MINUTES
City-School Liaison Committee
Santa Clara City Hall – Council Chambers
May 6, 2026
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
City Committee Members
Councilmember, Albert Gonzalez (Chair)
Mayor, Lisa M. Gillmor
Councilmember, Suds Jain (Alternate)
School District Committee Members
Board Member, Jodi Muirhead
Board Member, Andy Ratermann
Board Member, Kathy Watanabe
Superintendent, Dr. Damon Wright
City Staff in Attendance
Assistant City Manager, Aracely Azevedo
Director of Parks and Recreation, Damon Sparacino
Police Chief, Cory Morgan
Assistant Police Chief, Wahid Kazem
City Librarian, Patty Wong
Director of Community Development, Afshan Hamid
Management Analyst, Aimée Escobar
School District Staff in Attendance
Director, School Bond Projects, Larry Adams
Director, Facility Development & Planning, Michal Healy Director of Communications & Community Engagement,
Jennifer Dericco
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Chair Gonzalez at 11:57AM.
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
No public presentations.
GENERAL BUSINESS
Item 1: Approval of Minutes: March 4, 2026, Minutes
Member Jain made a motion to approve the March 4, 2026, meeting minutes, seconded by Member Ratterman.
The motion passed unanimously.
Item 2: City of Santa Clara: Update from City Manager Jōvan D. Grogan Update was given by Assistant City Manager Aracely Azevedo due to City Manager Jōvan Grogan’s absence. • STEM Zone at the Santa Clara Convention Center
The City hosted STEM Zone at the Santa Clara Convention Center on Sunday, April 19th.
This free event is part of the City’s “Where the Mission Meets the Moment” campaign, celebrating the Santa Clara community as the City hosts two of the largest sporting events on the planet in the same calendar year – Super Bowl LX, and FIFA World Cup in June and July.
The STEM Zone was more than just an event — it was a platform where our students, innovators, and local companies can showcase technology, sustainability, and creativity alongside the global excitement of major sports. The event featured speaker panels, a robotics zone, hands-on activity booths, and workshops. • Parks & Recreation Department Issues RFP for Public Arts Master Plan Development Services
The Public Arts Master Plan will be a 12–18-month community engagement process designed to guide the integration of art into the public realm. It will identify opportunities for permanent, temporary, and performative works, while also establishing policies, procedures, and funding strategies to support a sustainable and inclusive public art program. The plan will reflect the City’s culture, identity, and community values, and align with broader planning, development, and organizational goals. The City aims to have a consultant in place by early July and to collaborate with the Cultural Commission to publicly launch the planning process.
• VTA Across Barrier Connections (ABC) Plan
VTA is working on a plan to make it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to cross Santa Clara County’s freeways. VTA will be studying overpasses, underpasses, and interchanges to fix gaps in the walking and biking network. Public input will be collected to determine where pedestrian and biking “barriers” exist and where new or improved connections are needed most.
Item 3: Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD): Update from Superintendent Dr. Damon Wright • The right-sizing process/staff reductions have begun to address the budget deficit. Employees have been notified of the changes in the upcoming school year. Staff will be finalized after reviewing enrollment numbers for the next school year.
• The North Star Survey of educational stakeholders is occurring. City Librarian Patty Wong requested a copy of the survey.
Councilmember Jain mentioned that AP Environmental Science is oversubscribed at Santa Clara High School and inquired about plans to expand the subject to other high schools. Superintendent Wright stated that it is too late to expand the subject in the coming school year, but it can be reviewed for expansion in the following school years dependent upon interest and enrollment.
Item 4: Santa Clara Unified School District Updates:
a. Construction Update
Larry Adams, Director - School Bond Projects
• Laurelwood: Scheduled to open for classes in August 2026. • Briarwood: Two wings of classrooms slated for early childhood education that will be ready in August 2026.
• Bracker Elementary: Scheduled to open mid-calendar year. • Westwood: New kitchen and multi-purpose room will be completed by the end of 2026. • Santa Clara & Wilcox HS Pools: Santa Clara pool to be completed in the Summer of 2026. Work on the Wilcox pool will begin in Summer 2026 after the completion of Santa Clara’s pool. • Pedestrian Bridge @Wilcox: Working with several stakeholders to complete the construction on the bridge with a targeted completion date of Summer 2027.
