Joint Meeting for the Rules and Open Government Committee and Committee of the Whole
TL;DR
The San Jose City Council held a joint committee meeting to review upcoming agendas and make several administrative appointments. They approved the appointment of a new City Attorney with a competitive compensation package and discussed potential resolutions of support for state and county measures.
Key Decisions
- City Attorney Appointment Approved
- Brazilian Flag Raising Event Approved Retroactively
- State Proposition 50 Support Resolution Directed City Attorney to Draft
- Santa Clara County Measure A Support Resolution Directed City Attorney to Draft
- Neighborhood Services Committee Work Plan Update Approved
Agenda
- For live translations in over 50 languages, please go to https://attend.wordly.ai/join/FAYU-7105
- How to observe the Meeting (no public comment):
- 1) Cable Channel 26, 2) https://www.sanjoseca.gov/news-stories/watch-a-meeting, or 3) https://www.youtube.com/CityofSanJoseCalifornia 4) By phone 888 475 4499. Webinar ID: 952 0837 7482. Alternative phone numbers are: US: +1 (213) 338-8477 or +1 (408) 638-0968 or (877) 853-5257 (Toll Free) 5) By online https://sanjoseca.zoom.us/j/95208377482 Use a current, up-to-date browser: Chrome 30+, Firefox 27+, Microsoft Edge 12+, Safari 16+. Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer.
- How to submit written Public Comment for items on the agenda:
- 1) By email to city.clerk@sanjoseca.gov by 8:00 a.m. the day of the meeting.
- How to provide spoken Public Comment during the Committee Meeting:
- Fill out a Yellow Speaker's Card and submit it to boxes at the bottom of the Chambers.
- City Council (City Clerk)
- Review Final Agenda
- ROGC 25-321 Review October 21, 2025 Final Agenda. a. Add New Items to Final Agenda b. Assign "Time Certain" to Agenda Items (if needed) c. Review of Notice of Waiver Requirements for Agenda Items or Documents (if needed)Review Final Agenda
- Review Draft Agenda
- ROGC 25-322 Review October 28, 2025 Draft Agenda. a. Add New Items to Draft Agenda b. Assign "Time Certain" to Agenda Items (if needed) c. Review of Notice of Waiver Requirements for Agenda Items or Documents (if needed)Review Final Agenda
- Notice to the public: There will be no separate discussion of individual Consent Calendar items as they are considered to be routine and will be adopted by one motion. If a member of the Committee requests debate, separate vote or recusal on a particular item, that item may be removed from the Consent Calendar by the Chair and considered separately. The public may comment on the entire Consent Calendar and any items removed from the Consent Calendar by the Chair.
- Consent Calendar
- 1. The Public Record for October 2, 2025 - October 9, 2025. (City Clerk)Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals Consent
Receive and file the Public Record for October 2, 2025 - October 9, 2025.
- 2. Update to the August - December 2025 Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Work Plan. (City Manager)Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals Consent
Approve an amendment to the August - December 2025 Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Work Plan to drop the following item scheduled for the October 9, 2025 Committee meeting. Coordination of Homelessness Activities Audit Report. Purpose: Provide an audit report on the coordination of homelessness activities. (City Auditor)
- 3. Approval of Brazilian Flag Raising, Event, and Lighting Sponsored by Council District 5 as a City Council Sponsored Special Event to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Event. (Ortiz)Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals Consent
1. Retroactively approve the Brazilian Flag Raising Event on October 17, 2025, as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds. 2. Retroactively approve the Brazilian Flag Raising on October 17, 2025, as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds. 3. Retroactively approve the Brazilian Flag Raising Tower Lighting from October 21 - 23, 2025, as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds. 4. Approve and accept donations from various individuals, businesses or community groups to support the event. 5. Place the item on the October 21, 2025 Council Agenda for action.
- END OF CONSENT
- Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals
- 1. City Attorney Appointment and Compensation Package. (Mayor)Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals Consent
1. Adopt a resolution appointing Susana Alcala Wood as City Attorney effective November 9, 2025 and approving compensation and benefits for services as City Attorney consistent with the following terms in this memo. Salary: The starting pensionable salary will be $371,500 annually. In addition to the starting pensionable salary, the City Attorney will receive an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay for a total annual salary of approximately $390,000. Executive Management Benefits: As executive management, the City Attorney will receive the benefits that are included in the Executive Management and Professional Employees (Unit 99) Benefit and Compensation Summary. Further information may be found at the Unit 99 Compensation Summary link. The City Attorney will also receive a $350 monthly automobile allowance in accordance with the current City policy. Vacation and Executive Leave: The City will recognize Mrs. Alcala Wood’s combined 15+ years of public service with the City of Sacramento, City of Modesto and City of Stockton, and her vacation accrual rate will be 200 hours per year. For the 2025 calendar year, the City Attorney will receive 16 hours of Executive Leave. Vacation accrual and executive leave will be provided in accordance with the Executive Management and Professional Employees Benefit and Compensation Summary. Severance The City will offer severance pay equal to three months of salary for any involuntary removal as City Attorney which results in termination of employment with the City, in exchange for the City Attorney’s execution of a Release of Claims. Outside Employment: The City Attorney will not engage in outside employment without City Council approval. Separation Notice: The City Attorney will provide a 30-day notice to the City of a voluntary resignation of employment. 2. Place the item on the October 21, 2025 City Council Agenda for action.
- 2. Resolution of Support on State Proposition 50. (Candelas, Cohen, Ortiz, Campos, Tordillos)Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals
Direct the City Attorney to draft resolution of support on behalf of the San Jose City Council for State Proposition 50 (The Election Rigging Response Act).
- 3. Resolution of Support on Santa Clara County Measure A. (Candelas, Cohen, Ortiz, Campos)Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals
Direct the City Attorney to draft resolution of support on behalf of the San Jose City Council for Santa Clara County Measure A.
- Open Forum
- Members of the Public are invited to speak on any item that does not appear on today’s Agenda and that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Committee.
- Adjournment
- The Code of Conduct (https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/12901/636670004966630000) is intended to promote open meetings that welcome debate of public policy issues being discussed by the City Council, their Committees, and City Boards and Commissions in an atmosphere of fairness, courtesy, and respect for differing points of view. The City of San José is committed to open and honest government and strives to consistently meet the community's expectations by providing excellent services, in a positive and timely manner, and in the full view of the public. The City Code of Ethics may be viewed online. The Levine Act requires a Party in a Proceeding before the City of San José that involves any action related to their contract, license, permit, or use entitlement to disclose any campaign contributions to City elected or appointed officials totaling more than $500 within the 12 months prior to the City decision. A Participant to a Proceeding may voluntarily report a campaign contribution. Please visit https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/appointees/city-clerk/levine-act for updated forms and information.
- All public records relating to an open session item on this agenda, which are not exempt from disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act, that are distributed to a majority of the legislative body will be available for public inspection at San José City Hall, Office of the City Clerk, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, 14th Floor, San José, CA 95113 at the same time that the public records are distributed or made available to the legislative body.
- To request an accommodation or alternative format for City-sponsored meetings, events or printed materials, please call the Office of the City Clerk 408-535-1260 as soon as possible, but at least three business days before the meeting/event.
- Access the video, the agenda and related reports for this meeting by visiting the City's website.