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<\/a><\/p>\nKenn Lee, the city\u2019s finance director, said the debt services on the bonds is heavily weighted toward the first couple years, something he said was \u201calways contemplated.\u201d<\/p>\n
But not everyone was convinced.<\/p>\n
Council Member Kevin Park expressed skepticism about whether the bond issuance pencils.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we approved a $400 million bond to cover a $600 million worth of infrastructure debt, and every year that work on something else, the cost of the stuff we\u2019re not working on goes up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The city received a AAA credit rating, the highest possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was minimal public input on the item.<\/p>\n
Betsy Megas, a member of the city\u2019s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee speaking as a resident, implored the council to take a thoughtful approach.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeeping up with maintenance can be more economical than catching up with deferred maintenance,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Pulled Consent Items Focus on Fiscal Responsibility<\/p>\n
A few consent items pulled for discussion prompted some council division.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The first two dealt with travel expenses for council members attending conferences.<\/p>\n
Changes to the policy came out of the Governance and Ethics Committee, which recommended changing some operational parameters on the policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Council Member Kelly Cox originally pulled the item at a meeting in December, but, due to a long meeting, the council opted to delay the item. Cox did not attend the last meeting of 2025, so the items were again delayed.<\/p>\n
Cox took issue with the lack of \u201cguardrails\u201d on the policy, saying it \u201cdoesn\u2019t tighten responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we go to the 10,000-foot level and look at what is going on with our public, and how we are perceived right now, this is a foolish thing to do,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is a way we can tell the public, \u2018We are going to hold you to a higher standard, but we are going to loosen ours.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Council Member Suds Jain, the chair of the Governance and Ethics Committee, pushed back, saying commissioners going to conferences is valuable to the city and that policy update brings it in line with \u201cwhat happens in the marketplace.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor Lisa Gillmor joined Cox in dissenting.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery dollar we spend on questionable conference travel is a dollar we don\u2019t spend on the people we represent,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The items passed in a 5-2 vote, with Gillmor and Cox dissenting.<\/p>\n
In another consent item pulled. Gillmor took issue with what she saw as \u201cmoney being floated to the general fund.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gillmor took umbrage with how costs for public safety have been billed to the city in light of the agreement between the city and the Bay Area Host Committee. Those agreements specify the city will not be on the hook for any costs associated with Super Bowl LX or the FIFA World Cup games to be held at Levi\u2019s Stadium this year.<\/p>\n
Consequently, Gillmor was flustered that some of the costs have yet to be reimbursed, despite being on the books for longer than the agreement suggests is appropriate.<\/p>\n
However, City Manager Jovan Grogan told Gillmor that settling bills is often a slow-moving machine.<\/p>\n
Amid Gillmor\u2019s objections, the item passed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
City Rehires Former Administrator\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally, the city also rehired its former assistant director of public works.<\/p>\n
Although Dave Staub retired at the end of last year, city employees implored the council to bring him back on a temporary basis for the marquee events in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The council unanimously approved waiving the 180-day waiting period to rehire a former city employee, reinstating Staub to help fill a gap for the upcoming events.<\/p>\n
Consent Calendar Spending<\/p>\n
The council approved the following spending in one motion via the consent calendar:<\/p>\n
A $3.82 million contract with West Valley Construction Company, Inc. for fiber optic aerial and substructure projects.<\/p>\n
A $1.1 million agreement with the California Highway Patrol for traffic control for Super Bowl LX.<\/p>\n
A $307,944 agreement with CliftonLarsonAllen for two years of auditing services for the Santa Clara Stadium Authority. This agreement contains a 20% contingency for ad hoc projects and allows the city manager to extend the contract for up to two additional years.<\/p>\n
A $4,083 budget amendment for the Stadium Authority capital project: Radio Booth Cabling \u2013 Phase I. The total amount is now $553,976.<\/p>\n
The next regularly scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, in the Santa Clara City Council Chambers at City Hall, 1500 Warburton Ave. in Santa Clara.<\/p>\n
Members of the public can participate in the Santa Clara City Council meetings on Zoom at\u00a0https:\/\/santaclaraca.zoom.us\/j\/99706759306<\/a>; Meeting ID: 997-0675-9306 or call 1 (669) 900-6833, via the City\u2019s eComment (available during the meeting) or by email to\u00a0PublicComment@santaclaraca.gov<\/a><\/p>\n Contact David Alexander at\u00a0d.todd.alexander@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n Previous City Council Meetings: SPONSORED<\/p>\n
Santa Clara Budget Surplus to Bolster Reserves<\/a>
NFL to use Soccer Fields During Super Bowl\u00a0<\/a>
Santa Clara Approves Work at Swim Center<\/a><\/p>\n
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