Policy Watch: Your weekly tip sheet to what’s going on in your community

County of Santa Clara

Code enforcement revisions include fee/fine adjustments and creating a Community Restitution Fund

At the November 19, 2015 HLUET meeting, the Department presented a strategy to reduce the incidence of violations and the costs and staff time associated with abating violations once they are identified. Staff is returning with a report that provides an update on Code Enforcement’s current program improvements and describes further improvements that require ordinance modifications. Staff is proposing a new “Community Restitution Fund” (CRF) to receive code enforcement fines. Deposits in the CRF would serve as a source of funds to conduct specific types of code enforcement projects such as code abatement operations and community clean-up projects. Under this proposed framework, fines would not accrue to the General Fund (unless a pre-set maximum fund level was achieved in the CRG), or be used to fund the routine operations of the Code Enforcement Division.

Staff has been actively focusing on a review and prioritization of the backlog of code enforcement violations within the department.

Upon receiving HLUET input and direction, staff will prepare ordinance language for consideration by the full Board at the May 24th Board meeting.

 Where:  Santa Clara County Housing, Land Use, Environment, and Transportation Cmte

When: April 21, 2016, 3:30pm

Link to item: http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=7527&MediaPosition=&ID=80830&CssClass=

Link to agenda:  http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=7527

City of San Jose

Minimum Wage Study Session for the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County

Agenda includes:

(a) Presentation by City’s consultants

  • Staff Memorandum
  • Attachment A – City Staff Summary of Minimum Wage Research Findings
  • Attachment B – Summary of Key Findings: The Effects of a $15 Minimum Wage by 2019 in Santa Clara County and the City of San José
  • Attachment C – Santa Clara County Minimum Wage Employer Survey-Report
  • Attachment D – Santa Clara County Minimum Wage Employer Survey-Powerpoint

(b) Questions and discussion

Where: San Jose City Council

When:  April 18, 2016, 1:30 pm

Link to agenda: http://sanjose.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?event_id=ef9f9f98-70c3-4924-8de8-50b24984686a http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=7189

Recommending changes to current rent control ordinance, including tying rent increases to CPI and an anti-retaliation policy

Council will take the following actions regarding modifications to the Apartment Rent Ordinance (ARO):

  1. Accept staff’s report and general recommendations
  2. Direct staff to return with an ordinance amending the City’s Apartment Rent Ordinance (ARO), including the following changes:
    1. Replace the annual 8% allowable rent increase with an annual allowable increase of 100% of the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), with a 2% floor and 8% ceiling for annual increase, and allowing banking
    2. Eliminate the existing debt-service pass-through provision
    3. Replace the existing capital improvement pass-through provisions with a fair return petition process based on a maintenance of net operating income fair return standard
    4. Add a limited capital improvement incentive program
    5. Include a provision to address historically low rents
    6. Add a rent registry to facilitate the monitoring and enforcement of the ARO
  3. Direct staff to return with an Anti-Retaliation & Protection Ordinance:
    1. Develop a voluntary mediation program to address landlord/tenant and tenant/tenant disputes
  4. Direct staff to return with an Ellis Act ordinance to address the process to be followed for owners of ARO apartments subject to the ARO seeking to remove their building from the rental business
  5. Direct staff to review the City’s demolition provisions in the zoning code and to coordinate with PBCE as needed regarding updating those provisions in order to address the demolition of ARO apartments
  6. Direct staff to review the City’s condominium conversion provisions in Chapter 20.170 to and coordinate with PBCE as needed regarding updating those provisions in order to address the conversion of ARO apartments
  7. Direct staff to return with an urgency ordinance that provides a temporary pause in annual rent increases for ARO apartments
  8. Direct staff to return with a plan to increase staffing to sufficiently administer, monitor, and enforce requirements of ARO

Memo from Rocha:

