RULES COMMITTEE: 9/9/2026
Item: B.1
File ID: ROGC 26-311
TO: Honorable Mayor & FROM: Toni J. Taber, MMC
City Council City Clerk
SUBJECT: The Public Record DATE: September 9, 2026
August 27, 2026 – September 3, 2026
ITEMS FILED FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD
Letters from Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Letters from the Public
1. Letter from Gagan Sachdeva, received August 28, 2026, regarding: August 18 City Council Agenda Item 10.3 - Oppose Missing Middle.
2. Letter from Paula, received August 30, 2026, regarding: Data Center Input for San Jose; New Federal rules on Water use reduction for CA.
3. Letter from Nassim Nouri (Green Party of Santa Clara County), received August 31, 2026, regarding: Data Center Input for San Jose.
4. Letter from Kylie Clark (Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits), received September 1, 2026, regarding: REAL Coalition Letter: Inequities and Insufficiencies with Interim Shelter Sites and Services.
____________________________
Toni J. Taber, MMC
City Clerk
TJT/tt
Public Record: 1
Public Record: 2
Our water is already at stake in San Jose, CA and Santa Clara County even more due to the impacts and conditions of the recent Federal laws concerning CA water use. Please do not diminish the citizen’s right to Water by allowing data centers growth in San Jose, CA as they will impact our water.
Yes this is a human’s rights issue.
Federal new rules on Water use reduction for CA:
According to ABC News excerpts: “While the federal government is mandating the overall reduction, how it's to be divided among the three affected states is based on a voluntary agreement negotiated by those states in May. If the states implement the agreement, Arizona would see a reduction of 760,000 acre-feet, California would face a reduction of 440,000 acre-feet and Nevada would lose 50,000 acre-feet.
The DOI's operating guidelines also encourage the three states to "voluntarily conserve and store at least 700,000 acre-feet of water over the two-year period to protect the system, in addition to the
1.25 million acre-feet per year of reductions."
See full article here: https://abcnews.com/US/federal-government-orders-steep-colorado-river-watercuts/story?id=135856655 According to AI found on 8/22/26:
“AI Overview: Yes, California will still need to rely on groundwater pumping, but its role and volume are actively changing. Groundwater typically supplies about 40% of the state's total water in average years and up to 60% during dry periods.
Current Surface Water Conditions
Strong Reservoirs: Thanks to previous wet winters, major California reservoirs are in solid shape, allowing the state to rely heavily on surface water.
Colorado River Cuts: Federal officials have ordered significant water cuts for California, Arizona, and Nevada. While this means less surface water from the Colorado River, the state is making up the difference through careful management and groundwater reliance.
Snowpack Volatility: While reservoirs are healthy, Sierra Nevada snowpack has melted earlier and faster than in previous years. Less snowpack typically translates to a greater draw on groundwater reserves as the summer progresses.
The Shift to Sustainable Pumping:
SGMA Regulation: California is no longer allowing unrestricted pumping. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires local agencies to end long-term overdraft and balance their basins.
Stricter Limits: Particularly in the Central Valley, local authorities have begun enforcing mandatory reductions, allocations, and pumping fees to prevent land from sinking.
Prioritizing Recharge: When heavy rains occur, the state is heavily focused on capturing excess stormwater to actively refill and recharge underground aquifers, rather than just pulling water out.
While groundwater remains the crucial backbone for drinking water and agriculture, pumping is becoming heavily regulated and capped to protect reserves for the future. “ However, pumping too much ground water causes the land to sink according to this article. This has regional impacts, according to the Newsweek article below:
“As droughts become more frequent and water demand continues to grow, researchers say protecting groundwater reserves could prove critical to the future of California's agricultural heartland and the broader U.S. food supply,” according to this Newsweek reporting excerpt from this article:
8/31/26, 10:15 AM Mail - Rules and Open Government Committee Agendas - Outlook https://outlook.cloud.microsoft/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkADhhYzk3NTk1LTBmZDAtNDc4Yi1hN2Q0LTZjNmZjNTk5M… 2/3 This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-where-california-is-quickly-sinking-amid-us-water-crisis12312393 Also quoting from KQED article “HAGER: “Yeah, the reaction has been mostly positive, but with an asterisk. The 20% cut is actually pretty welcome news for Arizona, California and Nevada. The federal government said it has the authority to cut their water up to 40%. Those states negotiated with the feds to avoid that worst case scenario. Arizona said that would be catastrophic for its people and economy. So this is a small sigh of relief. But these rules only last for two years, and those bigger cuts could be necessary by then.” This quote is from NPR article: https://www.npr.org/2026/08/21/nx-s1- 5940071/a-new-colorado-river-plan-means-big-water-cuts-for-some-states It seems like playing a pin ball machine game with all of the laws & rules and restrictions on what can be done and the pressure you are getting from Big Business. Unfortunately, more reliance on ground water pumping creates it's own array of problems with ground sinking and impacts on agriculture, etc.
Santa Clara County and San Jose, CA seriously needs to put the brakes on the Data Centers as it appears to be “self-mutilating”.
Also rather than putting taxpayers money toward a new jail/prison, we need to be putting our money into how to survive with less water and higher cost of water. If more money was put into schools and a program for scientists, the students could come up with sustainable solutions.
