NEW MEMO + LETTER – Update on design concepts for Diridon Station redevelopment
MEMO FROM MAYOR, JIMENEZ, PERALEZ, DAVIS & ESPARZA – As leaders whose constituents live in districts through which the train will likely pass, these elected identify four key issues that they ask Partner Agencies to thoroughly address: 1. Having grade separations (i.e. rails on over- or under- passes) to ensure safety, 2. Alignment with Highway 280/87, or an alternative that does not go through the Gardner/N. Willow Glen neighborhoods; 3. Rail alignment that facilitates the creation of a world-class station; 4. Rail alignments along the Monterrey Corridor must be highly sensitive to residential properties and pedestrian and traffic safety.
LETTER FROM SAN JOSE SHARKS – The Sharks’ VP of Government Affairs writes to the Mayor, City Council, the Board of VTA and the Diridon Station Policy Advisory Board strongly stating the Sharks’ need for parking, 4000-6000 spaces that can be shared for other uses during non-sporting events. VP Jim Goddard argues that parking is essential to the Sharks’ economic viability. Goddard attaches documents showing the commitments made by VTA and the City of San Jose to provide enough parking. They also sent an email to Bill Ekern which specifies that the DISC scope of work must account for space for a parking garage with 4000-6000 spots and that the Sharks also need an unconstrained parking demand analysis factoring in the realistic parking demands of all transit agencies, to be performed during Phase 2 of the DISC.
Original item: In anticipation of the arrival of BART and High-Speed Rail to Diridon, the station must be reconfigured to function as an integrated whole. The Diridon Integrated Station Concept Plan is the effort of four public agencies – VTA, the City of San Jose, Caltrain, and the California High-Speed Rail Authority – to redesign and expand the station.
City Council will receive a progress update on the DISC Plan, specifically a brief on the initial design concepts that the Diridon Partner Agencies have developed in collaboration with their consultant team, Arcadis and Benthem Crouwel Architects.
The major update is that the Partner Agencies have arrived at two probable scenarios for the station location – either where it currently is, or closer to Santa Clara Street. They have also identified that having a station at-grade (that is, ground level elevation), or elevated approximately 25 feet above the current track, would be the likely best possible vertical configuration. The next steps are to
Where: San Jose City Council
When: February 5, 2019, 1:30PM
Link to item: https://sanjose.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3842718&GUID=21533831-EF94-448F-A11A-9A7E9BA4E8CD
Link to agenda: https://sanjose.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=661112&GUID=CDA55A6B-4E5B-4CA6-AC35-BF693AB85164
The report on Measure T implementation reveals a project still very much in its beginning stages. Internal and external governance structures are still being set up. Draft project scopes of work, schedules, and capital and operating budgets are still being developed and final construction schedules for most projects are not yet available. Resource models are being developed to analyze the levels of City staff and consultant services need for the project, and staff are analyzing sites for potential property acquisitions – but are still not at the stage of contacting property owners.
Eleven individuals, plus the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and the Sierra Club, wrote in support of Measure T funds being allocated towards the preservation of Coyote Valley, which Council reviewed at a Study Session on January 22.
Where: San Jose City Council
When: February 12, 2019, 1:30PM
Link to item: https://sanjose.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3847489&GUID=DCF04188-1A48-4F02-B12D-24873EAD82E5
Link to agenda: https://sanjose.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=21676&GUID=ACCCCFF5-F14A-4E1A-8540-9065F45A8A90
Setting the Policy Prioritization special council meeting for March 1, 1:30-4pm
The committee will set the Council Policy Prioritization Special City Council Meeting for Friday, March 1, 2019 from 1:30-4:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers and approve the draft agenda, which consists of:
Where: San Jose Rules and Open Government Committee
When: Wednesday, February 6, 2019, 2pm
Link to item: https://sanjose.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3850255&GUID=DF0815D4-5FD2-4271-B914-06594BFB5365&Options=&Search=
Link to agenda: https://sanjose.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=661131&GUID=EA8EA595-101B-4B85-A58B-FB123343F65F&Options=info&Search=
Awarding $400K contract for Convention Center management to Spectra Venue Management / Atairos / Comcast
Staff recommend that council approve the selection of Global Spectrum L.P. dba Spectra Venue Management for a contract to manage and operate the Convention Center with a five-year term ending on or about March 20, 2024 and a maximum annual compensation amount not to exceed $400,000.
