San Jose council to weigh large rezoning, contracts, and detention facility moratorium
San Jose city boards and committees have been reviewing a slate of items over the past two weeks, and the City Council faces several consequential decisions in the coming weeks. Minutes for the recent meetings have not yet been published, so all items below are from published agendas and are subject to change.
City Council actions on the horizon
The most consequential item on the docket is a proposed rezoning of 600.16 acres at 650 Harry Road, scheduled for the Aug. 18 council meeting. The plan would change the site from Planned Development to Industrial Park (35 acres) and Open Space (565 acres). The same meeting includes an appeal hearing for a 12-unit condominium project at 1295 Curtner Avenue, which would involve demolition of a single-family home and removal of 21 trees, and a directive to prepare General Plan amendments to increase residential density in Mixed Use Neighborhood and Urban Residential designations.
Also on Aug. 18, the council will consider approving $2.3 million in federal funding and $300,000 from the Airport Renewal Fund for the Airside Lighting Replacement Project, and authorizing an application for Proposition 4 climate bond grants estimated at $300,000 to $27.5 million.
At its Aug. 11 meeting, the council was set to vote on several purchase orders and contract amendments, including $2,500,000 for Brown Bear Tractors from Broyhill Equipment LLC, $1,600,000 for a library digital content platform from OverDrive, Inc., and a $300,000 increase to a contract with True North Research, Inc. The agenda also included a $75,000 settlement in the case of Mary Rosario Martinez v. City of San José and a rezoning of 1402 Monterey Road from CIC(PD) to CIC Combined Industrial/Commercial.
Looking ahead to Aug. 25, the council will consider expanding the SJ Cares energy discount program to approximately 2,384 additional affordable housing units, adopting positions on four statewide ballot measures (supporting Prop 37 and Prop 45 in concept, opposing Prop 39 and Prop 43), awarding a $1,135,347.40 contract to O'Grady Paving for the Cherry Ave project, authorizing up to $10 million each for three airport consultant agreements, and increasing the Fish Lake Geothermal power purchase agreement to $3.2 million annually (with a $64 million aggregate).
Committee reviews and recommendations
The joint Rules and Open Government Committee and Committee of the Whole met Aug. 5 and Aug. 12. On Aug. 12, the committee reviewed a proposed 45-day moratorium on filing, accepting, or approving applications for private detention and custodial facilities on private property, and a directive to develop community benefits options for data centers, including public space improvements, clean energy programs, and affordable housing. The committee also set a study session on Infrastructure Financing Tools for Economic Development for Sept. 14.
At its Aug. 5 meeting, the committee considered approving Village Fest (Sept. 19) as a city-sponsored special event and authorizing Councilmember Tordillos' travel to Vienna, Austria for a Social Housing Field Study (Sept. 13–19), with an excused absence from the Sept. 15 council meeting.
The Transportation and Environment Committee (Aug. 10) reviewed the Climate Advisory Commission's annual report and work plan, the Airport Commission's annual report and work plan, and a status report on the Energy and Water Building Performance Ordinance. The Neighborhood Services and Education Committee (Aug. 13) accepted reports on the Library and Education Commission, the Children and Youth Services Master Plan, and the BeautifySJ blight reduction program.
Upcoming committee meetings include the Public Safety, Finance and Strategic Support Committee (Aug. 20) reviewing Q4 financial reports, an employee turnover audit, a Fireworks Ordinance work plan status, and emergency management priorities. The Community & Economic Development Committee (Aug. 24) will consider an audit of the City Manager's Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs and a semi-annual economic development status report.
Coming up
- **Aug. 18** – City Council: rezoning 650 Harry Road, Curtner Avenue appeal, General Plan amendments, airport lighting funding.
- **Aug. 19** – Joint Rules and Open Government Committee and Committee of the Whole: SJSU flag raising, travel authorization, agenda review.
- **Aug. 20** – Public Safety, Finance and Strategic Support Committee: Q4 financial reports, turnover audit, fireworks plan.
- **Aug. 24** – Community & Economic Development Committee: economic development audit and status report.
- **Aug. 25** – City Council: SJ Cares expansion, ballot positions, Cherry Ave paving, airport consultant contracts, Fish Lake Geothermal increase.