City Council - Regular Meeting

Yes, I have a comment. I wanted to give some time for everyone to speak, but to our union members, thank you for showing up. To everyone that has spoken up tonight, thank you for showing up. Speaking publicly takes a lot of courage. Advocating for fair treatment, respect and accountability. Your voices matter. Your experiences matter. and your courage did not go unnoticed. Some have tried to dismiss serious concerns by calling them a witch hunt, going as far as saying that I, myself, am running against Mayor Clausel because it's a witch hunt, which it's not. I decided to run a month ago, and t

I actually had a question okay. So on 6.6, there's obviously some questions. So my question to legal is, could we potentially approve the street closure, but then revisit the cost?

I don't want to impede on their event, though.

Okay. Okay. So would it interrupt their event?

Yeah. On that note, can we entertain the fee waiver on the discussion?

I already pulled it, so we can discuss it.

I'm sorry. I do. 6.4. Parks, Recreation, Beautification Commission and Senior Commission. Are there any reports for the month of August 2026 or representatives here?

I have a comment on that, because I'm trying to go through the minutes. As she mentioned, I would like to know what date specifically, because I'm trying to find the particular item she's talking about, and I'm not seeing it on the minutes so far. Okay, thank you.

No. Can I please? Yeah, go ahead. The question is, she mentioned a specific project, and she was pulled a minute. And we're trying to see the item. So our counsel indicated it's on the 16th, because it's not on the minutes that was pulled. So we're just trying to make sure, because we have to move forward. So if the item is not on this minute, then the minute should be OK. To approve. I'm trying to find out, and you say the 16th was the first meeting.

I think the concern is if we accept the minutes as written and there is an issue with this consent issue, is it going to impede anything?

So, I will move to approve the minute and what we'll pull.

I'll move for us to go ahead and approve the minutes.

I am, because the item is not in this minute.

I'm fine with that as long as we are looking into the concern. Yes. Perfect.

I WOULD LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO REVIEW PARKS RECREATION BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION AND SENIOR COMMISSION REPORTING OUT THE PROCESS FOR REPORTING OUT ON A MONTHLY BASIS, IF WE CAN ADD THAT TO A FUTURE AGENDA? IS THAT, COULD WE DO THAT RIGHT NOW? COULD I DO THAT? YEAH.

So I know that we, in the past, have not charged for this event. And that I know that we updated fees. I understand all of that. My concern is that when it comes to the schools, I feel like we should do better at collaborating. So what I would like to know is, I know this is based off a fee schedule, I'd like to know what our actual cost is for this and see if there's any way we can collaborate in a better fashion with them. So I don't know if this is, like I said, I don't want it to, impose on their event. But I think that there's a little bit of work that we can look into.

Okay. So if this is actual cost, when did we stop wavering it and start charging for it?

So I have a question. And looking at the breakdown analysis of the course on Council Member Mora, do you see any area right there as you're looking at it? Is there anything that you see? Because I know this is a student event. And at the same time, looking at the course associated with it, this is staff time. Uhm, I see the encouragement permit fee. Come pick up so the most of the cost is actually under city staff labor. Which is on the bottom for 1742. That's really the biggest cause. So is there anything councilmember that you see there that is weatherable?

I FEEL THAT, AGAIN, WE COULD COLLABORATE ON ITEMS OF THIS MATTER. WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S MAYBE SPLITTING THE COSTS WITH THEM OR BEING CREATIVE giving the students some support. That's why I was hoping we could pull it and kind of have a discussion on what could be fair and reasonable. I want to be mindful of we're not just going to waive everything all the time, but having the conversation of how can we participate in this event. So that's why I was hoping to pull it and have the conversation offline to see where we could cut some costs here. Is that an option

Can I add one more thing before you answer that? Looking at the 15% administration fee, what is that? It's on the bottom.

I think it's going to take some more discussion. So is there a way to table this, the fees? Can we table the fees for now until we have a discussion, but allow the event to proceed?

So if I pull it strictly for fees, they're still going to know that it's approved. They're still going to be able to proceed. We just need to get it back on next meeting to make sure it's documented, correct? Yes. OK, then I'd like to do that.

I have a question. Who pays for the homecoming parade? Is that the school district? Do you guys? I don't know.

WE CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS GOING TO DO, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE GOING TO PAY, THEN THEY WON'T BE HERE AT THIS POINT, RIGHT? AND THEY NEED TO MOVE ON. SO WHO APPLIES? WHO PUT THE APPLICATION IN? THAT'S THE COUNCILMAN? IT LOOKS LIKE...

SO WHO IS THE ORGANIZER? ASB REQUESTS PERMISSION TO CONTINUE.

I think we need to move forward. However, the question for me, by the way, I do appreciate your passion. I was a PTO president, so I know what it takes to raise funds to support our kids. And I'm all in for the students. My question is who applied for this and what funds do you all have available to you at this point? Because when I look at the funds, it's basically to pay for employee. The city is not making any money out of it, but we definitely would want to partnership with you. But I want to know how much money do you have available to cover the cost, and how do you plan originally to pay

I'M OKAY WITH MOVING FORWARD AS LONG AS WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING THIS AND LOOKING AT EITHER SOME SORT OF COLLABORATION. AGAIN, BEING MINDFUL OF THE COSTS THAT IT TAKES, BUT I THINK THAT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IT'S AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TALK ABOUT IT. OKAY.

Okay, I'm going to say it again. I'm okay with moving forward, but we are going to immediately have a discussion about seeing how we can collaborate. Okay. Yes, I'm okay with that. Okay.

