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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, APRIL 8, 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 April 14, 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: Brian Darby offered public comment.
Action: Upon motion by Vice Mayor Pam Foley, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the Committee approved the final agenda for the City Council meeting on April 14, 2026, including the add sheet. (5-0-0)
2. Review April 21, 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: None provided.
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 April 21, 2026. (5-0-0)
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B. Consent Calendar
Public Comment: Brian Darby 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 March 26, 2026 - April 2, 2026. (City Clerk)
Receive and file the Public Record for March 26, 2026 - April 2, 2026.
Action: The Public Record for March 26, 2026 - April 2, 2026 was received and filed. (5-0-0)
2. Approval of Flag Raising Ceremony and Lighting Recognizing Ethiopian New Year Sponsored by the Office of Mayor Matt Mahan as City Council Sponsored Special Events to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Events. (Mayor)
1. Approve the Ethiopian Flag Raising Event scheduled on September 4, 2026 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
2. Approve the Tower Lighting scheduled on September 3, 2026 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
3. Approve raising the Ethiopian Flag without the emblem on the fourth flagpole.
4. Approve and accept donations from various individuals, businesses or community groups to support the events.
5. Place the item on the April 14, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.
Action: The flag raising ceremony and lighting recognizing Ethiopian New Year sponsored by the Office of Mayor Matt Mahan, was approved for placement on the April 14, 2026 City Council Agenda for action. (5-0-0)
3. Request to Travel and Excused Absence. (Campos)
1. Authorize travel, accept travel payments to the City of San José, and designate Councilmember Campos as the City representative to participate in the Working Families Champions’ first-ever gathering organized and funded in part by Working Families Power from April 17-18, 2026 in Washington, D.C.
2. Excuse Councilmember Campos’ absence from the Joint Recycled Water Policy Advisory Committee on April 16, 2026.
3. Place the item on the April 14, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.
Action: The request to travel and excused absence for Councilmember Pamela Campos was approved for placement on the April 14, 2026 City Council Agenda for action. (5-0-0)
4. Retroactive Approval of the CERT 5K Family Fun Run Sponsored by Council District 10 as a City Council Sponsored Special Event to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Event. (Casey)
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1. Retroactively approve the CERT 5K Family Fun Run scheduled on March 28, 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 April 14, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.
Action: The CERT 5K Family Fun Run, sponsored by Council District 10, was retroactively approved for placement on the April 14, 2026 City Council Agenda for action. (5-0-0) C. Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals No items provided.
D. Open Forum
1. Brian Darby recommended improving transparency about costs and services, and noted a communication gap between the City and those working to support unhoused residents E. Adjournment
Chair David Cohen adjourned the Committee meeting at 2:06 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: 3
Attest by:
______________________________________
Toni J. Taber, MMC
City Clerk, City of San José