By Robert Haugh
On April 23, Santa Clara Youth sports groups left the City Council meeting thinking their facilities fees had been waived.
Vice Mayor Anthony Becker initially voted with the Council majority to waive the fees.
During a break after the vote, Becker talked to City Manager Jovan Grogan.
After his conversation with Grogan, Becker said he was confused and asked for the vote to be reconsidered.
Then, Becker changed his vote to charge the youth sports group the facilities fee.
This week, City Councilmember Kathy Watanabe asked for the issue to be reconsidered.
During last night’s discussion, City Attorney Glen Googins admitted that he made a mistake at the April 23 meeting.
During the debate on April 23, Mayor Lisa Gillmor said it was against the Council policy to reconsider a vote after interested members of the public had left. But Googins said it was appropriate.
“The advice I gave (on April 23) was not consistent with the policy,” Googins said last night.
Santa Clara PAL president Mike Walke attended the April 23 meeting and spoke in favor of the fee waiver.
He found out about Becker’s flip flop and the vote change when he got home and was getting ready for bed.
“There is some question about transparency now,” said Wakke.
Linda Pascoal, President of Westside Little League also attended the April 23 meeting.
She called in last night and said: “As a constituent of the City, the conversation I heard during that recess was questionable at best.”
“We cannot have members of City staff telling Councilmembers to change their vote,” said Pascoal. “Transparency is a foundational value for ethical government practices.”
City Manager Grogan was absent from last night’s Council meeting.
The fee waiver will cost the City $115,000 to help the following groups:
- Santa Clara Lions
- Santa Clara PAL
- Santa Clara Swim Club
- Santa Clara Youth Soccer League
- Westside Little League
On April 23, Gillmor and Watanabe suggested that funds from the City’s share of Levis Stadium naming rights (approximately $200,000) be used for the fee waiver.
The Council unanimously voted to reconsider the item in 3-4 weeks.
Santa Clara city politics. You can’t make this up.
As a former Santa Clara Parks and Rec commissioner I have worked with all of the groups listed in the article and I can tell you that they do a great job in providing our kids with a great opportunity to play Football, Baseball, Swim and Soccer. As a voter in District 6 I urge Mr. Becker to stay with his original vote and allow these parents in most cases to focus on teaching there kids how to play a great sports instead of facing the end of theses great programs.
Mr. Guerra,
Thank you for efforts to allow the youth Santa Clara to blossom and promote their future.
Athletics is an important vehicle through which young Santa Clarans learn discipline and teamwork. We—me and others—have had children play flag football and tackle football as SC Lions, as well as swim and baseball.
Why does one not encourage the development of youth?
Tony seems not to care.
Prey tell – how did Becker suddenly become self aware that he voted incorrectly? Without any external prompting, his confusion somehow became clear thought in a short period? No way. That’s not how it works. Not from someone who is being led by the nose by Suds and friends.
More likely explanation – Suds gave him instructions to follow.
Ted, listen to meeting when a member of public called in stating that city staff was polling council during break after the vote was taken. After the break was when Becker called for the reconsideration. Attorney said it was ok to discuss even though public had left. Seems staff is just as guilty of issues with openness and transparency like the 49er 5.
Thanks for that nugget Adam. And this makes it even a more egregious Brown Act violation – a private pole of Council before acting on a non-agenized public hearing item. Goggins is totally over his head in this job.