Councilmember Rocha is requesting that Council

  • Approve the staff recommendation for modifications to the Apartment Rent Ordinance with the following amendments:
    • Duplexes: Direct staff to bring the issue of whether or not duplexes should be included under the ARO back to Council for further consideration
    • Displacement: Approve staff recommendations 8, 9, and 10, which recommend further ordinance development around displacement issues, and provide additional direction for staff to analyze the proposed displacement ordinance outlined in recommendation 8 of Councilmember Jones’ memo dated April 8, in addition to any other policy options staff or Council may wish to recommend
    • Maximum Allowable Rent Methodology: Use a maximum allowable rent methodology instead of a banking methodology to track unused rent increase capacity. The maximum allowable rent methodology would set a maximum allowable rent for each unit based on the base year rent, plus the accrued maximum allowable increases for all subsequent years. Landlords would be allowed to charge up to the maximum allowable rent, provided that rent increases each year are consistent with the 8% ceiling proposed in the staff recommendation.
    • Outreach: As part of implementation of the Anti-Retaliations & Protection Ordinance, direct staff to conduct outreach in multiple languages to educate tenants about their rights under the ordinance, with particular attention to groups that may be most vulnerable to abuse, such as immigrant communities
  • Direct staff to return to Council in 18 months with an update on implementation of the Apartment Rent Ordinance. As part of this update, staff should provide the Council with any data they may have collected on no-cause evections through implementation of the Apartment Rent Ordinance, and should assess whether the Rent Ordinance is effective in the absence of a good cause eviction ordinance
  • Request that either staff or the Rules Committee agendize a Council item for the May 3, 2016 council meeting for the purpose of allowing the Council to direct staff to conduct a nexus study and feasibility study for a commercial impact fee in San Jose.

Memo from Herrara/Khamis/M.Nguyen: Notable changes include:

  • Establish a maximum annual rent increase of 6% in a 12-month period
    1. If an owner seeks to bank portions of an unused increase, the owner is required to notify the tenant(s), in writing, that they are “banking” all, or a portion of, an increase when serving a rent increase notice.
  • Debt Service Pass Through
    1. Eliminate the ability of rental property owners to refinance a property and pass on the cost of increased debt to the tenants.
    2. Reduce the maximum Loan-to-Value ratio to 65%.
    3. Require that any Debt Service Pass Through must be in connection with the acquisition of an ARO building and the debt must be incurred within 12 months of acquiring ownership.
    4. Limit a rent increase related to debt service to not more than 20%.
    5. Use of the Debt Service Pass Through will eliminate any “banked” rent increases and the bank for that unit will reset to zero.
  • Good Cause Eviction Ordinance
    1. Direct staff not to pursue a Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. They are instead directed to identify the best ways to ensure that the provisions of California Civil Code Section 1942.5, that protects renters from retaliatory evictions or action by a rental housing provider, are properly enforced.
  • Do not move forward with the following:
    1. An Ellis Act ordinance
    2. Review of the City’s demolition provisions
    3. Review of condominium conversion provisions
    4. An urgency ordinance to limit rent increases

 

Where:  San Jose City Council

When:  April 19, 2016, 3pm

Link to item: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2132&meta_id=567688

Link to Memo from CM Rocha: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2132&meta_id=568646

Link to Memo from Vice Mayor Herrera and CMs Khamis/M.Nguyen: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2132&meta_id=568919

Link to agenda:  http://sanjose.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?event_id=638476f5-a9a7-40df-b02e-fd2597215e7d

 

Weighing proposal by Airport West developers to build larger soccer complex on their site, w/ support from the Earthquakes

Original Item: On December 18, 2015, staff recommended that Council approve a construction contract and the necessary budget actions to allow for the construction of the Coleman Soccer Field Complex. This project is funded by the San Jose Safe Neighborhood Parks and Recreation Bond. The Project bids were opened on October 15, 2015, and staff recommended awarding to the low bidder, Robert A. Bothman.

Staff was approached by the development partners on the Airport West site regarding an alternate proposal that would result in shifting this soccer field project over to the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens. This proposal would create additional parking at the Airport West site as opposed to soccer fields and it could result in a larger sports complex at the GRP site.  The recommended budget action was to increase the budget for the Coleman Soccer Complex by $5,818,000, for a total of $6,959,000 in project costs.