The City conducted a Request for Proposals Procurement Process to solicit proposals potential operators to manage the Santa Clara Convention Center as of March 18, 2019. Based upon the scores from Phase 2, the evaluation team recommended the selection and award of contract to Spectra.
Formed in 1999, Spectra is one of the largest and most respected professional venue management companies in the nation. Spectra is comprised of three main areas of expertise: venue management, food services and hospitality and partnerships. Their public sector client list includes cities, counties, and state universities. Spectra is owned by Atairos, an independent private company, and backed by Comcast Spectacor, an industry leader in sports and entertainment. The Atairos umbrella also includes an affiliation with Comcast NBC Universal providing access to advertising channels to promote events.
The Chamber has advised that it will facilitate the transition and provide the new operator with access to records and its current employees. Spectra is preparing to engage current Convention Center employees in addition to the current Convention Center vendors/partners to discuss a transition for delivery of services. Spectra and Convention Center vendors/partners have been advised of the City’s Worker Retention Ordinance and parties are preparing for appropriate transition under its requirements.
Where: Santa Clara City Council
When: Tuesday, February 5, 2019, 4pm
Link to item: https://santaclara.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3852706&GUID=9BDC789B-55C4-44B4-8C63-887404170A18&Options=&Search=
Link to agenda: https://santaclara.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=640618&GUID=15C0069A-69CD-4115-8D26-AF59F0FB9270&Options=&Search=
Report on Interim Ordinance prohibiting any multifamily housing projects
Council will receive a report on the status of activities and circumstances in progress that affect the future of multi-family housing development—which is a requirement for the Interim Urgency Ordinance adopted earlier in January that prohibits approval of any new multifamily projects.
On January 7, 2019, the City Council passed an Interim Urgency Ordinance prohibiting approval of any multi-family residential development entitlements, such as tentative maps, zoning amendments, use permits, variances or building permits, for 45 days. The Interim Urgency Ordinance states that continued approval of multi-family residential development entitlements may conflict with the City’s planned evaluation of activities and circumstances currently in progress that may affect the location, type, density and timing of future multi-family housing in Gilroy. Government Code provisions regarding such ordinances state that “ten days prior to the expiration of that interim ordinance or any extension, the legislative body shall issue a written report describing the measures taken to alleviate the condition which led to the adoption of the ordinance. Staff are providing a status report regarding key activities and policies affecting multi-family housing that satisfies this requirement.
Where: Gilroy City Council
When: Monday, February 5, 6pm
Link to item: http://gilroyca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=1663&MediaPosition=&ID=1992&CssClass=
Link to agenda: http://gilroyca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1663
Appointing Citizen Advisory Committee for changing council electoral system
Council will vote to confirm appointments to the Citizen Advisory Committee that will work on outreach efforts and community engagement related to transitioning from the current at-large system for electing council members to a district-based form of elections.
Per Council direction, Mayor Hendricks appointed three Councilmembers (Larry Klein, Gustav Larsson, and Russ Melton) to serve on a subcommittee to develop the criteria, application materials, and timeline for the CAC selection. A total of 22 applications were received. However, one of the applicants was ineligible and one application was received after the deadline and therefore not accepted.
A second subcommittee was appointed by Mayor Klein to review applications and select CAC members, comprised of Councilmembers Gustav Larsson, Nancy Smith, and Mason Fong. The Selection Committee is nominating the following nine residents for membership on the CAC:
The Subcommittee recommends appointing Valarie Suarez as an alternate CAC member that could serve should one of the appointed CAC members be unable to fulfill their term:
Where: Sunnyvale City Council
When: Tuesday, February 5, 2019, 6pm
Link to item: https://sunnyvaleca.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3850983&GUID=CA4040D2-D6DC-47D5-AA52-4A5D57AFE606&Options=&Search=
Link to agenda: https://sunnyvaleca.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=594477&GUID=03E698BA-CC77-4259-A88D-66769101411D&Options=info&Search=
Approve 6-month extension of exclusive negotiations with Core Co./Republic Urban for TOD development at Tamien Station
The board will consider extending the Exclusive Negotiations Agreement (ENA) between VTA and UrbanCo Tamien LLC, a joint venture between Core Companies and Republic Urban, in order to complete negotiations and execute a Joint Development Agreement.
Where: VTA Board of Directors
When: Thursday, February 7, 2019 5:30 PM. Board of Supervisors’ Chambers County Government Center 70 West Hedding Street San Jose, CA 95110
Link to agenda: http://vtaorgcontent.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Site_Content/bod_020719_packet.pdf
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