parkway en San José, CA 95134 (Sitio).
EI Sitio se utiliz6 para fines agricolas hasta 1985. El suelo esta contaminado con arsénico, cobalto, cromo hexavalente, plomo y niquel. Esta contaminacién procede de actividades agricolas anteriores. La Ciudad de San José dio su aprobacién para construir siete edificios para uso residencial. En agosto de 2025, el DISC aprobo un plan de limpieza.
Qué pasara
e Retirar el suelo contaminado de las futuras areas de
jardines y sustituirlo por suelo limpio.
e Recubrir el resto del sitio con construccién sdlida para evitar la exposicién a suelos contaminados. Algunos
ejemplos de construccidén sdlida son los cimientos de
edificios, las veredas, y los espacios de estacionamiento. e Traslado de aproximadamente 5,470 yardas cubicas de
tierra (608 cargas de cami6n) a un vertedero.
Cuando estan previstas las obras
e Las obras daran inicio en la semana del 14 de septiembre de 2025.
Las obras se Ilevaran a cabo los dias laborales de 7.00 a.m. a 5.00 p.m.
Medidas de Seguridad
Se adoptaran medidas para controlar el polvo, el ruido y otros impactos asociados a las obras. Las areas de trabajo estaran valladas. Los trabajadores cubriran los acopios de tierra con lonas y mantendran la tierra humeda. Durante las horas de trabajo se controlara el polvo con monitores de aire colocados a lo largo de la linea de vallado. En caso de que los niveles de polvo sean demasiado elevados, el trabajo se detendra hasta que pueda reanudarse de forma segura. En caso necesario, las calles cercanas se limpiaran con barredoras con sistema de barrido himedo.
Gi) Mas informacion
Encuentre el plan de trabajo y
otros documentos del proyecto en
linea en: envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov
Busque el cédigo del sitio
<60003402=
Obtenga acceso a copias impresas en:
Oficina Regional del DTSC en
Berkeley
700 Heinz Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 540-2122
Contactos
Administradora del Proyecto
Michelle Drake
Especialista Medioambiental
[email protected]
(510) 540-3832
Difusio6n Publica
James Gambrell
Especialista en Participacién Publica
[email protected]
(510) 529-7199
Solicitudes de los Medios de
Comunicacion
[email protected]
Quejas sobre la Calidad del Aire
Distrito de Aire del Area de la Bahia
BAAQMD.gov
(800) 334-6367
Estado de California | Departamento del Control de Sustancias Téxicas (DTSC) Pagina 1 vf ey tment of ; ;
TA Pee Aviso sobre Obras: 210 Baypointe Parkway - Septiembre 2025 = Control
Los camiones cargados se cubriran y las llantas se limpiaran antes de salir del Sitio. Los camiones circularan por la Autopista 237 hasta la Interestatal 880 para llegar al vertedero. Para llegar a la Autopista 237, los camiones saldran del Sitio por Baypointe Parkway. Posteriormente, giraran a la izquierda en Zanker Road y viajaran hacia el este por la Autopista 237 y luego se dirigiran hacia el norte por la Interestatal 880.
Mapa del sitio de Baypointe Parkway
Estado de California | Departamento del Control de Sustancias Téxicas (DTSC) Pagina 2 { ts, Department of
TAS Toxic Substances
LS
= Control
Cong Truong 210 Baypointe Parkway
Théng Bao Céng Viéc: 210 Baypointe Parkway - Thang 9 Nam 2025 MX Lam Sach bat tai 210 Baypointe
Ban Kiém Soat Déc Té (Department of Toxic Substances
Control, DTSC) gtri thong bao nay dé théng tin dén céng dang vé cng viéc sap dién ra tai dia diém 210 Baypointe Parkway & San Jose, CA 95134 (Céng Truong). Céng Trvéng nay
truéc day da duoc st9 dung cho hoat déng trang trai cho dén nam 1985. Dat & day da bi nhiém cac chat asen, coban, crom héa tri sau, chi va niken. Hé qua nay dén tir cdc hoat déng trang trai trong qua khtr. Thanh Phé San Jose da th6éng qua viéc xy dng bay toa nha lam nha &. DTSC da chap thuan
mét ké hoach lam sach vao Thang 8 nam 2025.