Council will now vote to either:

  1. Accept the Council memorandum dated December 18, 2015, including the award of the project at the Airport West Site to Robert A. Bothman Construction as follows:
    1. Report on bids and award of contract for the 7882 – Coleman Soccer Field Complex to the low bidder, Robert A. Bothman, for the base bid of $13,910,300 and approval of a ten percent contingency in the amount of $1,391,030.
    2. Adopt the following 2015-2016 Appropriation Ordinance Amendments in the Parks and Recreation Bond Project Fund

OR

  1. Deny the award and request that staff continue discussions with Capitol Airport Partners and the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy to potentially place a larger soccer complex within the Guadalupe Gardens.

Where:  San Jose City Council

When:  April 19, 2016, 1:30pm

Link to item: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2132&meta_id=567574

Link to Supplemental Memo #4: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2132&meta_id=568962

Link to agenda:  http://sanjose.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?event_id=638476f5-a9a7-40df-b02e-fd2597215e7d

 

Approving $107M design-build contract w/ CH2M HILL / Overaa for Cogeneration Facility Project

On December 1, 2015, Council authorized staff to negotiate a design-build contract with CH2M HILL Engineers, Inc. for the Cogeneration Facility Project, which will consist of a new building to house advanced generation internal combustion engines, electrical switchgear, heat recovery systems, and control system and monitoring system with connectivity to the RWF’s Distributed Control System. Negotiations are complete and staff is presenting the Contract for Council approval.

The City and CH2M HILL will work collaboratively during Phase I to develop the 60% design of the Cogeneration Facility and begin a process to negotiate and execute a contract amendment (“Definitive Contract Amendment”). The currently estimated cost for Preliminary Services, Design-Build Work, and design and construction contingency is $97,392,000. Project delivery costs is $9,411,000 for a total project cost of $106,803,000.

Council will take the following recommended actions to approve a design-build contract with CH2M HILL:

  1. Approve the design-build contract with CH2M HILL Engineers, Inc. (CH2M HILL) for the Cogeneration Facility at the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility in an amount not to exceed $5,655,000 for the performance of preliminary design services under the contract.
  • Approve a design contingency in the amount of $565,000 for City-approved changes to the scope of preliminary design services.
  • Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to:
    1. Negotiate and execute a definitive contract amendment with CH2M HILL
  • Negotiate and execute separate agreements and/or amendments to the contract to allow CH2M HILL to proceed with discrete portions of the design-build work prior to the City’s execution of the definitive contract amendment in an amount not to exceed $30,000,000, which amounts will be subject to the base guaranteed maximum price.
  • Approve a construction contingency in the amount of $8,288,000 to pay for adjustments to the base guaranteed maximum price or if applicable, the lump sum amount, in accordance with the contract and to pay for the transition services after acceptance of the Cogeneration Facility.
  • Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to:
    1. Execute change orders in excess of $100,000 and
    2. Negotiate and execute the necessary regulatory permits and public utility agreements in excess of $100,000 for the permitting, design, construction, and inspection of utility connections

 

Where:  San Jose City Council

When:  April 26, 2016, 1:30pm

Link to item: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2133&meta_id=568814

Link to agenda:  http://sanjose.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?event_id=12d2e030-3242-49a3-b240-dd6964106601

 

 Utilizing $600,000 grant from High Speed Rail Authority for Diridon Station Area development activities

After the Diridon Station Area Plan (DSAP) was approved in June 2014, Council adopted a subsequent resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant application to the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and to negotiate and execute all documents necessary to accept the CHSRA grant of $600,000. The grant was awarded to the City on March 9, 2016 and required a $200,000 local match, which was met by the City’s previously completed in-kind work with the production of the DSAP.

The $600,000 of CHSRA grant funding will be used to identify and develop a financing strategy for development of the area, to analyze opportunities and infrastructure immediately adjacent to the station, plan for an interagency governance structure for the station area development and station operations, and develop marketing materials to convey the vision of the DSAP to the development community.

Staff recommends that $388,500 be appropriated in 2015-2016 to fund project management and administration and enter into various consultant agreements. As part of the 2016-2017 budget process, additional recommendations to recognize and appropriate the remaining $211,500 of the agreement and to appropriate additional funding to hire a full-time project manager will be brought forward for City Council consideration.

