View of Laguna Seca, located in North Coyote Valley. Photo Credit: Open Space Authority
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Dear District 2 neighbors,
I am so proud that we are a part of this historic moment. 937 acres of North Coyote Valley will be preserved and protected from development for generations to come.
Where is Coyote Valley?
If you walk, bike, drive, or travel along 101 South between South San Jose and Morgan Hill -- around Bailey Avenue and Santa Teresa Boulevard -- look to your right. That green, undeveloped open space you see is part of Coyote Valley: San Jose's natural treasure.
Why did we purchase North Coyote Valley and why are we protecting it?
On Wednesday, November 6, 2019 the San Jose City Council unanimously approved $46 million in city funds (from voter-approved Measure T) to acquire and protect North Coyote Valley. Additional funding to complete the $93 million sale of North Coyote Valley came from the support of our environmental partners:
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST)
and
Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (OSA)
. This sale is the largest municipal investment in natural infrastructure in California's history.
This landmark deal is the start of a new future for Coyote Valley — one that aligns with our promise to San Jose voters and ensures opportunities for preserved wildlife habitat, recreational trails, restored natural flood control and clean drinking water.
Recognizing the important benefits that nature provides our communities, this innovative and unique public-private partnership focuses efforts on the protection of Coyote Valley’s vital natural infrastructure to benefit nature and people. We are connecting the San Jose community to the land soon so that we may all create a shared vision for our open space. Our hope is to provide public tours and other opportunities for residents to experience the irreplaceable land for themselves.
Thank you fellow Councilmembers, Mayor Liccardo, City staff, Open Space Authority, Peninsula Open Space Trust, community advocacy organizations, landowners, residents, and everyone involved in this massive preservation effort and significant victory.
As City leaders coming from various backgrounds and different perspectives, we don't always agree on everything -- but I am thankful each and every one of us fully supports protecting Coyote Valley.
Click here
to read more about the history of Coyote Valley and how we got here.
Visit news article links below for more information about how the sale of Coyote Valley impacts our City's future:
This victory in protecting Coyote Valley is just one of the accomplishments we are working towards. My team and I look forward to seeing you in the community and collaborating with you. Together, let's continue making our slice of San José a wonderful place to live, work, and play.
In community,
Sergio Jimenez
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View photos below from the North Coyote Valley Press Conference on Wednesday, November 6, 2019
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CONNECT. ENGAGE. BE INFORMED.
#SJD2
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D2 News: Updates & Accomplishments
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Chatting with inquisitive, eager students about how they can influence their community
I started off my morning with the most energetic, curious group of young constituents at Ledesma Elementary School. They cheered when I told them that as San Jose District 2 residents, THEY are my boss.
They asked, "What do you do to make San Jose a better place?" I answered, "Some of the things we've achieved at City Hall during my term include: Protecting open space and natural resources in Coyote Valley for the benefit of the public, dedicating money to upgrade the roads we all drive on, building homes to provide shelter for those living on the streets, and ensuring our public safety officers are well-resourced."
My (unsolicited) advice to them? Listen to your teachers, obey your parents, take a break from Fortnite to read a new book, and always remember that you are the future of our city.
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Dumpster Days help keep junk off our streets
Thank you staff, residents, and everyone who came out to take part in our Palmia Neighborhood Dumpster Day. This is just one of the community beautification events I host to help us achieve
#D2CleanStreets
. A special thanks to Sharad Gupta, president of the Oakridge Palmia Residents Neighborhood Association!
This summer was a monumental one for the Oakridge Palmia Residents Neighborhood (OPRNA) — they hosted their first Neighborhood Association Meeting! If you live within the areas of Cottle/Santa Teresa/Lean/HWY85 (850+ Households and Palm Valley Communities Apartments), and would like to lead or be involved in your community, please contact OPRNA to learn how to get involved and join their next meeting at Santa Teresa Library:
contact@oprna.org
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Housing Updates: My efforts and proposals towards more equitable, affordable housing for everyone in San Jose
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 was “Housing Day” at City Hall. My colleagues on the San Jose City Council and I debated
Bridge Housing Communities (BHC), development fees, the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO), the Ellis Act, and the Downtown Residential High-Rise Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Fee
. I voted to explore additional solutions to address homelessness, protect affordable housing, and fight fee reductions for wealthy developers. I authored several memoranda that were accepted by the Council.
Bridge Housing Communities (BHC)
First, we approved continued work on Bridge Housing Communities, and I am grateful that my recommendations for zoning changes will be brought before the Rules Committee at a later date. I proposed that we modify our zoning code to facilitate and streamline both emergency shelter and transitional housing within San Jose. San Jose is a city with over 180 square miles of land. We can easily find locations to house our most vulnerable residents within our borders. Only by reducing regulatory barriers, including those in our own zoning code, will we be able to meaningfully increase the creation of emergency shelter beds, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing.
View my memorandum on this topic:
4.1 Status of the Lease Negotiations with Caltrans for a Bridge Housing Community
.
Development fees
Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO)
Our City’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO) is one of the few tools we have to build mixed-income residential development and create more diverse, integrated communities. We should be doing everything possible to build housing for people of all incomes and make the inclusionary housing policy work as it was intended. The Council approved several modifications to the IHO intended to increase affordable units and spur development.
View my memorandum on this topic:
4.4 Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Proposed Revisions
.
Ellis Act
Some of my colleagues and I fought hard to preserve our City’s Ellis Act, which mandates that rent-controlled apartments remain affordable after they are redeveloped. It is unfortunate that a small majority of Councilmembers chose to ignore the compelling testimony of dozens of residents and voted to weaken the Ellis Act. This narrow majority caved to the will of developers and significantly reduced the number of rent-controlled units required in redevelopment.
