By Robert Haugh

There was no reportable action from the City Council’s executive session last night. That means there was no action taken to remove City Attorney Brian Doyle who the 49ers want “gone.” Doyle had a performance review. We’ll have to see what happens at future meetings.

Redistricting

The Council established a timeline for redistricting for the 2022 elections. Santa Clara districts will be redrawn using new census info.

In a split vote, redistricting commissioners will receive $50 per meeting. A 4-3 majority of the Council believes that a stipend will be needed to help attract people since there’s a tight timeline for action.

Mayor Lisa Gillmor, Vice Mayor Raj Chahal, Councilmembers Suds Jain and Kevin Park voted for the stipend.

Councilmembers Anthony Becker, Karen Hardy and Kathy Watanabe voted against it.

El Camino Real Specific Plan

Last month, the Council delayed adoption of the El Camino Real Specific Plan. A majority of the council thought the buildings were too high near residential neighborhoods.

Last night, City Staff returned with a modification of the plan that reduced building heights.

But Councilmembers Hardy, Jain and Park wanted to keep the original plan with taller buildings and more density.

Park in a long winded speech, insulted residential home owners. “Just like you can’t ask toddlers to specify their own lunch, you can’t really have single family homeowners design a city,” Park said. 

Sounds like Park is now regularly insulting people at Council meetings.

But they were outvoted 4-3 with Gillmor, Chahal, Becker and Watanabe supporting the lower density alternative.