1 MINUTES OF THE
JOINT M
EETING OF THE RULES AND OPEN GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AND
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
SAN JOSÉ, CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2025
The Committee meeting was held in the Council Chambers and convened at 2:00 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers - Cohe n, Kamei, Foley, Doan, Candelas.
Absent: Councilmembers - None.
Staff: Lee Wilcox, Assistant City Manager, Office of the City Manager; Kevin Fisher, Assistant City Attorney, City Attorney’s Office; Joy Rodriguez, Assistant City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office; Rachelle Blattman, Senior Executive Analyst, Office of the City Manager; and Daniel Aguilar, Deputy City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office.
A. City Council (City Clerk)
1. Review September 2, 2025 Final Agenda – Meeting Cancelled.
2. Review September 9, 2025 Draft Agenda
a) Add New Items to Draft 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 Vice Mayor Pam Foley, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the Committee approved the draft agenda for the City Council meeting on September 9, 2025. (5-0-0)
B. Consent Calendar
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the Consent Calendar was approved as a whole, with the below actions taken as indicated. (5-0-0)
2 1. The Public Record for August 14, 2025 - August 21, 2025. (City Clerk) Action: The Public Record for August 14, 2025 - August 21, 2025, was received and filed. (5-0-0)
2. Approval of Free Use of the Janet Gray Hayes Rotunda on November 20, 2025 for the National Women’s Soccer League Championship Welcome Reception Co-hosted by Council District 9 and San José Sports Authority as a City Council Sponsored Special Event to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Event. (Foley) Action: The free use of the Janet Gray Hayes Rotunda on November 20, 2025 for the National Women’s Soccer League Championship Welcome Reception co-hosted by Council District 9 and San José Sports Authority, was approved for placement on the September 9, 2025 City Council agenda for action. (5-0-0)
C. Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals
1. Modifying SJMC 12.08.030(a) - Gift Limits. (Cohen and Foley) Amend San José Municipal Code 12.08.030(a) to increase the gift limit from $50 to $200 from a single source in a calendar year.
No presentation provided.
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, seconded by Councilmember Rosemary Kamei, and carried unanimously, San José Municipal Code section 12.08.030(a) was approved to be amended to increase the gift limit from $50 to $200 from a single source in a calendar year. (5-0-0)
2. Economic Revitalization Fund for East San José. (Ortiz) Direct staff to return, as part of the FY 2026-2027 budget priority setting study session, with a conceptual framework for establishing an Economic Revitalization Fund dedicated to improving the public safety, cleanliness, economic vitality, and public infrastructure of East San José. The framework can then be considered during the 2026-2027 budget cycle, where city funds can be leveraged alongside state and federal grants and philanthropic dollars.
The framework should include:
· An allocation of $30 million to be used on projects to revitalize the East Side. · A timeline for fund development and initial allocations. · Identification of eligible uses and priority investment areas. · Strategies for leveraging external funding sources.
· Mechanisms for ensuring transparency, accountability, and community engagement. · Robust public outreach with the East San José Community to determine spending priorities.
Councilmember Peter Ortiz introduced the item, bringing forward the recommendation as outlined in his memorandum, dated August 21, 2025.
3 Public Comment: Jose Abastida, Danny Garza, and Gabriel Manrique offered public comment.
Vice Mayor Pam Foley requested that staff advise on the budget analysis process.
Lee Wilcox, Assistant City Manager, City Manager’s Office, recommended referring Councilmember Peter Ortiz’s memorandum to the 2026-2027 March Budget Message.
Action: Upon motion by Vice Mayor Pam Foley, seconded by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, and carried unanimously, the Economic Revitalization Fund for East San José was referred to the budget process, as part of the 2026-2027 March Budget Message. (5-0-0) D. Open Forum
1. James Campbell offered public comment regarding public safety, in reference to pedestrian-related accidents and challenges related to visibility and crosswalks.
E. Adjournment
Chair David Cohen adjourned the Committee meeting at 2:24 p.m.
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