1 MINUTES OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
SAN JOSÉ, CALIFORNIA THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2025
The Committee Meeting was held in the Council Chambers and convened at 1:31 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers- Ortiz, Doan, Candelas, Campos, Cohen (arrived at 3:32 p.m.)
Absent: Councilmembers- All present.
Staff: Angel Rios Jr., Deputy City Manager, City Manager’s Office; Karin Murabito, Senior Deputy City Attorney, City Attorney’s Office; and Yasmin Johnson, Deputy City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office.
B. Review of Work Plan
None provided.
C. Consent Calendar
Chair Peter Ortiz requested to pull Item C.1 for questions only.
Action: Upon motion by Chair Peter Ortiz, seconded by Councilmember Pamela Campos, and carried unanimously, Item C.1 was pulled for staff questions only. (4-0-1; Absent: Cohen)
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, seconded by Councilmember Pamela Campos, and carried unanimously, the Consent Calendar was approved as a whole, and the following actions were taken as indicated. (4-0-1; Absent: Cohen)
1. Senior Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission Annual Reports and Work Plans.
Accept the report on the work plans for the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Senior Citizens Commission for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, to comply with the City Municipal Code pertaining to Boards and Commissions. (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services) No presentation provided.
Chair Peter Ortiz requested information regarding the concerns he has received for this item’s work plan. Andrea Flores Shelton, Assistant Director, Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department, responded to the question.
Public Comment: None provided.
2 Action: The Committee accepted the report on the work plans for the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Senior Citizens Commission for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, to comply with the City Municipal Code pertaining to Boards and Commissions. (4-0-1; Absent: Cohen)
2. Youth Commission Annual Work Plan 2025-2026.
Accept the report on the Youth Commission’s annual Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, to comply with the City Municipal Code pertaining to Boards and Commissions. (Library) No presentation provided.
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: The Committee accepted the report on the Youth Commission’s annual Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, to comply with the City Municipal Code pertaining to Boards and Commissions. (4-0-1; Absent: Cohen)
D. Reportsto Committee
1. City Council Focus Area Status Report: Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness.
Accept the status report on the City’s Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness Focus Area implementation and progress toward building the long-term infrastructure required for learning and continuous improvement. (City Manager)
Lee Wilcox, Assistant City Manager, City Manager’s Office; Erik L. Soliván, Director, Housing Department; and Jon Cicirelli, Director, Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department, offered the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the status report on the City’s Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness Focus Area implementation and progress toward building the long-term infrastructure required for learning and continuous improvement. (4-0-1; Absent: Cohen)
2. City Council Focus Area Status Report: Cleaning Up Our Neighborhoods.
Accept the status report the City’s Cleaning Up Our Neighborhoods Focus Area implementation and progress toward building the long-term infrastructure required for learning and continuous improvement. (City Manager)
Angel Rios, Deputy City Manager, City Manager’s Office; Jon Cicirelli, Director, Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department; Rachel Roberts, Deputy Director, Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department; Valerie Osmond, Deputy Director, Environmental Services Department; and Brandon Sanchez, Deputy Chief, Police Department, offered the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comment: Chris Giangreco (Winchester Orchard N.A) provided public comment. 3 Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Pamela Campos, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the status report the City’s Cleaning Up Our Neighborhoods Focus Area implementation and progress toward building the long-term infrastructure required for learning and continuous improvement. (4-0-1; Absent: Cohen)
3. Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Community Impact Report.
Accept the update on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the Community Impact Report. (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services)
Amanda Rodriguez, Public Information Manager, Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department (PRNS); and Jon Cicirelli, Director, PRNS, offered the presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the update on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the Community Impact Report. (5-0-0)
4. Park Impact Ordinance and Parkland Dedication Ordinance Fees and Capital Improvement Program Annual Report.
(a) Accept the Annual Report on Park Impact Ordinance and Parkland Dedication Ordinance Fees for 2024-2025; and
(b) Accept the Annual Status Report on Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department’s Capital Improvement Program.
(c) Accept the Independent Auditor's Report on the Parks and Recreation Bond Projects Fund (Measure P). (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services) Raymond Costantino, Deputy Director, Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department (PRNS); Sara Sellars, Division Manager, PRNS; and Pam Velasco, Program Manager, PRNS, offered the presentation and responded to questions.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Pamela Campos, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the Committee accepted the following reports:
(a) the Annual Report on Park Impact Ordinance and Parkland Dedication Ordinance Fees for 2024-2025; (b) the Annual Status Report on Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department’s Capital Improvement Program; and (c) the Independent Auditor's Report on the Parks and Recreation Bond Projects Fund (Measure P). (5-0-0)
5. Animal Care and Services Annual Report.
Accept the annual report on the Animal Care and Services Division's accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. (Public Works)
Matt Loesch, Director, Public Works Department; Monica Wylie, Deputy Director, Animal Care and Services, Public Works Department; Kiska Icard, Division Manager, Animal Care and Services, Public Works Department; and Dr. Elizabeth Kather, Division Manager, Medical Director, Public Works Department, offered the presentation and responded to questions. 4 Chair Peter Ortiz announced that due to the high volume of speakers, public comment was limited to one-minute for the remainder of the Committee meeting.
Public Comment: Mike Wagner, Faatemeh Lubinsky, Elena Gaffney, Kathy Burden, Anne D., Jeaneen Sullivan, Rebekah Davis-Mathews (Sustain Our Shelters), Christina Banerjee, Anna, Ana Speer, Courtney Ferro, Linda Ramirez, Dinah Hayse, Lorrie Landis, Valentina Martynchik, Christina Callahan, Rosario C., and Chris Giangreco provided public testimony regarding the item.
Motion: Councilmember David Cohen moved approval of the staff recommendation.
Councilmember Bien Doan seconded the motion.
Friendly Amendment: Councilmember Peter Ortiz requested that the motion include staff direction to include an in-depth financial breakdown in the next annual report, to clearly understand how resources are being used and what additional investments may be needed to meet the welfare obligations. The friendly amendment was accepted by the maker of the motion and seconder.
Action: On a call to question, the motion and friendly amendment, passed unanimously, the Committee accepted the annual report on the Animal Care and Services Division's accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2024-2025; including staff direction to include an in-depth financial breakdown in the next annual report, to clearly understand how resources are being used and what additional investments may be needed to meet the welfare obligations. (5-0-0)
OPEN FORUM
1. Chris Giangreco (Winchester Orchard N.A) addressed the urban village boundaries regarding a new park and how Council district boundaries separate the park.
2. Courtney requested an update on the whistleblower report she filed.
3. Elena Gaffney spoke to ordinances that can help illegal breeding restrictions and mandatory microchipping.
4. Christina addressed the proposed ordinances she wrote to help strengthen laws on illegal breeding and empower animal care officers to confiscate animals.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Peter Ortiz adjourned the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Meeting at 6:07 p.m.
Minutes Recorded, Prepared and Respectfully Submitted by, Yasmin Johnson
Deputy City Clerk, City of San José
5 Approved at Council on: 01/13/2026
# of Actions: 7
Attest By:
Toni J. Taber, MMC
City Clerk, City of San José