1 MINUTES OF THE
JOINT MEETING OF THE RULES AND OPEN GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AND
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
SAN JOSÉ, CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2025
The Committee meeting was held in the Council Chambers and convened at 2:00 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers - Cohen, Foley (absent during roll call), Doan, Candelas.
Absent: Councilmembers - Kamei.
Staff: Angel Rios, Deputy City Manager, City Manager’s Office; Kevin Fisher, Assistant City Attorney, City Attorney’s Office;Joy Rodriguez, Assistant City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office; Rachelle Blattman, Senior Executive Analyst, City Manager’s Office; and Daniel Aguilar, Deputy City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office.
A. City Council (City Clerk)
1. Review October 21, 2025 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.
Councilmember Domingo Candelas requested to drop Item 2.4 (Mayor and Council Excused Absence Requests) from the October 21, 2025 City Council agenda.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the Committee approved the final agenda for the City Council meeting on October 21, 2025; with Item 2.4 (Mayor and Council Excused Absence Requests) dropped from the agenda. (4-0-1; Absent: Kamei)
2. Review October 28, 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.
2 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 October 28, 2025. (4-0-1; Absent: Kamei)
B. Consent Calendar
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Vice Mayor Pam Foley, seconded by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, and carried unanimously, the Consent Calendar was approved as a whole, with the below actions taken as indicated. (4-0-1; Absent: Kamei)
1. The Public Record for October 2, 2025 – October 9, 2025.
Receive and file the Public Record for October 2, 2025 – October 9, 2025.
Action: The Public Record for October 2, 2025 – October 9, 2025 was received and filed. (4-0-1;
Absent: Kamei)
2. Update to the August - December 2025 Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Work Plan. (City Manager)
Approve an amendment to the August - December 2025 Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Work Plan to drop the following item scheduled for the October 9, 2025 Committee meeting.
Coordination of Homelessness Activities Audit Report.
Purpose: Provide an audit report on the coordination of homelessness activities. (City Auditor) Action: The amendment to the August - December 2025 Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Work Plan was approved. (4-0-1; Absent: Kamei)
3. Approval of Brazilian Flag Raising, Event, and Lighting Sponsored by Council District 5 as a City Council Sponsored Special Event to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Event. (Ortiz)
1. Approve the Brazilian Flag Raising Event on October 17, 2025, as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
2. Approve the Brazilian Flag Raising Tower Lighting from October 21 - 23, 2025, as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
3. Approve and accept donations from various individuals, businesses or community groups to support the event.
4. Place the item on the October 21, 2025 Council Agenda for action.
Action: The Brazilian Flag Raising Event and Tower Lighting was approved for placement on the October 21, 2025 Council agenda for action. (4-0-1; Absent: Kamei) 3 C. Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals
1. City Attorney Appointment and Compensation Package. (Mayor)
1. Adopt a resolution appointing Susana Alcala Wood as City Attorney effective November 9, 2025 and approving compensation and benefits for services as City Attorney consistent with the following terms in this memo.
Salary: The starting pensionable salary will be $371,500 annually. In addition to the starting pensionable salary, the City Attorney will receive an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing nonpensionable pay for a total annual salary of approximately $390,000.
Executive Management Benefits: As executive management, the City Attorney will receive the benefits that are included in the Executive Management and Professional Employees (Unit 99) Benefit and Compensation Summary. Further information may be found at the Unit 99 Compensation Summary link. The City Attorney will also receive a $350 monthly automobile allowance in accordance with the current City policy.
Vacation and Executive Leave: The City will recognize Mrs. Alcala Wood’s combined 15+ years of public service with the City of Sacramento, City of Modesto, and City of Stockton, and her vacation accrual rate will be 200 hours per year. For the 2025 calendar year, the City Attorney will receive 16 hours of Executive Leave. Vacation accrual and executive leave will be provided in accordance with the Executive Management and Professional Employees Benefit and Compensation Summary.
Severance: The City will offer severance pay equal to three months of salary for any involuntary removal as City Attorney which results in termination of employment with the City, in exchange for the City Attorney’s execution of a Release of Claims.
Outside Employment: The City Attorney will not engage in outside employment without City Council approval.
Separation Notice: The City Attorney will provide a 30-day notice to the City of a voluntary resignation of employment.
2. Place the item on the October 21, 2025 City Council Agenda for action.
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, seconded by Vice Mayor Pam Foley, and carried unanimously, the City Attorney appointment and compensation package was approved for placement on the October 21, 2025 City Council Agenda for action. (4-0-1; Absent: Kamei)
2. Resolution of Support on State Proposition 50. (Candelas, Cohen, Ortiz, Campos, Tordillos) Direct the City Attorney to draft a resolution of support on behalf of the San Jose City Council for State Proposition 50 (The Election Rigging Response Act).
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Vice Mayor Pam Foley, seconded by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, and carried unanimously, the City Attorney is directed to draft a resolution of support on behalf of the San Jose City Council for State Proposition 50 (The Election Rigging Response Act). (4-0-1; Absent:
Kamei)
4 3. Resolution of Support on Santa Clara County Measure A. (Candelas, Cohen, Ortiz, Campos) Direct the City Attorney to draft a resolution of support on behalf of the San Jose City Council for Santa Clara County Measure A.
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the City Attorney is directed to draft a resolution of support on behalf of the San Jose City Council for Santa Clara County Measure A. (4-0-1; Absent: Kamei) D. Open Forum
No public comment provided.
E. Adjournment
Chair David Cohen adjourned the Committee meeting at 2:08 p.m.
Minutes Recorded, Prepared, and Respectfully Submitted by, ______________________________________
Daniel Aguilar
Deputy City Clerk, City of San José
Approved at Council on: 11/4/2025
Number of actions: 6
Attest by:
______________________________________
Toni J. Taber, MMC
City Clerk, City of San José