Joint Meeting for the Rules and Open Government Committee and Committee of the Whole
City of San José
Agenda
City of San José
200 East Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Committee Members
David Cohen, Chair
Rosemary Kamei, Vice Chair
Pam Foley, Member
Bien Doan, Member
Domingo Candelas, Member
Committee Staff
Lee Wilcox, Assistant City Manager
Joy Rodriguez, Assistant City Clerk
Kevin Fisher, Assistant City Attorney
Rachelle Blattman, City Manager's Office
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 2:00 PM Council Chambers
For live translations in over 50 languages, please go to https://attend.wordly.ai/join/FAYU-7105 How to observe the Meeting (no public comment):
1) Cable Channel 26,
2) https://www.sanjoseca.gov/news-stories/watch-a-meeting, or 3) https://www.youtube.com/CityofSanJoseCalifornia
4) By phone 888 475 4499. Webinar ID: 941 1478 1397. Alternative phone numbers are: US: +1 (213) 338-8477 or +1 (408) 638-0968 or (877) 853-5257 (Toll Free) 5) By online https://sanjoseca.zoom.us/j/94114781397
Use a current, up-to-date browser: Chrome 30+, Firefox 27+, Microsoft Edge 12+, Safari 16+. Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer.
How to submit written Public Comment for items on the agenda:
1) By email to [email protected] by 8:00 a.m. the day of the meeting.
How to provide spoken Public Comment during the Committee Meeting:
Fill out a Yellow Speaker's Card and submit it to boxes at the bottom of the Chambers.
City of San José Page 1 Printed on 3/18/2026
Joint Meeting for the Rules and March 18, 2026
Open Government Committee and
Committee of the Whole
Agenda
A. City Council (City Clerk)
1. Review Final Agenda
Review March 24, 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)
ROGC
26-100
Agenda
Add Sheet
Attachments
2. Review Draft Agenda
ROGC Review March 31, 2026 Draft Agenda. - Cancelled.
26-101
Notice to the public: There will be no separate discussion of individual Consent Calendar items as they are considered to be routine and will be adopted by one motion. If a member of the Committee requests debate, separate vote or recusal on a particular item, that item may be removed from the Consent Calendar by the Chair and considered separately. The public may comment on the entire Consent Calendar and any items removed from the Consent Calendar by the Chair.
B. Consent Calendar
ROGC The Public Record for March 5, 2026 - March 12, 2026. (City Clerk) 26-102
1. Recommendation: Receive and file the Public Record for March 5, 2026 - March 12, 2026.
Attachments The Public Record
Deferred Maintenance and Infrastructure Backlog Study Session. (Public Works/City Manager)
ROGC
26-110
2. Recommendation: Set a City Council Study Session entitled Deferred Maintenance and Infrastructure Backlog for Monday, April 13, 2026 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers and approve the Study Session agenda.
Attachments Memorandum
City of San José Page 2 Printed on 3/18/2026
Joint Meeting for the Rules and March 18, 2026
Open Government Committee and
Committee of the Whole
Agenda
From Ideation to Occupancy: A Guide to Building in San José, Permitting, Timelines, and Coordination Study Session. (Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement)
ROGC
26-111
3. Recommendation: Set a City Council Study Session entitled From Ideation to Occupancy:
A Guide to Building in San José, Permitting, Timelines, and Coordination for Monday, April 20, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers and approve the Study Session agenda.
Attachments Memorandum
Approval of the Music in the Valley Festival 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)
ROGC
26-103
4. Recommendation: 1. Approve the Music in the Valley Festival scheduled on May 2, 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.
3. Place the item on the March 24, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.
Attachments Memorandum from Foley
Retroactive Approval of the Bay FC Tower and Rotunda Lighting Sponsored by Council District 2 as a City Council Sponsored Special Event to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Event. (Campos)
ROGC
26-104
5. Recommendation: 1. Retroactively approve the Bay FC Tower and Rotunda Lighting scheduled on March 9-14, 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.
3. Place the item on the March 24, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.
Attachments Memorandum from Campos
C. Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals City of San José Page 3 Printed on 3/18/2026
Joint Meeting for the Rules and March 18, 2026
Open Government Committee and
Committee of the Whole
Agenda
ROGC Al Fresco 2.0. (Ortiz, Tordillos, Kamei, Cohen, and Mulcahy) 26-112
1. Recommendation: 1. Direct the City Manager’s Office to:
a. Explore permanently re-establishing the Al Fresco outdoor dining program in the City of San José, for supporting economic development and small businesses in designated growth areas, including Greater Downtown San José, Urban Villages, and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).
i. Evaluate opportunities to modernize and expand the program beyond basic table-and-chair setups by establishing a clear, predictable permitting pathway for more complex outdoor dining configurations:
such as patios, railings, pergolas, and semi-permanent structures, while maintaining a low-barrier, by-right process for simpler installations, and review best practices from peer cities, including San Francisco’s Shared Spaces Manual, to inform the development of clear design standards and streamlined administrative processes.
b. Designate Public Works staff to serve as a coordinator for Al Fresco and outdoor dining applications, responsible for facilitating interdepartmental review and ensuring timely coordination among Public Works, Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement, Fire,
Transportation, and any other relevant departments, to reduce duplicative review, minimize delays, and provide applicants with an understandable and consistent permitting pathway.
Attachments Memorandum from Ortiz, Tordillos, Kamei, Cohen, and Mulcahy Request to Add a Resolution on Higher Education to the City Council Meeting Agenda of March 24, 2026. (Kamei and Cohen)
ROGC
26-113
2. Recommendation: 1. Consider a Draft Resolution of the City Council of the City of San José Declaring its Commitment to Opposing the Coercion of Colleges and Universities.
2. Add the Draft Resolution of the City Council of the City of San José to the City Council Agenda for its regular meeting of March 24, 2026.
3. Authorize the City Attorney’s Office to make such formatting and non-substantive changes and additions to the said Draft Resolution as it deems appropriate or necessary.
Attachments Memorandum from Kamei and Cohen
D. Open Forum
City of San José Page 4 Printed on 3/18/2026
Joint Meeting for the Rules and March 18, 2026
Open Government Committee and
Committee of the Whole
Agenda
Members of the Public are invited to speak on any item that does not appear on today’s Agenda and that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Committee.
E. Adjournment
The Code of Conduct (https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/12901/636670004966630000) is intended to promote open meetings that welcome debate of public policy issues being discussed by the City Council, their Committees, and City Boards and Commissions in an atmosphere of fairness, courtesy, and respect for differing points of view.
The City of San José is committed to open and honest government and strives to consistently meet the community's expectations by providing excellent services, in a positive and timely manner, and in the full view of the public. The City Code of Ethics may be viewed online.
The Levine Act requires a Party in a Proceeding before the City of San José that involves any action related to their contract, license, permit, or use entitlement to disclose any campaign contributions to City elected or appointed officials totaling more than $500 within the 12 months prior to the City decision. A Participant to a Proceeding may voluntarily report a campaign contribution. Please visit https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/appointees/city-clerk/levine-act for updated forms and information.
All public records relating to an open session item on this agenda, which are not exempt from disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act, that are distributed to a majority of the legislative body will be available for public inspection at San José City Hall, Office of the City Clerk, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, 14th Floor, San José, CA 95113 at the same time that the public records are distributed or made available to the legislative body.
To request an accommodation or alternative format for City-sponsored meetings, events or printed materials, please call the Office of the City Clerk 408-535-1260 as soon as possible, but at least three business days before the meeting/event.
Access the video, the agenda and related reports for this meeting by visiting the City's website.
City of San José Page 5 Printed on 3/18/2026