City of Santa Clara Government News Digest

Councilmember Anthony Becker appeared in court on Sept. 13, where his lawyer, Chris Montoya, asked the judge to postpone setting a date for the trial. Montoya said that his office received “another discovery dump” from the District Attorney’s office.

Three Santa Clara councilmembers have filed state and local ethics complaints against Mayor Lisa Gillmor and an influential political group aligned with her, San Jose Spotlight reports.

Santa Clara is being sued by Brian Doyle, its former city attorney, who claims officials fired him unlawfully as part of a hushed agreement with San Francisco 49ers owners.

Santa Clara has released a citywide survey to help the 2023 Charter Review Committee make an informed decision about whether or not to change the city charter in regard to how the police chief and city clerk are selected.

After much public input, the Santa Clara City Council opted to delay voting on a mixed-use development, unable to decide between the need for housing and residents’ concerns. The proposed development would require a general plan amendment.

A day after Mayor Lisa Gillmor received a confidential report, she forwarded it to her personal email. One legal expert says it raises questions about her intentions and whether she leaked the secret document—a charge that has landed her political rival in court.

Santa Clara’s Planning Commission has recommended that the City Council approve a development project that would reshape the city’s downtown area. The mixed-use development will have retail on the first floor and 50 condos above plus three single-family homes and four townhomes.

An affordable housing development where residents can grow their own food is slated to begin welcoming tenants. The development, Agrihood, will include 160 mixed-income apartments, 165 homes for low-income seniors and veterans, and 36 townhomes on 5.8 acres.

San Francisco-based Maracor Development plans to build 200 apartments on a nearly two-acre lot at 80 Saratoga Ave, a two-story building in Santa Clara that housed a YMCA of Silicon Valley office and a separate automotive repair building.

At its June 27 meeting, the Santa Clara City Council will consider raising the elected police chief’s salary by 10% to $313,692. The raise is based on a recommendation made by the salary-setting commission.

Demands for Santa Clara Councilmember Anthony Becker to resign ultimately went unheeded by the conclusion of a seven-hour meeting. The Santa Clara City Council voted 4-2 not to schedule a future debate over whether to press Becker to resign, with Becker abstaining.

Santa Clara City Attorney Glen Googins commented on the status of obtaining documents needed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held at Levi’s Stadium: “I feel a heck of lot better than I did 45 days ago.”

Newly released transcripts reveal details of the ongoing legal saga featuring Santa Clara Councilmember Anthony Becker, who pled not guilty to charges for the alleged leak of a secret grand jury report. The criminal grand jury heard testimony from 21 officials in March and April, from city leaders to political insiders and 49ers' executives.

Santa Clara Councilmember Anthony Becker pleaded not guilty to charges that he leaked a confidential civil grand jury report to the San Francisco 49ers organization and lied about his actions. Becker was indicted by the DA’s office last month and faces a felony perjury charge.

What happens in seven years? That was the question during a special meeting of the Santa Clara City Council—a continuation from last week, when the council was slated to vote on a homeless housing project at Benton Street and Lawrence Expressway.

After hours of listening to dozens of people who turned out for public comment, the Santa Clara City Council did not vote on a proposal to turn a vacant lot at Benton Street and Lawrence Expressway into temporary housing.

Don Von Raesfeld, arguably the single most influential person on Santa Clara’s road to electric power self-sufficiency, died suddenly this week at St. Clare’s Church during Easter Mass. He was 96.

The Santa Clara Planning Commission discussed at length a plan to amend Zoning Code Section 18.60.050 to make fuel cells and photovoltaic panels an allowable use, meaning they will not require use permits before they are built.

Dozens of Santa Clara residents weighed in on a proposed supportive housing development for homeless people, with the majority against the idea. The proposed development, at the corner of Benton Street and Lawrence Expressway, would include between 80 to 120 transitional homes.

The Santa Clara City Council appointed Jovan D. Grogan as City Manager on a 4-1 vote. Grogan, currently San Bruno’s city manager, will assume his new duties on May 1.

Glen Googins, Santa Clara’s new city attorney, will be able to hit the ground running with extensive experience in municipal real estate transactions, entertainment venues and public-private partnerships.

A decades-old debate has resurfaced: how Santa Clara should choose its police chief. The city is unique in electing its chief by popular vote, but some Santa Clara councilmembers say the system forces the public to choose from a shallow, underqualified candidate pool.

Santa Clara residents will need permits again to park in overcrowded areas, including neighborhoods near the Alameda, Levi's Stadium and Rivermark Plaza. The city stopped enforcing permit requirements during the pandemic due to city staffing issues.

As the region emerges from the effects of the pandemic, development on major projects continues to move forward. Here are some of the notable developments and policies to keep an eye on in 2023.

After considerable pushback from residents and uncertainty among Santa Clara councilmembers, city leaders are greenlighting a multifamily housing project on Civic Center Drive. The Santa Clara City Council voted 6-1 to build the five-story project with 108 affordable units managed by Charities Housing. Councilmember Kevin Park was the lone dissenter.

The city of Santa Clara is updating its public outreach policy for planning and redevelopment applications and is asking for community input.

An overhaul of Santa Clara’s business tax that could help the city patch a budget hole appears on its way to victory at the polls. Nearly 60% of votersare supporting Measure H in early election returns.

Santa Clara’s mayor and city council will face issues ranging from affordable housing and new development to a $20 million budget deficit and the ongoing turbulent relationship between the City and 49ers owner Jed York over Levi’s Stadium management.

The influence of the 49ers, questions of housing, the budget, and live music at Levi’s Stadium are hot topics at a forum for SC City Council candidates.

Santa Clara mayoral race roiled with homophobic slurs and death threats against councilman Anthony Becker.