Where:  San Jose City Council

When:  April 26, 2016, 1:30pm

Link to item: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2133&meta_id=568800

Link to agenda:  http://sanjose.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?event_id=12d2e030-3242-49a3-b240-dd6964106601

 

Establishing new policy for sale of surplus City-owned lands

Council will adopt a resolution approving a City Council Policy for disposing of surplus property that includes provisions relating to affordable housing.

Effective Jan. 1, 2015, AB 2135 (Ting) modified procedures with respect to the sale of surplus properties by a local agency. After analyzing AB 2135, staff recommends that the City continue to generally act in a manner consistent with the revised State law because Council has provided direction regarding the importance of promoting affordable housing within the City.

On February 10, 2016, the City hosted a stakeholder meeting to discuss the proposed Surplus Land Property. Based on the feedback received, staff has modified and clarified the proposed policy as follows:

  • Include long-term ground leases (35 years or more) as well as properties to be sold
  • Clarify that Preferred Entities will be notified on all surplus land sales regardless of the zoning
  • Continue to require surplus sites to be posted on the Real Estate website. This provision allows anyone from the public to view the current sites that are available.
  • Include a notification requirement to be Preferred Entities when the City Council considers an exemption requested by staff to use residential land to meet another City goal. This ensures transparency in the process

Staff recommends the establishment of a City Council Policy regarding the implementation of surplus sale procedures that is consistent with the revised AB 2135 with the following revisions:

  • Exemption from the provisions contained in the review Section 54220
  • Priority Sales
  • Income Limits on For-Sale Housing

While the City generally commits to following the revised State law, staff has also included modifications to the “Process for Determining Whether Property is Surplus” as two attachments in the staff memo in order to maintain the City’s local municipal powers and preserve the City’s ability to determine appropriate uses for its surplus properties:

Attachment A: Outline of Current Process to Determine Whether Property is Surplus

Attachment B: Proposed Process to Determine Whether Property is Surplus to the needs of the City and Subsequent Sale of the Property

Where:  San Jose City Council

When:  April 26, 2016, 1:30pm

Link to item: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2133&meta_id=568958

Link to agenda:  http://sanjose.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?event_id=12d2e030-3242-49a3-b240-dd6964106601

 

Disposing 21,000 sq. ft. surplus land for $150K

Council will take the following actions related to the sale of surplus property (21,000 square feet) located near the corner of Stevens Creek Boulevard and S. Bascom Ave to SKW San Jose LLC for $150,000:

(a) Declaring approximately 21,000 square feet of City-owned land surplus to the needs of the City

(b) Approving the use of a purchase and sale agreement between the City and SKW San José LLC for the sale of the property in the amount of $150,000

The proposed redevelopment of the prominent corner of Stevens Creek Blvd and S. Bascom Ave would improve the economic, aesthetic and safety conditions of the neighborhood. The sale of the City-owned Lot 2 could support this development because

  1. it could allow higher density of the adjoining land
  2. it eliminates ongoing maintenance expense to the City
  3. returning the lot to private ownerships will result in better improvements to the lot, including lighting and consistent maintenance

Where:  San Jose City Council

When:  April 26, 2016, 1:30pm

Link to item: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2133&meta_id=568956

Link to agenda:  http://sanjose.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?event_id=12d2e030-3242-49a3-b240-dd6964106601

 

City of Sunnyvale

Final adoption of min wage ordinance to increase to $15/hr by 2018

Adopting ordinance to increase the city’s minimum wage to the following: Effective January 1, 2015, the Minimum Wage will increase to $10.30. On July 1, 2016, the minimum wage will increase to $11.00. On January 1, 2017, the minimum wage will increase to $13.00.

On January 1, 2018, the minimum wage will be increased to $15.00. Beginning on January 1, 2019, and each January 1st thereafter, the Minimum Wage will increase by an amount corresponding to the prior year’s increase, if any, in the cost of living.

The first reading of the ordinance passed on April 12 with a vote of 4-1-1 (with Hendricks voting no & Meyering abstaining).