Finally, food for thought, why can't our City Government re-purpose buildings to meet the needs of more housing. If we are getting less access to water for citizens, then we certainly should not be creating more footprint.
Thank you
Paula
8/31/26, 10:15 AM Mail - Rules and Open Government Committee Agendas - Outlook https://outlook.cloud.microsoft/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkADhhYzk3NTk1LTBmZDAtNDc4Yi1hN2Q0LTZjNmZjNTk5M… 3/3 Public Record: 3
As the “Capital of Silicon Valley”, the city of San José has a responsibility to lead on creating regulations on data centers planning and permitting that mitigate the harm of data center expansion and construction. We urge the city of San José to utilize the many lessons learned from other jurisdictions and not chase the promise of tax revenues at the expense of its residents.
To protect our communities in and around San José and in support of the Green Party platform and principles, we call on the city of San José to:
Enact a one-year moratorium on the construction and expansion of Hyperscale data centers to allow for citizen engagement.
Ban tax credits to Hyperscale data centers.
Ensure that Large-Scale data center projects do not destabilize the power grid.
Ban primary onsite combustion power generation for all data centers.
Ban open loop cooling systems.
Enact strong noise ordinances to limit both audible and low frequency sound.
Mitigate data center’s heat island effect on the local environment.
Provide full transparency and ongoing community input on all data center construction, expansion and upgrade plans.
Thank you for considering these critical steps in protecting the residents of San José and prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of our communities.
8/31/26, 3:16 PM Mail - Rules and Open Government Committee Agendas - Outlook https://outlook.cloud.microsoft/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkADhhYzk3NTk1LTBmZDAtNDc4Yi1hN2Q0LTZjNmZjNTk5M… 2/3 This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Nassim Nouri
she/her
Councilmember,
The Green Party of Santa Clara County
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.SCCGreens.org
8/31/26, 3:16 PM Mail - Rules and Open Government Committee Agendas - Outlook https://outlook.cloud.microsoft/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkADhhYzk3NTk1LTBmZDAtNDc4Yi1hN2Q0LTZjNmZjNTk5M… 3/3
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits
Phone: | svcn.org | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
Pronouns: she/her
Join us for Be Our Guest: tables + tickets are on sale now! This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute, or copy this e-mail. 9/2/26, 8:31 AM Mail - Rules and Open Government Committee Agendas - Outlook https://outlook.cloud.microsoft/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkADhhYzk3NTk1LTBmZDAtNDc4Yi1hN2Q0LTZjNmZjNTk5M… 2/2 September 1, 2026
Mayor and City Council
City of San José
200 East Santa Clara Street, 18th Floor
San José, CA 95113
Sent via electronic mail
Re: Support for GRACE and URG’s Letter to Address Inequities and Insufficiencies with Interim Shelter Sites and Services
Dear Mayor Mahan, Vice Mayor Foley, and City Council:
We write in support of the letter from GRACE, URG, and 17 other community groups requesting that you address inequities and insufficiencies with unhoused services at interim shelter sites in San José.
Their letter provides valuable insight into the experiences, needs, and wisdom of people experiencing homelessness in our city. Those who are closest to the problem are also closest to the solution, and we should give this insight utmost value and respect. While ending street homelessness is a noble undertaking, it is meaningless if the shelter is not dignified and if it does not lead to permanent housing. Additionally, changes must be made at the City level to ensure nonprofit service providers can best support those living in their shelters.
Sweeps are cruel and harmful, especially if the individuals and families affected do not have a place to go that meets their specific needs. This includes needs related to culture, disability, language spoken, community, distance from workplace, mental health, addiction, belongings, and family. It is unconscionable for people who were safely inside an RV with a door that locks, storage space, and amenities to now be vulnerable on the street because their RV was taken or destroyed.
Rather than punishing RV and vehicle dwelling, the City should deepen investment in safe parking.
The format and location of shelter matters. As GRACE and URG’s letter highlights, many people need housing near downtown or at a minimum near a transit hub (in which case transportation should be subsidized), while many need accommodations with an attached bathroom or accessible entrance.
REAL also supports the calls for a hoarder program and robust therapy resources.
Nonprofit providers should have the resources required to provide these much-needed services. Until we address people’s mental health challenges in honest, compassionate, and trauma-informed ways, the problems they are facing will perpetuate.
The difficulty of the Here4You hotline to connect some people with shelter ultimately stems from one problem – lack of adequate shelter and pathways for individuals upon exit. Shelter should not be the end of the road, but rather the beginning, and with hundreds of families and even more individuals on the waitlist, there is work to be done.
Last, of course, Participant Advisory Councils being established by San José at interim shelter sites should be free from outside influence. Nonprofits who have established lived experience committees know that this is the best way to ensure you receive transparent and useful input. As we stated at the outset of this letter, those with lived experience hold immense wisdom. If we listen to and respect it, this knowledge can be used to create systems, programs, and shelters that create solutions rather than bandaids.
Sincerely,
REAL Housing Justice Workgroup
About the REAL Coalition
The Race Equity Action Leadership (REAL) Coalition is an alliance of more than 50 nonprofit organizational members, along with many additional nonprofit partners, community advocates, and grassroots leaders. REAL is committed to dismantling white supremacy culture and systemic racism, using our positional power to advance movement goals, and facilitating the voice of community in government decision-making. We are also committed to learning, advocacy, and organizing while building power in authentic community solidarity.