The San Jose City Council had a busy 2024, topped off with a general election that brings new faces to the dais come next year. It could shift votes toward more pro-business policies, but many of this year’s decisions already leaned in that direction.
Councilmembers created policies aimed at shaping the city’s future in housing development, wage theft, homelessness and even who will represent District 3. Here are the top 10 San Jose City Council decisions that had the largest impact on residents this year.
Special election
Downtown residents and advocates erupted in applause last month after San Jose officials voted 8-2 to hold a special election in District 3 to replace disgraced Councilmember Omar Torres, who was arrested on Election Day for lewd acts with a minor and resigned from office.
Councilmembers Sergio Jimenez and David Cohen said they favored an appointment process to avoid wasting taxpayer money. But a majority of councilmembers said District 3 voters should decide who their future representative should be.
City Clerk Toni Taber said an initial election could happen on April 8 and a runoff on June 24, if necessary.
Several residents plan to run to represent the downtown core, including Mayor Matt Mahan’s Deputy Chief of Staff Matthew Quevedo, Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley Executive Director Gabriela Chavez-Lopez, Planning Commission Chair Anthony Tordillos and attorney Irene Smith.
No return zones
San Jose officials doubled down on efforts to revitalize the Guadalupe River Trail and voted unanimously in February to prevent homeless residents from returning by enacting a “no return zone” policy.
The city allocated $200,000 to remove roughly 20 people living by the river in an effort to encourage residents to use the trail. Existing tents will be removed by April in the area between Woz Way and Julian Street.
The goal is to make the trail a popular place for people to walk through and help revitalize downtown.
The city dedicated more funds toward the effort in June. The San Jose Police Department is set to receive $500,000 for enforcement and BeautifySJ will receive $407,000 for three positions related to homeless encampment sweeps and outreach.
Wage theft policy
San Jose councilmembers approved a wage theft prevention policy geared toward holding contractors and subcontractors accountable for their actions against union construction workers.
San Jose workers, including those with the IBEW 332 electricians union, called on the city to stop hiring contractors who engage in wage theft — but contractors argued the unions’ demands were “unnecessary and overreaching.”
In June, the city council unanimously approved a responsible construction policy. Companies found to have unpaid wage theft settlements must address those before the city can issue a final certificate on a project. Pushback from private construction companies and advocates led the city to delay and revise the policy, with changes including the exclusion of contractors and subcontractors from perjury if they falsify pay transparency certifications and removing the possibility of city fines.
The revisions were enough to win over nine of 12 private construction companies and supporters who wrote an open letter earlier this year criticizing the initial policy.
Developer incentives
The San Jose City Council voted unanimously in June to extend the existing downtown residential high-rise program to reduce developer costs in an effort to spark more incentives for housing construction.
Under the new program, developers who build the first 2,000 homes receive a 100% cut in construction taxes and a 50% reduction in park fees. The next 2,000 homes developed will receive a 50% cut in construction taxes and a 30% cut in park fees.
But this wasn’t the only developer incentive initiative to get the green light from City Hall. San Jose leaders voted 9-1 to squash financial penalties for developers who build less than the required 15% affordable housing benchmark, provided the projects are multifamily homes.
Mayor Matt Mahan said city analysis shows hundreds of homes have been built downtown because of the existing high-rise incentives program. He said giving developers a break on one-time fees on affordable housing could mean more housing overall.
Measure E dollars for waterway encampments
San Jose leaders dealt a blow to affordable housing advocates after voting to divert long-term affordable housing funds in June to temporarily shelter homeless residents living along city waterways.
About $25 million in diverted funds came from Measure E, a property transfer tax approved by voters in 2020. City officials plan to temporarily house homeless residents to keep the waterways clean, and successfully renew a stormwater permit set to expire in 2027.
Controversial Costco
Councilmembers voted unanimously to approve plans for a Costco in the Westgate West shopping center. The decision was met with disappointment from dozens of neighbors who packed the council chambers in October concerned about traffic congestion and safety issues.
Supporters of the incoming Costco described the area, Westgate West, as a once-thriving shopping center that’s fallen into disarray without a big retailer to anchor the location.
Good Samaritan Hospital
The city council voted unanimously last month to approve the environmental impact report and rezoning of Good Samaritan Hospital‘s 21-acre, $1.2 billion expansion.
Part of the deal includes an agreement with parent company HCA Healthcare to contribute $3 million in commercial linkage fees toward housing and homelessness in the city. Health care advocates want to see city officials hold the company accountable for cutting services at Regional Medical Center and restoring acute inpatient psychiatric services at the hospital.
Business improvement district
San Jose is moving forward with establishing its sixth business improvement district after voting unanimously in October to give East Side leaders an opportunity to develop a thriving economic sector and community.
The city council vote allows the Tully Road Eastridge Business Improvement District to build a partnership between business owners and the city that brings in events to draw more foot traffic. Events include a night market and the first of what will be an annual festival hosted by the Tully Road-Eastridge Business Association.
El Paseo development
The San Jose City Council unanimously approved a modified plan to redevelop the El Paseo de Saratoga shopping center with a 772-home apartment complex. Developer Sand Hill Property Company is paying the city $13.9 million to cut more than 100 affordable homes, in order to keep the project financially feasible — leaving 38 apartments available for people earning the area median income, or $184,300 for a family of four.
San Jose housing advocates expressed frustration with the city’s decision to scrap the original plan.
When the modified plan with only 38 affordable homes came back before the council earlier this month, former Vice Mayor Chappie Jones told city leaders he was profoundly disappointed to see so many affordable homes cut — as it was the “linchpin” of the El Paseo De Saratoga development.
Golf course development
A shuttered golf course in East San Jose is ready for a future mixed-use housing project after city leaders voted in October to adopt development guidelines for the area.
Months of community engagement with District 5 and District 8 residents led councilmembers to unanimously agree earlier this month that any proposed housing development at the former Pleasant Hills Golf Course should exceed the number of affordable homes required under city policy. Details about the proposal are still under wraps, as city planning officials say San Jose-based firm Terrascape Ventures has yet to submit its development plans.
Contact Vicente Vera at [email protected] or follow @VicenteJVera on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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