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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, JANUARY 28, 2026
The Committee meeting was held in the Council Chambers and convened at 2:00 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers - Cohen, Kamei, Foley, Doan, Candelas.
Absent: Councilmembers - None.
Staff: Lee Wilcox, Assistant 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 February 3, 2026 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 Domingo Candelas, seconded by Councilmember Rosemary Kamei, and carried unanimously, the Committee approved the final agenda for the City Council meeting on February 3, 2026; including the add sheet item (Receipt of Gifts Related to SJ26 Events) which was directed to be placed within the Strategic Support category instead of the Consent Calendar. (5-0-0)
2. Review February 10, 2026 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: Blair Beekman offered public comment.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Bien Doan, seconded by Councilmember Rosemary Kamei, and carried unanimously, the Committee approved the draft agenda for the City Council meeting on February 10, 2026. (5-0-0)
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B. Consent Calendar
Public Comment: Blair Beekman offered public comment.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Bien Doan, seconded by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, and carried unanimously, the Consent Calendar was approved as a whole, with the following actions taken as indicated. (5-0-0)
1. The Public Record for January 15, 2026 - January 22, 2026. (City Clerk) Receive and file the Public Record for January 15, 2026 - January 22, 2026.
Action: The Public Record for January 15, 2026 - January 22, 2026 was received and filed. (5-0-0)
2. Review February 5, 2026 City Council Study Session Agenda. (City Manager) Review February 5, 2026 City Council Study Session Agenda: 2026-2027 Preliminary General Fund Forecast and Budget Priorities Study Session.
Action: The February 5, 2026 City Council Study Session Agenda: 2026-2027 Preliminary General Fund Forecast and Budget Priorities Study Session, was reviewed. (5-0-0)
3. Release Date for Study Session. (City Manager)
Recommend the release of the date held for a Study Session on Friday, February 20, 2026.
Action: The Study Session on February 20, 2026, was released. (5-0-0)
4. Update to the January - June 2026 Transportation and Environment Committee Work Plan. (Energy)
Approve an amendment to the January - June 2026 Transportation and Environment Committee Work Plan to add the following item to the February 9, 2026, Transportation and Environment Committee meeting agenda.
Climate Advisory Commission Work Plan Update.
Purpose: Provide a report on the Climate Advisory Commission Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2025- 2026. (Energy)
Action: The amendment to the January - June 2026 Transportation and Environment Committee Work Plan, was approved. (5-0-0)
5. Approval of the Community Leaders Networking Breakfast Event Sponsored by Council District 9 as a City Council Sponsored Special Event to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Event. (Foley)
1. Approve the Community Leaders Networking Breakfast Event scheduled on February 12, 2026 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
2. Approve and accept donations from various individuals, businesses or community groups to support the event.
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3. Place the item on the February 10, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.
Action: The Community Leaders Networking Breakfast Event sponsored by Council District 9 was approved for placement on the February 10, 2026 City Council Agenda for action. (5-0-0)
6. Request to Travel and Excused Absence. (Mulcahy)
1. Authorize travel, accept travel payments to the City of San José, and designate Councilmember Mulcahy as the City representative to attend the Reimagining the City Commons event in Paris, France from April 14-17, 2026.
2. Excuse the absence from the April 14, 2026, City Council meeting and the April 16, 2026, Public Safety, Finance, and Strategic Support Committee meeting.
3. Place the item on the February 3, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.
Action: The request to travel and excused absence for Councilmember Michael Mulcahy was approved for placement on the February 3, 2026 City Council Agenda for action. (5-0-0) C. Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals
1. Children and Youth Services Master Plan and Latino Health Assessment. (Campos) As recommended by the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee on December 10, 2025:
1. Refer the following budget-related requests to the Rules and Open Government Committee for consideration:
a. Request that the City Manager include in the Mid-Year Budget a report on the funding status (City, County, and other funding partners) of the Children and Youth Services Master Plan and initial recommendations on the funding needed to sustain and expand the pilot locations and policy work. The City Manager should determine if any programs or services are eligible for Medi-Cal reimbursement. b. Request that the City Manager prepare a Manager’s Budget Addendum (MBA) that identifies the specific service gaps in priority underserved neighborhoods, including Hoffman-Via Monte, Edenvale/Roundtable, Cadillac/Winchester, Mt. Pleasant, Welch/Overfelt Area/Valley Palms, and Meadowfair/Silver Creek/Brigadoon, and outlines what resources would be needed for these areas to receive services equivalent to those offered at the two existing demonstration sites. c. Request that the City Manager prepare an MBA that provides multiple options to establish and structure work to sustain the Children and Youth Services Master Plan as a priority of the City Manager.