• Wilson Development Ed/New Valley: Schematic plans in development, to be completed in 2029.
b. FIFA Events, Facilities & Capital Development Update Michal Healy, Director - Facility Development & Planning • Working on the 5-year master plan as now required by the State that will include deferred maintenance items.
• Installing cameras/security items on all campuses. 18 months to 2 years to complete all locations.
SCPD would like to have discussions with District to share the information for security purposes/emergencies. Director Healy will work with Asst Chief Kazem on this item. Real time intelligence center coming soon as funded by Measure I and this will integrate well to be smarter and more responsive to real time events per Chief Morgan.
c. City and School Facilities: Public Usage & Availability Andy Ratermann, Board Member
• Concerns have been raised regarding public access to City facilities, including the cost associated with facility rentals and the requirement for City staff to be present during use, which can significantly increase rental expenses. Consider forming a committee or working group to review current facility access and rental practices, identify barriers to community use, and evaluate potential solutions that could improve accessibility and affordability while appropriately addressing staffing requirements, operational impacts, security, and City liability.
• Fingerprinting is required for individuals who are present on the fields prior to 6:00 p.m. due to their proximity to and potential interaction with students. The cost is approximately $50 per person and has been covered by the District.
o Assistant Chief Kazem noted that the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD) has limited fingerprinting appointments available due to staffing constraints and does not currently have the capacity to increase the number of appointments. The City utilizes a third-party vendor to accommodate demand that exceeds SCPD’s available capacity. o Member Ratermann requested assistance in identifying a more affordable fingerprinting vendor.
Assistant Chief Kazem will explore potential options and additional vendors that may provide fingerprinting services at a lower cost.
• Wilcox Tennis Courts: Staff is exploring logistical and operational considerations to increase community access to school courts, fields, and other campus facilities. o Parks & Recreation Director Sparacino noted the importance of considering facility assets, including depreciation and ongoing maintenance, when evaluating expanded public access to school campuses and fields during non-school hours. The discussion extends beyond athletic use and includes opportunities for broader community access. o Director Sparacino also discussed the potential development of a master facility-use agreement applicable across District campuses. Such an agreement could establish consistent terms and procedures, streamline implementation, and facilitate access and coordination among the District, City, and public.
o Member Ratermann: Concerns were raised regarding individuals or groups remaining on fields beyond their allotted reservation times, preventing subsequent permit holders from accessing the fields as scheduled. These situations can become confrontational and, in some instances, have required SCPD intervention.
Chief Morgan noted that the use of enforcement measures, including citations or other means of removal, would require coordination with the City Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office to ensure that any actions are legally appropriate and enforceable.
Additional discussion and legal review are needed to identify potential solutions and establish clear, consistent procedures for addressing unauthorized or extended field use while minimizing conflict and the need for police intervention.
o Member Watanabe: Supports the formation of a committee to address accessibility issues.
Would like to see Directors Healy and Sparacino to continue discussions on this item in conjunction with Member Ratermann.
o Councilmember Jain stated he would like lighting added to the Wilcox and Bucsher tennis courts due to heavy use in addition to trying to open the Wilcox courts to the public.
Public Comment on 4.c: City and School Facilities: Public Usage & Availability
1. Jessie Wang, President of Westside Little League, expressed appreciation for the ongoing discussions and collaborative efforts and indicated the League’s interest in participating in future conversations.
He noted that parents are willing to volunteer and contribute their time and resources to support programming needs.
Mr. Wang also noted that Westside Little League aligns with the North Star Plan referenced by Superintendent Wright. He raised concerns regarding duplicative fingerprinting requirements, as Little League already requires fingerprinting for its volunteers. He expressed interest in working with the District to determine whether existing fingerprinting and background clearance requirements can be recognized to eliminate unnecessary duplication for individuals accessing District fields.
2. Parent Pasqual raised concerns regarding inconsistencies in public access to school campuses, including why some campuses are open for community use while others remain closed, and why fingerprinting requirements are applied at certain locations but not others. Pasqual encouraged the District and City to review existing policies and practices and work toward establishing clear, consistent standards for public access across all campuses.