Where:    Sunnyvale City Council

When:  April 19, 2016, 6:15p

Link to item: http://sunnyvaleca.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?m=l&id=/matter.aspx?key=4673

Link to agenda: https://sunnyvaleca.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=455170&GUID=BCB3577F-7EE2-4601-A962-850B8313D2AE

 

Calling a Special Election for Tues. Aug. 16 to fill CM Whittum’s seat

Staff recommends the following Council actions required by the City Charter and in compliance with the California Elections Code:

  • Adopt a Resolution Declaring Councilmember Seat Number 4 Vacant;
  • Adopt a Resolution Calling a Special Municipal Election for Tuesday, August 16, 2016 for the purpose of filling the vacancy in Councilmember Seat Number 4 for the Unexpired Term,requesting election services from the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, providing regulations for Candidates’ Statements and determining to levy costs of Candidates’ statements.

If Council takes action at this time, the Nomination Period for the Special Municipal Election to be held August 16, 2016 will open Monday, April 25, 2016 and close at 5 p.m. Friday, May 20, 2016. The Special Municipal Election to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term will be held in all respects in the same way as a regular Municipal Election for filling officeholder seats on the City Council. The candidate elected will be sworn in and take their seat at the Council meeting following the receipt of the Certification of the Election Results from the County Registrar of Voters, on or before September 20, 2016 and will serve through the remainder of the unexpired term to January 10, 2017.

 

Where:    Sunnyvale City Council

When:  April 19, 2016, 6:15p

Link to item: http://sunnyvaleca.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?m=l&id=/matter.aspx?key=4654

Link to agenda: https://sunnyvaleca.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=455170&GUID=BCB3577F-7EE2-4601-A962-850B8313D2AE

 

Development of Lot 12, Bryant Street Between California Street and Mercy Street

The purpose of this Study Session is to obtain Council direction on potential development of Lot 12. Staff will use this information to prepare a Request for Qualifications (RFQ)/Request for Proposals (RFP) for a potential ground lease and development on that site.

Staff recommends staggering development at different City-owned sites in the downtown because of loss of parking and potential community impacts while construction is under way, as well as limited staff capacity. Staff expects to have capacity to begin working on Lot 12 after the Disposition and Development Agreement and ground lease for Lots 4 and 8 are complete. This is currently expected for midsummer.

The RFQ/RFP for Lots 4 and 8 started in April 2015, and the project, if approved, is expected to start construction in mid-2018 and complete construction in early 2020. Assuming the negotiation, development review, and building permit process to take a similar amount of time for Lot 12, we should expect a minimum of three years from RFQ/RFP to groundbreaking. As such, and given staff resources, staff recommends commencing this process in late 2016.

Where:    Mountain View City Council

When:  April 19, 2016, 6:30p

Link to item: http://mountainview.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?m=l&id=2197

Link to agenda: https://mountainview.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=452507&GUID=A10C8097-13DC-4D86-B332-5934B61CA977

 

City of Milpitas

Council to discuss regional minimum wage study

The City of San Jose is leading the effort to analyze and study a Countywide minimum wage. Several cities in Santa Clara County, including City of Milpitas, agreed to assist and participate in the study effort. As City officials understand it, the study is nearly complete but not yet available at the time of this report. It is anticipated that the preliminary report findings would be released on Friday, April 15, 2016. In January 2016, the statewide minimum wage increased to $10/hour; and the Governor just signed SB 3 which increases the statewide minimum wage to $15/hour on a schedule starting in January 2017 and increasing through January 2023.

The City Council has also considered raising the current contract janitorial minimum wage to $13.00 per hour but had deferred any action until the Countywide minimum wage study was completed. The table (included in the agenda packet) reflects the current contract provisions and the escalation of wages for the city’s contract janitorial services. Escalation per terms of the agreement provides for an increase to $10.75 effective January 1, 2017 (.25/hour more than required by SB 3) and an increase to $13.69 effective January 1, 2018 ($2.69/hour more than required by SB 3). The City Council has a budget study session scheduled on Monday, April 25, 2016.

