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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, SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
The Committee meeting was held in the Council Chambers and convened at 2:00 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers - Cohen, Kamei, Foley, Candelas.
Absent: Councilmembers - Doan.
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 September 22, 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: (Virtual) Brian Darby offered public comment.
Action: Upon motion by Vice Mayor Pam Foley, seconded by Councilmember Rosemary Kamei, and carried unanimously, the Committee approved the final agenda for the City Council meeting on September 22, 2026. (4-0-1; Absent: Doan )
2. Review September 29, 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: (Virtual) Brian Darby and Call-In User_1 offered public comment.
Action: Upon motion by Vice Mayor Pam Foley, seconded by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, and carried unanimously, the Committee approved the draft agenda for the City Council meeting on September 29, 2026; with the Joint City of San José City Council/Financing Authority Agenda to be heard immediately after Land Use Consent . (4-0-1; Absent: Doan)
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B. Consent Calendar
Public Comment: (Virtual) Brian Darby offered public comment.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, seconded by Councilmember Rosemary Kamei, and carried unanimously, the Consent Calendar was approved as a whole, with the following actions taken as indicated. (4-0-1; Absent: Doan)
1. The Public Record for September 3, 2026 - September 10, 2026. (City Clerk)
Receive and file the Public Record for September 3, 2026 - September 10, 2026.
Action: The Public Record for September 3, 2026 - September 10, 2026 was received and filed. (4-0-1;
Absent: Doan)
2. Approval of Free Use of the Janet Gray Hayes Rotunda on November 19, 2026 for the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors (SCCAOR) 2026 Fall General Membership Meeting 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)
1. Adopt a resolution authorizing “Free Use” of the Janet Gray Hayes Rotunda for the private, invitation-only Santa Clara County Association of Realtors (SCCAOR) 2026 Fall General Membership Meeting held on November 19, 2026.
2. Approve the SCCAOR 2026 Fall General Membership Meeting as a City Council Sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
3. Approve and accept donations from various individuals, businesses or community groups to support the event.
4. Place the item on the October 6, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.
Action: Free Use of the Janet Gray Hayes Rotunda on November 19, 2026 for the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors (SCCAOR) 2026 Fall General Membership Meeting, sponsored by Council District 9, was approved for placement on the October 6, 2026 City Council Agenda for action. (4 -0-1;
Absent: Doan)
3. Retroactive Approval of The Santos Family Car Show Sponsored by Council District 4 as a City Council Sponsored Special Event to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Event. (Cohen)
1. Retroactively approve the Santos Family Car Show scheduled on September 5, 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 September 22, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.
Action: The Santos Family Car Show, sponsored by Council District 4, was retroactively approved for placement on the September 22, 2026 City Council Agenda for action. (4-0-1; Absent: Doan)
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4. Retroactive Approval of Various Events Sponsored by Council District 5 as City Council Sponsored Special Events to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Events. (Ortiz)
1. Retroactively approve the Back to School Bash scheduled on August 1, 2026 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
2. Retroactively approve the National Night Out scheduled on August 4, 2026 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
3. Retroactively approve the Lowrider Day scheduled on September 6, 2026 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
4. Retroactively approve the Mexican Independence Day El Grito Event scheduled on September 15, 2026 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
5. Retroactively approve the Mexican Flag Raising scheduled on September 15, 2026 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
6. Retroactively approve the Mexican Independence Day Tower and Rotunda Lighting scheduled from September 15 - 21, 2026 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
7. Retroactively approve and accept donations from various individuals, businesses or community groups to support the events.
8. Place the item on the September 22, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.
Action: The Various Events sponsored by Council District 5 were approved for placement on the September 22, 2026 City Council Agenda for action. (4-0-1; Absent: Doan)
C. Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals
1. Self-Checkout Safety Standards for Grocery and Drug Retail Stores. (Candelas and Cohen)
1. Direct the City Manager to review policy approaches to self-service checkout (self-checkout) safety and staffing standards in grocery and drug retail establishments, including elements from ordinances adopted or under consideration in other jurisdictions, and to return to the City Council with policy options, scope, and implementation and enforcement considerations prior to the FY2027 -2028 City Council priority-setting process.
2. Direct the City Manager to engage the County of Santa Clara, including the County’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE), on potential strategic partnerships regarding worker safety and protections and related workplace issues.
Councilmember Domingo Candelas introduced the item, bringing forward the recommendation as outlined in the September 10, 2026 joint memorandum co-authored by Councilmember Domingo Candelas and Councilmember David Cohen.
Public Comment: (In Person) Yvonne S., Christopher Bonton; (Virtual) Call-In User_1, and Brian Darby offered public comment.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, seconded by Councilmember Rosemary Kamei, and carried unanimously, the Committee directed that the item, regarding Self-Checkout Safety Standards for Grocery and Drug Retail Stores, return to the September 30, 2026 Rules and Open Government Committee agenda with a Workload Analysis. (4-0-1; Absent: Doan)
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D. Open Forum
1. (Virtual) Brian Darby detailed challenges regarding the upcoming federal election.
2. (Virtual) Call-In User_1 expressed concern regarding a growing pile of debris in District 9 that is contributing to an unsafe area.
E. Adjournment
Chair David Cohen adjourned the Committee meeting at 2:20 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: 4
Attest by:
______________________________________
Toni J. Taber, MMC
City Clerk, City of San José