By Robert Haugh
Tuesday’s Santa Clara City Council meeting was lengthy with many important topics.
In addition to voting to place a ballot measure on the March 2024 ballot with biased language, the Council also acted on other major items.
The Council unanimously approved a 10 percent rate increase by Silicon Valley Power.
The 125-year-old municipal utility asked for the increase to help cover rising costs for supplies, power and capital infrastructure like new power poles. Even with the increase, SVP customers pay substantially less than neighboring residents and businesses with rates up to 56 percent less than PG&E.
The Downtown Precise Plan was adopted. Form-Based code was adopted by the Council unanimously, with Mayor Lisa Gillmor recused, due to her owning property in the Downtown area.
The plan discussed Form-based code, density heights, proper uses of properties and sets up planning tools to shape eventual redevelopment, pending developer partnerships.
The Council approved a $1.82 million expenditure for replacement of sod at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers and City Staff made presentations, stating that the Stadium Authority (City) is responsible for 30 percent of the sod replacement. Gillmor asked why the costs have increased exponentially and appear directly related to NFL events. No answer was given. Gillmor said the costs seem to have increased exponentially after Deanna Santana and Brian Doyle were terminated.
Former City manager Santana filed a request for possible litigation relating to what she claims are unpaid wages and benefits. The Council reviewed the claim in closed session, but no action was taken.
The sod situation is beyond the capabilities of my understanding! 8 million revenue from concerts & zero dollars to the city?! WTF. All the city parks & public areas are sorely in need of asphalt replacement. No one hates the 49er’s & their ilk more than me. I’m glad these bozos are not in charge of my personal finances! I’d be living on the streets…