There are several key decision points to prioritize and discuss, including internal budget requests from all departments as well as the possible escalation of the private janitorial wage increase ahead of the contractual wage increase (reflected in the table included in the agenda packet). To comply with public contracting provisions, any wage increase will require invoking the 30-day cancellation clause with the City’s current janitorial contract vendor and re-issuance of a new Request for Proposal (RFP) with the wage terms as may be directed by City Council.

 Where:    Milpitas City Council

When:  April 19, 2016, 7:00p

Link to item: http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/_pdfs/council/2016/041916/Item_03.pdf

Link to agenda: http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/_pdfs/council/2016/041916/agenda.pdf

 

City of Gilroy

 Conducting impact study of ballot initiative that would reduce Urban Growth Boundaries

Recommendation to appropriate additional funding in the Planning Contractual Services fund to cover the preparation cost of a report on the impacts of the recently submitted citizen initiative as provided for under the California Elections Code.

In Feb. 2016, a Notice of Intent to Circulate a Petition was received by the City for an initiative that would adopt revised General Plan 2020 policies and establish a new reduced Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) effective until Dec. 31, 2040. Because voter approved initiatives do not require environmental review, the modification of the UGB and the General Plan 2020 policies may have a number of significant unintended consequences such as lack of school funding, constrained long range planning, increased developer fees, a strain on public services such as Fire and Police, increase in poor air quality, negative fiscal impacts, potential legal ramifications and other impacts that are not readily apparent.

LSA Associates of Berkeley would be contracted to implement the study and report for a not to exceed amount of $140,000. The report would be submitted within 30 days of the City Clerk’s certification of the sufficiency of the initiative petition. After reviewing the report, Council must either adopt the initiative without any amendments or schedule an election for consideration of the City’s voters.

Where: Gilroy City Council

When:  April 18, 2016, 6:00p

Link to full packet: http://www.cityofgilroy.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/1787?fileID=2793

Link to agenda: http://www.cityofgilroy.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/1778?fileID=2778

 

City of Santa Clara

 Preparing Tasman East Focus Area Plan and EIR for development NE of Levi’s Stadium

Development of the Tasman East Focus Area Plan is one of the Council’s current Strategic Objectives towards the goal of promoting economic and housing development. The Tasman East Focus Area is located to the northeast of Levi’s Stadium, generally bounded by Tasman Drive, Lafayette Street, the Guadalupe River, and the Santa Clara Municipal Golf Course. The proposed agreement with Perkins + Will, Inc. will provide for the preparation of the comprehensive plan for adoption along with the associated Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which is currently anticipated for completion by June, 2017, at a cost not exceeding $759,425.00.

It is recommended that Council take the following actions:

  • Approve a transfer of $20,000.00 of appropriations from the General Plan Update CIP Project (539-5523-80100-6520) to the Tasman East Focus Area Plan Project (539-5523-80100-6544)
  • Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Perkins + Will Inc. to prepare the Tasman East Focus Area Plan and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) at a cost not to exceed $759,425.00.

Where:  Santa Clara City Council

When:  April 19, 2016, 7pm

Link to item: http://sireweb.santaclaraca.gov/sirepub/cache/2/2dlierc1v2o30nqa4wpylykl/74973804152016055548777.PDF

Link to agenda:  http://sireweb.santaclaraca.gov/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=1753&doctype=AGENDA

 

Amending campaign finance ordinance and adjusting candidate campaign expenditures to CPI

The City of Santa Clara Political Campaign Finance Reform Act (the “Act”) was adopted in 2000 and was updated in 2014 to reorganize certain sections, clarify issues that had arisen over the years and keep up with legal developments. It is now appropriate to update the Act further in several minor respects to reflect issues that arose during the 2014 municipal election. It is also necessary to adjust the Act’s voluntary expenditure and contribution limits, as indexed for inflation pursuant to the Act.

Council will approve amendments to the Act regarding the following:

  • Return and refund contributions
  • Candidate acceptance or rejection of expenditure limits
  • Use of surplus campaign funds

Council will also make adjustments to a candidate’s voluntary campaign expenditures according to CPI. The expenditure limit adjusted to CPI is now $40,500. For limits on individual campaign contributions, applying the CPI would change the limits to $550 for those who accept the voluntary expenditure limit and $270 for those who do not.

