City Council Meeting
Minutes
Monday, April 13 , 2026
9:30 AM
Council Chambers
Study Session - Deferred Maintenance and Infrastructure Backlog
MATT MAHAN, MAYOR
ROSEMARY KAMEI, DISTRICT 1
PAMELA CAMPOS, DISTRICT 2
ANTHONY TORDILLOS, DISTRICT 3
DAVID COHEN, DISTRICT 4
PETER ORTIZ, DISTRICT 5
MICHAEL MULCAHY, DISTRICT 6
BIEN DOAN, DISTRICT 7
DOMINGO CANDELAS, DISTRICT 8
PAM FOLEY, VICE MAYOR, DISTRICT 9
GEORGE CASEY, DISTRICT 10
San José City Council April 13, 2026
[Page 2]
• Call to Order and Roll Call
9:30 a.m. – Study Session.
Present Councilmembers: Kamei, Campos, Tordillos, Cohen, Ortiz, Mulcahy, Doan, Foley, Casey.
Absent Councilmembers: Candelas, Mahan.
City Council Study Session
Purpose: The City’s significant and growing Deferred Maintenance and Infrastructure Backlog jeopardizes the delivery of day-to-day City services over the medium and long-term; this Study Session will provide the City Council with a solid understanding of the backlog to guide its future decision-making on strategies to reduce the backlog and the trade-off those decisions may require.
Outcome: The City Council’s increased understanding of the City’s Deferred Maintenance and Infrastructure Backlog will help inform future budgetary discussions and decisions regarding the implementation of strategies to minimize and ultimately reduce the backlog.
Matt Loesch, Director, Public Works Department, provided an introduction and opening comments.
Jim Shannon, Budget Director, City Manager’s Office, explained that infrastructure backlogs are common across many municipalities and are largely driven by limited funding for preventative maintenance. While maintaining infrastructure regularly is more cost-effective in the long term, cities often underfund maintenance in the short term to avoid cutting essential services. This approach can lead to asset failure over time, forcing difficult decisions about whether to replace infrastructure or discontinue services altogether.
Matt Loesch, Director, Public Works Department, provided an assessment of the City’s infrastructure needs. About $259 million is required annually to maintain existing assets and prevent further deterioration. Director Loesch also described challenges with key systems at City Hall which require ongoing maintenance, modernization, and repairs in order to remain functional.
John Cicirelli, Director, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services; Gene Frazier, Deputy Director, Airport; and Lee Wilcox, Assistant City Manager, City Manager’s Office, responded to questions from the Council.
Public Comment
None provided.
Adjournment
The Council of the City of San José adjourned the meeting at 11:07 a.m.
San José City Council April 13, 2026
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Minutes Recorded, Prepared, and Respectfully Submitted by, _____________________________________
Daniel Aguilar
Deputy City Clerk, City of San José
Approved at Council on:
Number of actions: 0
Attest by:
______________________________________
Toni J. Taber, MMC
City Clerk, City of San José
5/12/2026