None for me. Then thank you for your presentation.

I have a comment. The color I just want to say thank you so much for sitting in with us and breaking down the process. I've always believed in transparency and you sat down you broke everything and you The same line item you presented in the special meeting is exactly the same thing that I'm looking at because public safety is important and they also need to know. So thank you so much and great presentation.

A quick suggestion, sorry. Yolanda, would you be open to sitting in for a meeting with Chief Hakala so that we can review your suggestion that you have and your insight? Thank you.

I think, I mean, we're not there yet. Because, I mean, looking at even the AB887, there's so much questions that we need. We need a lot of studies based on electrical and grid infrastructure. We need to know a lot more about water consumption, water usage. We need to know about generator, how the electricity is going to be generated. We need to know about public safety. We need to know about our roads and in any event whereby there's an abandonment of the project, how is the city going to recover and who is going to pay? There's a lot to discuss on this project before we even get to that level

I echo what Council Member Jack just said, but also, Brian, I think you added on your slides, or maybe not, the citizen initiatives. So I know that there's citizen initiative where residents draft a local ordinance as well, right? Right. and either prohibiting or regulating the data centers. Collecting that requires signatures and place it on before voters, correct? Correct. So what Council Member Jack just mentioned, I think opening it up even to a town hall meeting and getting a little bit of more information in regards to that as well would be a really good idea.

So, great job. I think we're definitely moving in the right direction. One thing I'd like to just be mindful of is the verbiage we're using with research and when we eventually write the standards. This marketplace is evolving quicker than we think. Not putting us in a box of just calling it data centers You know the large energy use projects resource intensive usages high resource demands all of those words are going to catch up with us eventually so if we can maybe look there as well I Agree, and that's where the city of San Jose's process will be I think really insightful and helpful in tha

Can I ask one more question? And this is just making sure we have full transparency to our city manager. Have we had anyone approach our city right now requesting an application or anything that has to do with a data center? Even made any presentations that you are aware of because I think When we are focusing on the research we need to know anything that the council need to know Do we have any discussions of such?

I just wanted to ask, how old is the kid? How old is your daughter or son that is doing the research? Eight years old?

Adolfo, let me just say I can listen to you all day. Thank you for that comment.

I have a question and I want to counsel to clarify this concern. If an organization received an approval of a certain project can they automatically just convert it into a data center? No. Because I want to make sure that is not feasible because I want to address our community member that have that impression that they can't just switch from building a data center a warehouse into building a data center. So you just have to be certain that that is not possible. So can I get that also from you?

I have a question. Are we done, Brian, with the presentation?

So then let me comment really quick on which concerns should staff prioritize. So I am going to speak for myself and say that I want you to tell me what I'm supposed to prioritize. So when you're doing the research, you tell me what's the highest priorities of the impacts, and then I'll tell you back what kind of is my priority. But until we get that data from you, it's hard to even give you that direction. Tell me how we're supposed to mitigate it. Tell me the risks and everything that we're supposed to be looking at. This is our chance to create policy for decades. So I want you to tell me s

I I understand Brian that. The formal direction and adoption has to come from Council and I. As for myself, the direction and adoption for me would be to prepare amendments to the municipal codes, zoning regulations if necessary, and even to the general plan. But after, of course, the research. For me, high importance would be, of course, water and the chromium six and energy and infrastructure. Our infrastructure is just really bad. It's like clay out there. Look at our roads. That tells you a lot. That's all I have for now. But just, yeah, to look for the preparing amendments to municipal co

Thank you. Could it be on like a special ballot?

So there's a couple things. I think that part of Brian's research should be what the risks are when it comes to a ballot measure because just because we voted in doesn't shield us from litigation. So that needs to be very clear on what that would look like if we did that. And that would be up to the voters. But they would at least be educated on what that would look like. I think a hybrid on the participation would be wonderful. TOWN HALLS ARE ALWAYS BEGGED FOR, PRETTY MUCH. EVERYONE LOVES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TOWN HALLS. I DO LIKE THE AD HOC COMMITTEE. I DON'T HATE THAT. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY T

I THINK I ALSO LIKE THE INTENSIVE APPROACH WHICH IS BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR COMMUNITY. I THINK THEIR INPUT IS REALLY valuable and important, I would really want us to have So there's an advisory committee workshop. To kick it out. And then also to have if I'm kidding. You know to with as a member of with them the council involved. And also city staff. Because one of the things I've noticed and I say these a lot is sometimes people give information without knowledge. So I think that if we make a presentation to them and with information, making sure that they clearly understand what is involved r

I would go with intensive as well citizen advisory committee.

Isn't there commissions that That that allow that They don't have to be in town residents.

No, just expressing appreciation to everyone that commented tonight.

I think present us with options and then the parameters as to who can serve so we can make an informed decision. Okay.

May I also add, as mentioned by the callers, sometimes to fill these committees may be difficult, but also we need to put it out there to solicit those that really want to participate. This is their opportunity to be part of solution for the city.

I would like options, but to also add in some of the options to open it up for like certain miles outside of town or like, I don't even know if you guys would be opposed to like Grayson Wesley residents, someone like Kat that lives outside of the city limits. I don't know how that verbatim would fit in there.

Sorry, I do want to add that next week I will be attending League of California Cities, so I'm looking forward to that. And hopefully, because of my... Committees that I'm part of I'm hoping to bring back lots of ideas From the League of California cities down in Anaheim. I think you're also attending.