Pasqual also expressed support for the installation of security cameras on school campuses, particularly in response to concerns regarding increased graffiti, vandalism, and other criminal activity.
• Chair Gonzalez supports the formation of an Accessibility Committee and resources to fund items.
Member Watanabe requested to add to next agenda the formation of an Accessibility Committee.
Item 5: City of Santa Clara Updates:
a. Community Development Department Update
Afshan Hamid, Director of Community Development
• Long Range Plan/El Camino Real Specific Plan: Staff provided an update on the development of a Specific Plan for the approximately 3.2-mile regional boulevard corridor, which has been identified as a Council priority. The corridor presents opportunities for redevelopment, particularly at sites that are currently underutilized or not functioning at their highest potential.
Staff have conducted robust community outreach to gather input and incorporate stakeholder feedback into the proposed Specific Plan. The plan is anticipated to accommodate approximately 4,400 new housing units and establish a coordinated framework for future redevelopment along the corridor.
The Specific Plan will also address right-of-way improvements in coordination with Caltrans to promote consistency between transportation infrastructure and future development. Once adopted, the plan is intended to provide greater certainty for property owners and developers and help streamline future development review and permitting processes. The Specific Plan is scheduled to be presented to the City Council on May 19 for consideration and approval.
• Tasman East: Construction has begun on Ensemble One, located behind Clara’s Junction. The project includes a 301-unit multifamily residential development and represents the second Ensemble project currently in development. The Irvine development is proposed to occur in three phases and will include a mix of commercial development, approximately 1,100 residential units, and a new park. The park is anticipated to be included as part of the first phase of development. • Benton & Lawrence Interim Project: An interim housing project is being proposed to provide temporary housing and supportive stability for families experiencing homelessness as they transition toward permanent housing. The project is proposed on a County-owned parcel and building permit applications have been submitted to the City for review. The project is anticipated to be presented to the City Council on July 9 for consideration and approval.
b. Library Update
Patty Wong, City Librarian
• STEM Zone update: The event drew approximately 8,500 attendees and provided an opportunity to connect students with higher education institutions and STEM-related educational opportunities. The strong turnout further reinforced the Library’s role as an important community partner and resource for students and families. Feedback from participants and partners was overwhelmingly positive. At this time, it has not yet been determined whether the event will return in 2027. • Summer Adventure: The Library and District are collaborating on the Summer Adventure Program, with registration currently underway. The program is designed to encourage consistent daily reading habits, promote family engagement, and support continued learning throughout the summer. Program activities will be coordinated with the District’s summer school and after-school/extended-care programs to expand participation and provide students with greater access to summer learning opportunities. • Student Library Card Update: Working with IT to make this work, gateway for learning for 24/7 resources.
c. Parks & Recreation Update
Damon Sparacino, Director of Parks & Recreation
• PowerPoint presentation.
• 4th of July Celebrations: Member Ratermann requested continued support and collaboration from the City and SCPD to promote safety and address unlawful activities occurring on school fields, particularly the discharge of fireworks. Concerns were raised regarding the associated fire and public safety hazards, and the need for continued enforcement efforts to protect school facilities and surrounding neighborhoods.
Public Comment on 5.c: Parks & Recreation Update
A question was raised by a West Side Little League representative regarding the unexpected closure of Henry Schmidt Park, which impacted PAL softball and Westside programs and required them to quickly identify alternative fields for scheduled activities.
The Committee asked whether the baseball/softball diamond could potentially be made available in February, prior to completion of the overall park improvement project. Parks & Recreation Director Sparacino indicated that he will explore the feasibility of providing earlier access to the field and will coordinate directly with Westside regarding potential options. If early access is not feasible, staff will also work to identify alternative field locations to help minimize impacts to scheduled programming.
Remaining 2026 Meeting Schedule
(Informational Only, No Action)
• Wednesday, September 2, 2026 (11:45am – 1:15pm) SCUSD • Wednesday, November 4, 2026 (11:45am – 1:15pm) City
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned by Chair Gonzalez at 1:17PM.