[Page 1]
MINUTES OF THE
JOINT MEETING OF THE RULES AND OPEN GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AND
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
SAN JOSÉ, CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026
The Committee meeting was held in the Council Chambers and convened at 2:00 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers - Cohen, Foley, Doan, Candelas.
Absent: Councilmembers - Kamei.
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 October 13, 2026 Final Agenda – Cancelled.
2. Review October 20, 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 Vice Mayor Pam Foley, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the Committee approved the draft agenda for the City Council meeting on October 20, 2026; including the add sheet. (4-0-1; Absent: Kamei) B. Consent Calendar
Public Comment: None provided.
Action: Upon motion by Vice Mayor Pam Foley, seconded by Councilmember Domingo Candelas, and carried unanimously, the Consent Calendar was approved as a whole, with the following actions taken as indicated. (4-0-1; Absent: Kamei)
[Page 2]
1. The Public Record for September 24, 2026 - October 1, 2026. (City Clerk) Receive and file the Public Record for September 24, 2026 - October 1, 2026.
Action: The Public Record for September 24, 2026 - October 1, 2026 was received and filed. (4-0-1; Absent: Kamei)
2. Joint City of San José and Santa Clara Valley Water District Special Meeting. (City Manager)
Set a Joint City of San José and Santa Clara Valley Water District Special Meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. to be held at Valley Water’s Headquarters Building Boardroom, 5700 Almaden Expressway, San José, California, and approve the draft Special Meeting agenda.
Action: The joint City of San José and Santa Clara Valley Water District Special Meeting was set for October 13, 2026, and the draft Special Meeting agenda was approved. (4-0-1; Absent: Kamei)
3. Monthly Report of Activities for September 2026. (City Auditor) Approve the Auditor’s Office Monthly Report of Activities for the month of September 2026.
Action: The Auditor’s Office Monthly Report of Activities for the month of September 2026 was approved. (4-0-1; Absent: Kamei)
4. Approval of Proclamation, Flag Raising and Lighting Recognizing Taiwan Retrocession Day Sponsored by Council District 5 as a City Council Sponsored Special Event to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Event. (Ortiz)
1. Approve the Proclamation of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Retrocession Day scheduled on October 20, 2026 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
2. Approve the Taiwanese Flag Raising scheduled on October 23, 2026 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
3. Approve the Republic of China (Taiwan) Retrocession Day Tower and Rotunda Lighting scheduled from October 20-26, 2026 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
4. Approve and accept donations from various individuals, businesses or community groups to support the event. 5. Place the item on the October 20, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.
Action: The proclamation, flag raising, and lighting recognizing Taiwan Retrocession Day, sponsored by Council District 5, were approved for placement on the October 20, 2026 City Council Agenda for action. (4-0-1; Absent: Kamei)
[Page 3]
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.
[Referred from 9/16/26 - Item C.1 (ROGC 26-324)]
Public Comment: (In person) Jacob Brint, Dillien, George, Kent, Steve Bond, Connie, Kelli Elson, Eric, Leah Toeniskoetter, Lupe Lopez, Tim; and (Virtual) Jonson Chen offered public comment.
Councilmember Domingo Candelas introduced the item, bringing forward the recommendation as outlined in the September 10, 2026 joint memorandum co-authored by Councilmember Candelas and Councilmember Cohen.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Domingo Candelas and seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, the workload analysis regarding self-checkout safety standards for grocery and drug retail stores was approved; with direction for the Office of Administration, Policy, and Intergovernmental Relations to prepare an informational memorandum for City Council by January 2027, ahead of the Fiscal Year 2027-2028 priority-setting process. (3-1-1; Noes: Foley; Absent: Kamei) D. Open Forum
No public comment provided.
E. Adjournment
Chair David Cohen adjourned the Committee meeting at 2:25 p.m. [Page 4]
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