City of Milpitas Government News Digest

The City of Milpitas has reached a labor agreement with City employees represented by
the Milpitas Employee Association (MEA) and the Milpitas Professional and Technical Group (ProTech).

A new Performing Arts Center at Milpitas High School begins construction, funded with monies from Bond Measure AA, passed in 2018.

New to California is Senate Bill 1186, which requires local governments to allow medicinal cannabis deliveries. But in Milpitas, “It remains unlawful to deliver recreational cannabis within the City.”

After months of negotiations, the city and the Milpitas Professional and Technical Group—made up of office and recreation services assistants, enforcement officers, and accounting techs—have forged a new agreement.

A wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former City Manager Steve McHarris in December laid out several accusations of incompetence, unethical behavior and intimidation by city officials, including the mayor.

From all over the Bay Area, bingo players flock to Milpitas Charity Bingo, citing its ultra-friendly staff and volunteers, cleanliness, and fun atmosphere.

Milpitas resident Chia-Ling Kong was voted onto the Milpitas Planning Commission by a 3-2 vote, with Mayor Carmen Montano, Vice Mayor Evelyn Chua, and Councilmember Garry Barbadillo voting in favor.

Milpitas is hoping to hold on to a revenue stream dedicated toward city services and keep its budget from falling into the red.

Two of the city’s employee unions—Pro-Tech and the Milpitas Employees Association—are preparing for a potential strike after months of failed contract negotiations with the city.

An ongoing work in progress, the Innovation Campus has benefited from a variety of funding sources.

Lee brought forward AB 259, which proposes applying a 1% annual tax rate on Californians whose net worth is greater than $50 million and a 1.5% rate on those worth more than $1 billion (the state currently houses 186 billionaires).

This year, Milpitas banned natural gas in all new buildings, enhanced its rideshare program and looked for new ways to increase its housing. Looking ahead into the new year, the city has plans for a workplace housing project and an expansion to its Innovation Campus.

Council members voted unanimously for Evelyn Chua, who began serving on the council in 2020 and has been vice mayor since December 2022, to continue in her role.

It was a couple of years ago that Marvin Serber and his family had moved from New York to Milpitas. In September, after a New York trip, Serber showed up at a Milpitas City Council meeting to speak in favor of a menorah lighting celebration for the community.

Minh Ngo was voted in as president, Kelly Yip-Chuan was voted in as vice president and Anu Nakka was elected to serve as board clerk.  

Former Milpitas City Manager Steve McHarris is suing the city for wrongful termination and breach of contract.

Peninsula College Fund received a $10,000 grant from this publication's Holiday Fund campaign, which it used to bolster its services providing support for Bay Area high schoolers who are the first in their families to attend college.

“At Pomeroy Elementary, we have an amazing Garden to Table program,” said Kevin Keegan, principal at Pomeroy, in an informational video. “We have this amazing partnership with our families and outside resources as well to make this community garden a wonderful place. We call it the heart of our school because it’s a place where all kids, all staff, everyone can go to and they have hands-on experiences.”

Feelings of frustration are mounting for two groups of employees that work for the city of Milpitas. 
The employees’ contracts expired June 30 — and the future outlook for their renewal is uncertain.  

The Milpitas City Council heard early plans to convert the Sobrato Centers for Nonprofits location in the city into a 244-home community with 140 affordable apartments.

With war raging in the Middle East, the Silicon Valley chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community hosted an event called “The Israel-Palestine Crisis: Call For Peace” at the Baitul Baseer Mosque as “a live discussion on the heartbreaking situation unfolding between Israel and Palestine."

The Milpitas City Council unanimously approved plans to demolish a vacant, one-story industrial building on 6.69 acres of land at 1355 California Circle and replace it with 206 townhomes and apartments.

The Milpitas Library is now the site of a pilot program launched by the Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) called "The Library of Things," which offers borrowers a chance to bring home items other than books.

After only one year on the Milpitas City Council, Hon Lien has jumped into the November 2024 mayor's race because she wants to bring stronger leadership to city hall.

Milpitas has until the end of the year to adjust its cannabis bans to comply with a new state law. A law signed in 2022 will stop cities from banning the delivery of medical cannabis within their municipalities starting in January.

Current Milpitas City Council member and former Milpitas Unified School District board member Hon Lien has announced she is running for mayor.

Former Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran, 38, is vying for his old office in the November 2024 election.

Ned Thomas was appointed as Milpitas’ new city manager. The Beat sat down with Thomas for an in-depth interview to discuss his current priorities, as well as some of his experiences working for the city.

Milpitas needs to find ways to build more affordable housing and preserve what it already has, according to housing advocates and policymakers who discussed the city's affordable housing stock at a Thursday panel, sponsored by Authority and hosted by San José Spotlight.

Milpitas’ Pickleball Pilot Program has been using half of the tennis courts at Hall Park, and a large community of Hall Park tennis players are now fighting to save their tennis courts from being permanently converted.