By Robert Haugh
At last night’s Santa Clara City Council meeting, one consent item created some unexpected controversy.
The 49ers needed approval to execute an agreement with Colony Landscape and Maintenance, Inc. for sod removal and related services at Levi’s Stadium – the contract is over $1.8 million.
Each year, there are three to four full field replacements.
Mayor Lisa Gillmor and Councilmember Kathy Watanabe said they wanted to know why the team wasn’t paying for the entire cost of the field replacements since it’s being done during the football season.
“This should be done on the team’s dime, not the public dime,” said Gillmor.
Watanabe made the point that she attended the Elton John concert and noticed that the turf was being protected. That raised issues about how the team may be double billing the City since turf protection and replacement is usually a cost paid for by concert promoters.
City staff suggested that the issue be brought back on December 5 when they will have more information about the history of turf replacements and if the public has been paying for it when it’s a team responsibility.
One major controversial issue advanced without much debate.
With a unanimous vote, 5-0, the Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute loan documents with Charities Housing Development Corporation of up to $4,944,484 to support the construction of 106 affordable housing units at 1601 Civic Center Drive
Councilmember Raj Chahal and Councilmember Kevin Park were absent from the meeting, even though the agenda listed them as calling in. Chahal was in Portugal and Park was in Korea.
Both Chahal and Park voted against the project last November when there was a lot of neighborhood opposition. The affordable housing development is in Chahal’s district and he was on the ballot for re-election.
49er five digital advertisements are back and circulating online! We must call out the 49er lobbyist responsible for spreading misinformation Ellie Caple, Josh Stephens and Elijah Lefkow are responsible for ruining our city with their political games and evil agenda against the Mayor. These lobbyists have been meeting with community members and trying to join our community boards to find their next city council puppets.
Santa Clara should be worried about how much our taxes payers will be spending on public safety costs for upcoming events like the World Cup or Super Bowl. Why do you think removing the current chief of police is so important to the 49er 5! Without our current Chief helping hold the 49ers accountable we are screwed out of money to pay for these large events. The 49er 5 are letting tax payer money be stolen from our city and into jed yorks pocket.
Signal will surrender Becker transcript by court order.
WTH? The question that turned the council meeting upside down. Why? Is there shady business going on here? And then 49er 5 retaliates and attack the mayor? Bunch of hypocrites. Oh how obvious it is to see who protects Santa Clara and who protects the 49er management.
Andrew, you are a smart person.
Why would a council member use SIGNAL APP to communicate with 49ers?