At the most recent city council meeting, San José City Council Members discussed organizing street closures and traffic diversions, transportation safety improvements and emergency interim housing programs on Tuesday afternoon.
Street Closures and Traffic Diversions
Cinco de Mayo “has drawn large crowds in the downtown and foothill corridors. As with any large event, particularly one drawing a large volume of vehicular traffic, the impact on the City in prior years has been considerable,” according to the item’s Memorandum.
The recommendation is to accept the San José Police Department’s plan for large crowd events that include street closures and traffic diversions, according to the memorandum.
Chief of Police Anthony Mata and two other officers in the traffic enforcement unit, presented a verbal report on their community outreach plan.
“Outreach will include community stakeholders, neighborhood associations, business associations, council offices and the media,” Mata said. “Specifically provided information in different languages, both Spanish and Vietnamese.”
District 8 City Councilmember Domingo Candelas said the willingness to jump in and improve a process is important.
“Much like the highway closures that are happening on the 20th and 21st on Highway 87, our community needs to know that’s going to be happening to better prepare for that,” Candelas said.
Candelas said the sheer amount of people in a vicinity is a lot of the reason why road closures are important, not just particular events.
East San José Corridor Safety Improvement Project
Rocio Molina, interim deputy director of Catalyze SV, said through zoom that she would like the community to be more walkable.
Catalyze SV engages community members, developers and city leaders to create sustainable places for Silicon Valley according to their website.
It was recommended to accept local and state-granted funds appropriated from the Budget Act of 2022, Assembly Bill 178 for this project, according to the City Council Meeting Amended Agenda.
The council plans to negotiate and execute a grant fund transfer agreement of no more than $10 million with California Department of Transportation, according to the same source. Molina said she was grateful for the council’s consideration on the project and prioritizing safety, particularly in East San José.
She said she had the opportunity to come and visit with some of the students in San José this year.
“They were particularly concerned about some of the big dangers related to, as I’m sure you’ve heard as well, White Road, the walkability of their community,” Molina said. “Their passion for the topic was inspiring.”
She said she encouraged the council, the departments and VTA to continue to think about the community as valued partners.
“Think about these voices and the insight they have into what’s going to be most impactful in implementing these priorities, and what’s going to make the most difference for the safety of their communities,” Molina said.
Via del Oro Mobile Quick Build Shelter
The Planning Commission voted unanimously for the City Council to “adopt a resolution adopting the Bellarmine College Preparatory Master Plan Update Project” and a mitigation monitoring and reporting plan, according to its Memorandum.
The commission will also approve rezoning a site and the relocation or removal of old buildings and trees for a new building and parking area, according to the memorandum.
Deputy City Manager Omar Passons said the purpose of the ordinance is to provide the council with a cost benefit analysis that the staff had prepared since a previous city council meeting in June of this year.
According to the memorandum, “the 2023 homeless census revealed an overall decrease of 4.7% in San José’s population experiencing homelessness as well as a 10.7% decrease in unsheltered homelessness – to 4,411 from 4,975 in 2022,” because of the city and County of Santa Clara investing in this issue.
The movement would let staff negotiate a lease for the Via del Oro site and a Project Delivery Agreement for 150 beds for Mobile Quick Build Housing with Dignity Moves and Swinerton Construction.
Jillian Archibald, who has been unhoused for many years said she currently lives on Great Oaks Boulevard.
“I was told I would get housing by my HomeFirst worker, but it never happened because my ID and Social Security card were stolen,” Archibald said. “My case manager never came back to help me replace the documents, so I lost hope.”
Archibald said she now works with a volunteer, and got her documents replaced, but still has not heard back from her case worker.
“This is not a unique experience, but you, the city, keep giving these nonprofits the contracts. I can only hope (they) do a better job,” Archibald said.
