Joint Meeting for the Rules and Open Government Committee and Committee of the Whole

Agenda

1. For live translations in over 50 languages, please go to https://attend.wordly.ai/join/FAYU-7105
2. How to observe the Meeting (no public comment):
3. 1) Cable Channel 24 2) https://www.sanjoseca.gov/news-stories/watch-a-meeting 3) https://www.youtube.com/CityofSanJoseCalifornia 4) By phone 888 475 4499. Webinar ID: 941 1478 1397. 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/94114781397 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.
4. How to submit written Public Comment for items on the agenda:
5. 1) By email to city.clerk@sanjoseca.gov by 8:00 a.m. the day of the meeting.
6. How to provide spoken Public Comment during the Committee Meeting:
7. Fill out a Yellow Speaker's Card and submit it to boxes at the bottom of the Chambers.
8. City Council (City Clerk)
9. Review Final Agenda
10. ROGC 26-214 Review May 26, 2026 Final Agenda. - Cancelled.
    Review Draft Agenda
11. Review Draft Agenda
12. ROGC 26-215 Review June 2, 2026 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 Draft Agenda
13. 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.
14. Consent Calendar
15. 1. Update to the January - June 2026 Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Work Plan. (City Manager)
    Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals Consent

    Approve an amendment to the January - June 2026 Neighborhood Services and Education Committee Work Plan to drop the following item scheduled from the June 11, 2026, Committee meeting agenda. Animal Care and Services Status Report. Purpose: Provide a status report on the Animal Care and Services Division's provision of services. (Public Works)

16. 2. Rules and Open Government Committee Work Plan. (City Clerk)
    Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals

    Approve the Rules and Open Government Committee work plan for the period of August 2026 through June 2027 and set its meeting schedule as every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The agendas will be posted as the Joint Rules and Open Government Committee and Committee of the Whole.

17. 3. Retroactive Approval and Approval of Various Events Sponsored by Council District 8 as City Council Sponsored Special Events to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Events. (Candelas)
    Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals Consent

    1. Retroactively approve and approve the various events as City Council sponsored Special Events and approve the expenditure of funds. o Music in the Villages - April 30, 2026 o Music in the Square - June 5, 2026 o Music in the Square - June 12, 2026 o Music in the Square - June 19, 2026 o Music in the Square - June 26, 2026 o July 4th Celebration at Lake Cunningham - July 4, 2026 o Music in the Square - July 10, 2026 o Music in the Square - July 17, 2026 o Music in the Square - July 24, 2026 o Music in the Square - July 31, 2026 o Music in the Square - August 7, 2026 o Indian Flag Raising - August 14, 2026 o Music in the Square - August 14, 2026 o Music in the Square - August 21, 2026 o Music in the Square - August 28, 2026 2. Approve and accept donations from various individuals, businesses or community groups to support the event. 3. Place the item on the June 2, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.

18. Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals
19. 1. Policy Analysis of Vacant Commercial Storefront Activation Tools. (Tordillos, Cohen, Ortiz, Mulcahy, and Doan) - RECOMMEND DEFERRAL TO 6/3/26 PER COUNCILMEMBER MULCAHY
    Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals

    Direct the City Manager’s Office to work with the appropriate departments, including but not limited to, Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement, the City Manager's Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs, and the City Attorney’s Office, to return with an analysis and options for potential administrative, regulatory, and programmatic actions to support the activation of vacant commercial storefronts and reduction of blight citywide. This referral is intended to initiate policy analysis and return with recommendations. The analysis should include identification of workload impacts, fiscal implications, and alignment with existing departmental work plans. The analysis should include, but not be limited to, evaluation of the following: 1. Evaluate potential amendments to San José Municipal Code Section 20.150, as well as any other relevant ordinances, Municipal Code sections, or City Council policies, to extend the allowable period for reestablishing a legal nonconforming use without requiring a new Special Use Permit from six months to up to three years. Additionally, evaluate appropriate limitations, safeguards, or categorical exclusions that may be necessary to address potential impacts associated with such an extension. 2. Evaluate existing restaurant and small business programs within the City Manager's Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affair and the Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement Department to identify opportunities to strengthen interdepartmental coordination and better align program resources toward the activation of vacant storefronts. The analysis should assess program effectiveness, administrative feasibility, fiscal impacts, and policy implications and return with recommendations and implementation direction informed by these considerations. 3. Evaluate potential amendments to San José Municipal Code Section 20.80 and relevant City Council Policies, including 6-28, 6-29, and 8-14, to determine whether establishing a ministerial stand-alone demolition permit process for certain vacant industrial and commercial buildings is legally feasible and advisable. This evaluation should consider applicability only where California Environmental Quality Act permits ministerial approval and where the building is not a designated or potentially historic resource, and should preserve environmental screening requirements for polychlorinated biphenyls, commonly known as PCBs (as referenced in City Council Policy 6-28) and maintain waste diversion obligations under Section 9.10 of the San José Municipal Code. a. The analysis should be options-based and may identify and assess a range of potential regulatory and implementation approaches for City Council consideration, without presuming a preferred outcome. Such options may include, but are not limited to, alternative post-demolition site management pathways and compliance or monitoring frameworks. The analysis should assess legal, fiscal, workload, and policy implications before recommending any amendments. [Referred from 5/6/26 - Item C.1 (ROGC 26-201)]

20. Open Forum
21. 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.
22. Adjournment
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. Access the video, the agenda and related reports for this meeting by visiting the City's website.