City Council Preview – City Manager Departing?

By Robert Haugh

Tomorrow evening’s City Council meeting doesn’t have any spark plugs on the agenda, except for the apparent resignation of Interim City Manager Rajeev Batra who officially retired in March, but has been retained as a consultant. (We’ll be writing more about Batra’s brief and somewhat controversial tenure as city manager soon).  So the meeting won’t be much more entertaining, except for Panthers fans,  than yesterday’s 49ers game.

Brief highlights:

• During closed session, Council discusses the public employee release/acceptance of resignation: City Manager (Batra).
• Also in closed session, public employee appointment of City Manager: Deanna  Santana.
• Another closed session matter is negotiations between Westfield (owners of Valley Fair) and the City regarding the 90 North Winchester Blvd. (formerly BAREC) property.
• A study session on the San Jose Urban Villages located at Stevens Creek Boulevard, Winchester Boulevard and Santana Row/Valley Fair. This is the next chapter in “border wars” story.
• The Council will hear more information regarding Proposition 64 (Adult Use of Marijuana Act) with a request to direct the City Manager to retain a consultant to complete an analysis of all classes of commercial marijuana operations within the City, and return to Council with the results and a draft ordinance temporarily banning all commercial marijuana activity within the City.
• Council can approve $385,000 from unused Mitigation Fees Act for Playground Construction Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project for design and construction of the Fuller Street Phase II Sport Court.