Diéu gi sé dién ra
e Loai bé dat bi 6 nhiém ra khdi cac khu vue duo9c tao
canh quan trong tuong lai va thay thé bang dat sach.
e St dung canh quan cteng che phan con lai ctia khu dat dé tranh tiép xuc voi dat bi 6 nhiém. Vi du vé canh quan ctrng gam mong toa nha, via hé va khéng gian dau xe.
e V&n chuyén khoang 5.470 mét khéi dat (608 xe tai) dén bai chén lap.
Lich céng viéc
° Céng viéc sé bat dau vao tuan tir ngay 14 thang 9 nam 2025.
va dién ra vao cac ngay trong tuan tt 7:00 sang dén 5:00 chiéu.
Cac bién phap an toan
Céng viéc tuan thi cac bién phap kiém soat bui, tiéng én va cac tac déng khac. Cac khu vyc céng trudéng sé duoc rao chan. Céng nhan sé phti bat lén cac déng dat du tri va git 4m cho dat. Bui sé duoc kiém tra bang may theo déi khéng khi doc hang rao trong gid lam viéc. Néu luvong bui qua cao, cong viéc sé duoc tam dteng cho dén khi an toan dé tiép tuc.
Xe quét dvong phun nuéc sé lam sach cac con phé xung
quanh khi can thiét.
G) Tim hiéu them
Tim ké hoach cong viéc va cac tai
ligu dy an khac true tuyén trén
trang: envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov
Tim kiém ma céng trudng
<60003402=
Xem ban sao cteng tai:
DTSC Berkeley Regional Office
700 Heinz Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 540-2122
Nguoi Lién Hé
Giam Déc Du An
Michelle Drake
Nha Khoa Hoc Mi Truong
_ [email protected]
(510) 540-3832
Tiép Can Cong Dong
James Gambrell
Chuyén Gia vé Cong Déng Cuing
Tham Gia
James.Gambrell
(510) 529-7199
dtsc.ca.gov
Yéu Cau Vé Truyén Théng
[email protected]
Than Phién Vé Chat Luong Khéng
Khi
Bay Area Air District
BAAQMD.gov
(800) 334-6367
Tiéu Bang California | Ban Kiém Soat Déc T6 (DTSC) Trang 1 f 9Y~ Department of
tA Toxic Substances Théng Bao Céng Viéc: 210 Baypointe Parkway - Thang 9 Nam 2025 = Control
Xe tai sé duoc che phui va lép xe sé dug rtra sach truéc khi roi kndi Cong Truong. Xe tai sé di theo Pudong Cao Téc 237 téi Duong Lién Bang 880 dén bai chén lap. Dé dén Dudng Cao Téc 237, xe tai sé ra khéi Céng Truéng va nhap vao duong Baypointe Parkway. Sau dé, xe tai sé queo trai vao dudng Zanker Road va di vé phia déng trén Duong Cao Téc 237, rdi hwéng vé phia bac tren Duong Lién Bang 880.
Ban Dé Céng Truong Baypointe Parkway
Tiéu Bang California | Ban Kiam Soat Doc Té (DTSC) Trang 2 Public Record: 4
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2. When a vehicle exceeds the legal noise threshold, the system automatically activates a camera to capture the license plate.
3. With this evidence, a citation is mailed to the vehicle’s owner.
Expected Benefits
Immediate reduction of noise pollution in residential and high-traffic areas.
Improved public health, since noise pollution is linked to stress, sleep disorders, and even cardiovascular conditions.
More consistent law enforcement without requiring additional police resources to pull over every violator.
Additional revenue for the city through fines, which could be reinvested in public safety and community programs.
Request
I respectfully ask that the City Council:
1. Evaluate the technical and financial feasibility of a pilot program using noise detection sensors in critical areas of San José.
2. Provide a public discussion forum where residents can voice their support and share feedback on this initiative.
3. Consider incorporating this system into future city ordinances to strengthen compliance with California’s existing vehicle noise laws.
I firmly believe this proposal would improve the quality of life for San José residents and establish our city as a leader in innovative urban solutions.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I would be glad to collaborate or provide further input if needed.
Sincerely,
Juan Torres P
Resident of San José
9/10/25, 11:46 AM Mail - City Clerk - Outlook
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sources.
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