Where:  Santa Clara City Council

When:  April 19, 2016, 7pm

Link to item: http://sireweb.santaclaraca.gov/sirepub/cache/2/2dlierc1v2o30nqa4wpylykl/74973904152016060128386.PDF

Link to agenda:  http://sireweb.santaclaraca.gov/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=1753&doctype=AGENDA

 

City of Cupertino

 Presentation of West Valley/North County alternatives for VTA tax measure

Recently, through the advocacy of a coalition of West Valley and North County cities, there is an element of the VTA tax measure being discussed that is titled, “West Valley/North County Transit.” The VTA established a State Route (SR) 85 Corridor Policy Advisory Board to ensure the stakeholder cities in the SR 85 corridor are involved in the development of existing and potential transportation capital projects along the corridor and have the opportunity to provide input and recommendations to the VTA Board of Directors.

In order to provide the City Council with more detailed, but still very conceptual studies of alternatives and cost estimates, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff was engaged based on their extensive mass transit and highway planning and design experience. The alternatives to be studied range from a light rail system, a conversion of the existing HOV lane to an express lane with a widening for a bus-only, or BRT lane, and possibly other combinations. This study is intended to provide information to inform negotiations on what may be included in the transportation tax measure in November.

WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff will provide a presentation at this Council meeting and a hardcopy of the presentation will be provided on the dais.

Where: Cupertino City Council

When:  April 19, 2016, 6:45p

Link to item: https://cupertino.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2687777&GUID=0295A767-FBCB-41E1-BF3E-0FAAC3300317

Link to agenda: https://cupertino.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=444211&GUID=25CD5D60-4656-422B-8921-4D47A493FEB1

 

East Side Union High School District

 Presentation regarding Voter Survey Results for Potential 2016 General Obligation Bond Election and Potential 2016 Parcel Tax Election

Telephone surveys to district voters were recently completed for two possible ballot measures; a new General Obligation Bond measure and a district wide Parcel Tax measure.

A General Obligation bond would be used to make critical renovations, including fire safety, security, refurbishing classrooms, repairing roofs, upgrading electric, plumbing and H-VAC systems. 75% of voters surveyed support a potential bond and the district recommends to go forward.

A Parcel Tax would be used to maintain current class sizes and avoid districtwide layoffs of guidance counselors, social workers, school librarians and classified support service. 63% of those surveyed support a parcel tax; this is nearly 5 points below threshold for success. Even though the Parent-Teacher Association and the East Side Union Teachers Association support a parcel tax, the poll shows voter support is below the preferred pre-campaign threshold. A $55 per parcel tax therefore has a marginal chance of passage, and putting both a parcel tax and school bond on the same ballot likely defeats both.

Where: East Side Union High School District

When: Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 4:00PM

Link to item: http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/esuhsd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=A8U5MX0F7E26

Link to agenda: http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/esuhsd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=9YFT6C71A30F

 

Presentation, Discussion and/or Action regarding Potential mixed-use / housing development on public land

This is an ongoing discussion of redevelopments proposals for the Educational Center site at Capitol Ave. & Mabury.

Based on the investigation and changes to the Independence High School Charter mitigation plan, the rationale for the mixed-use proposal is: engage Santa Clara County in preliminary discussions to determine level and scope of interest in possible shared-use field or soccer field on County land adjoining Education Center, further research development of staff housing on Education Center property as a component of an overall development or redevelopment strategy; engage bargaining units in exploring staff housing development, continue with process to design a potential new school; engage and enlist ESTA and other interested staff with that process, develop and present to the Board a protocol for community engagement in connection with the possible development/redevelopment of the Education Center property, explore possible joint use concepts with Franklin McKinley School District and Alum Rock Union Elementary School District for relocation of Corp Yard and Transportation and Develop financial pro forma(s) for recommended development scenario(s) for Board consideration.

Administration recommends that the Board authorize and approve Administration to submit a Preliminary Review Application to the Planning Commission for the City of San Jose.

Where: East Side Union High School District

When: Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 4:00PM

Link to item: http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/esuhsd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=A8TMSP5C1EDD

Link to agenda: http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/esuhsd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=9YFT6C71A30F

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