2. Request that the City Manager return to the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee (or City Council, at the discretion of the City Manager) with options to ensure widespread access to referral software licenses in alignment with the No Wrong Door approach and improve referral data systems and data sharing. Identify workplan steps toward standardized financial aid and registration applications for City of San José programs across departments.
3. Request an interim report to the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee in Fall 2026 with initial “lessons learned” in the pilot locations and any steps necessary to create third and fourth pilot locations in impacted areas of South San José near Monterey Road and in Cadillac/Winchester.
4. Request that the City Manager report to the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee in February 2026 with updates regarding the Family, Friends, and Neighbors (FFN) program and its role in the Children and Youth Services Master Plan. The report should include evaluation of the sustainability for the program.
5. Request that the City Manager provide bi-monthly verbal reports to the Neighborhood Services and [Page 4]
Education Committee on Children and Youth Services Master Plan implementation.
6. Request a report to the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee regarding Recreation Preschool, including information about the viability of “upgrading” a Recreation Preschool location to be licensed and eligible for state funding. If possible, the report should include previous efforts to achieve this.
7. Direct the City Manager to work with philanthropic partners to complete implementation of the Pilot Demonstration sites and report evaluation results in FY 2026/2027.
8. Direct the City Manager to include in the next legislative update opportunities for partnership with the County of Santa Clara, in alignment with the Children and Youth Services Master Plan and the Latino Health Assessment, including advocacy related to support childcare. The report should include the Childcare and CalWorks sections of the County Legislative Policies Document.
9. Direct the City Manager to cross-reference the County’s presentation on the Latino Health Assessment to the full City Council, with a staff report that documents alignment with Council direction, including the Children and Youth Services Master Plan. In response to recent public violence involving youth that require intervention services and opportunities to support a different track to success, focus on Latino Health Assessment Action Plan goals: “Develop strategies to reduce juvenile justice involvement for vulnerable youth,” “Improve educational opportunities and skills training for youth,” and “Evaluate and improve early childhood education.”
10. Direct the City Manager to hold an annual joint meeting between the City’s Neighborhood Services and Education Committee and the County’s Children, Seniors, and Family Committee.
11. Direct the City Manager to provide a report on the alignment of City and County outcomes for the demonstration sites.
12. Place the item on the February 3, 2026 City Council Agenda for action. [Neighborhood Services and Education Committee referral 12/10/2025 - Item 2] Councilmember Pamela Campos brought forward the recommendation as outlined in her December 9, 2025 memorandum.
Public Comment: Blair Beekman offered public comment.
Discussion: Lee Wilcox, Assistant City Manager, City Manager’s Office, provided insight on the Workload Analysis process as it applies to the Rules and Open Government Committee. Discussion amongst committee members ensued.
Action: Upon motion by Vice Mayor Foley, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the green lit items from the Workload Analysis including recommendation items 2 through 12 were approved, including the following direction:
1. When the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee (NSE) work plan is completed for Fall 2026, the additions from Councilmember Campos’ memorandum are directed to be highlighted so the Rules and Open Government Committee can ensure the committee workload is manageable and Council focus areas are maintained.
2. Direct the City Manager’s Office and City Attorney’s Office to return to the Rules and Open Government Committee and full City Council with a verbal update on the resolution and informational memorandum regarding the Workload Analysis process. (5-0-0) [Page 5]
2. Update to the January - June 2026 Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Work Plan. (City Manager)
1. Approve an amendment to the January - June 2026 Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Work Plan to add the following item to the February 12, 2026 Committee meeting.
Family, Friends, and Neighbors Caregiver Support Network Status Report.
Purpose: Provide a status report on the Family, Friends, and Neighbors Caregiver Support Network Program. (Library)
2. Approve an amendment to the January - June 2026 Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Work Plan to add the following item to the February 12, April 9, and June 11, 2026 Committee meetings.
Children and Youth Services Master Plan Status Report.
Purpose: Provide a verbal status report on implementation of the Children and Youth Services Master Plan. (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services) Public Comment: Blair Beekman offered public comment.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, seconded by Councilmember Rosemary Kamei, and carried unanimously, the amendments to the January - June 2026 Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Work Plan, were approved. (5-0-0) D. Open Forum
1. Blair Beekman addressed the City of Oakland’s Flock Safety system and concerns related to international relations
E. Adjournment
Chair David Cohen adjourned the Committee meeting at 2:29 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: 5
Attest by:
______________________________________
Toni J. Taber, MMC
City Clerk, City of San José
2/24/2026