ROGC AGENDA: 9/23/26
ITEM: B.2
TO: CITY COUNCIL FROM: Mayor Matt Mahan
SUBJECT: REQUEST TO TRAVEL DATE: September 17, 2026
Approved: Date: 09/17/2026
RECOMMENDATION: 1. Authorize travel, accept travel payments to the City of San José, and designate Mayor’s Chief of Staff Sarah Zárate as the City representative to participate in the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University Project on Municipal Innovation convening funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies from October 7-9, 2026.
2. Place this item on the September 29, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Meeting Dates: October 7-9, 2026
Source of Funds: Costs associated with registration, accommodation, airfare, and most meals will be paid for by Bloomberg Philanthropies, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Any remaining costs, such as ground transportation, meals not covered by Bloomberg Philanthropies, or Wi-Fi will be paid by Mayor’s Office Budget.
Purpose:
The Project on Municipal Innovation is a biannual convening hosted by Harvard University’s Bloomberg Center for Cities that brings together chiefs of staffs and senior leaders from major U.S. cities to examine emerging challenges in municipal governance. The sessions focus on practical, research-supported approaches to fiscal sustainability, operational modernization, workforce and labor issues, AI integration, and revenue strategies.
As the Mayor’s Chief of Staff, Ms. Zárate’s role requires continuous engagement with national best practices and collaboration with peer cities to ensure San José is prepared to respond effectively to evolving fiscal and operational pressures. Participation will allow Ms. Zárate to gather actionable insights from other large cities, exchange solutions with national policy experts, and strengthen relationships across a network of senior municipal officials. Her attendance ensures San José is represented in discussions that shape municipal innovation ROGC AGENDA: 9/23/26
ITEM: B.2
nationally, while providing the Mayor’s Office with up-to-date strategies that can support longterm organizational and budgetary resilience.