Downtown Residential High-Rise Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Fee
Lastly, in keeping with my opposition to fee and tax reductions I voted not to approve a waiver of affordable housing fees for downtown high rises. Unfortunately, the same narrow majority of Councilmembers chose to continue with giveaways to developers, and this item passed on a six to five vote. Though the Council meeting did not go exactly as I had hoped, I promise to continue fighting for solutions to our housing crisis that put residents first.
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Emergency? Text to 9-1-1 is now available in Santa Clara County!
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Information and FAQ's on the City's website about Broadband Strategy and Small Cell Deployment:
sanjoseca.gov/smallcell
Contact AT&T for information about small cell projects:
1-800-678-1169 Ext. 2084
For your information: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) preempts cities from denying any small cell permit based on the environmental effects of radio frequencies under Section 332(c)(7) of the Communications Act. To learn more, please see the FAQ's on the City website:
sanjoseca.gov/smallcell
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A Look at More Community Stories
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Honored that my seat at the Veterans Day Parade through downtown San Jose gave me a special view of our diverse, patriotic community. We celebrate, honor, and thank all the men and women who serve or have served our country. We are indebted to your service.
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I spent a Monday evening with our neighborhood leaders at the District 2 Neighborhood Leadership Council. The NLC is a group of Neighborhood Association leaders from various areas of South San Jose who meet to collaborate and share ideas, as well as work with my District 2 Office to improve our community and City. All District 2 residents are invited to attend and receive community updates.
Visit my website to learn more.
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D2 and You: Upcoming Events
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Click on the flyers below for more information.
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Will you be joining us? PLEASE RSVP AT
bit.ly/D2RSVP2019
SO THAT WE MAY BEST ACCOMMODATE ALL GUESTS! Thank you.
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Bay Area Older Adults is a nonprofit that improves the health of adults age 50+. We trek on nature trails, learn about different cultures, explore historic sites, experience new culinary flavors and connect people. Visit
www.bayareaolderadults.org
to learn more.
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#DACA recipients, like all immigrants, built their lives here. They contribute to our communities and our country’s economy every day. I am proud to stand with the hundreds of thousands of #DACA recipients who call this nation home. Join us #HomeIsHere. On November 12th, #SCOTUS heard oral arguments over the legality of the termination of the #DACA program. #DACA recipients make tremendous contributions to communities across our nation every single day. They too deserve to live with dignity and safety. Visit
homeishere.us
to learn more.
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Apply to the Measure T Community Oversight Committee
On November 6, 2018, City of San José voters approved Measure T, with 71% support. Measure T will raise $650 million to finance the cost of land or improvement of land for projects that will upgrade public safety facilities to improve emergency and disaster response, repair deteriorating bridges vulnerable to earthquakes, repave streets and potholes in the worst condition, prevent flooding and water contamination including the acquisition of land in the Coyote Valley for these purposes, and repair critical infrastructure.
The
Measure T Community Oversight Committee
serves as an advisory committee to the City Council, meeting at least once a year with responsibilities to include the following: 1. Review the expenditure of Measure T funds to ascertain consistency with the voter approved purposes for the funds; 2. In connection with the review of Measure T expenditures, review and forward to the City Council an audit of the Measure T Bonds Financial Statements for the fiscal year ending June 30th as well as the Director of Finance’s annual report on the amount of Bonds issued and the amount of ad valorem tax collected for each prior fiscal year ending June 30th; and 3. Review the status of projects funded with Measure T funds and forward a status report on the pending Measure T projects to the City Council.
The Measure T Community Oversight Committee is to be comprised of fifteen members, with each member nominated pursuant to San José Municipal Code 2.08.180, as may be amended. Each Councilmember shall recommend one Committee member who is a resident of the district of the nominating Council Office. The Mayor shall recommend five members as citywide representatives, with each member possessing subject matter expertise in one of the following fields: public safety, environmental issues, labor, business, and finance or accounting. Each of the nominations shall be considered by the full Council for formal appointment. Nominees must be residents of San José. Nominees possessing subject matter expertise in the fields of emergency and disaster response, public safety, finance, and/or transportation is highly desirable.
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The law requires landlords to consider all applicants who have an ability to pay, and to treat all applicants equally throughout the applicant-screening process. The ordinance is intended to expand housing opportunities for voucher holders, many of whom have previously faced discrimination.
The ordinance specifically prohibits the following:
· Advertising that housing vouchers are not accepted for a rental property;
· Assessing a rental applicant's ability to pay based on an amount greater than the portion of rent to be paid by the applicant; and
· Imposing rental terms on voucher holders that differ from terms for rental applicants who do not use housing vouchers.
The ordinance applies to all rental properties in San José. The only exemption is a single-family home when the landlord lives in the home.
If you have any questions about the Housing Payment Equality Ordinance, you may contact the San José Housing Department at 408-975-4480.
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Apply for grants to support 2020 Census education and outreach! Deadline:
November 26, 2019, 11:59 p.m.
The
Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF)
in partnership with the County of Santa Clara announces a grant program to support 2020 Census education and outreach efforts. SVCF will award grants to nonprofit organizations engaging in education and outreach to hard-to-count communities in the County of Santa Clara. Grant applications should include specific target populations and plans to educate and encourage participation in the census. Examples of activities that will be funded include:
- Person-to-person outreach: door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, event tabling, educational forums and other activities to directly encourage household participation in the census.
- Social media, email, text and/or media outreach: Social media campaigns, texting and email campaigns, earned media, paid media with a focus on ethnic audiences.
- Technical assistance: The establishment and management of Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs) that will provide in language support and assistance to individuals who need help completing the census questionnaire.
Key Dates
November 8, 2019:
RFP Info Session: County of Santa Clara Census 2020 Interested applicants are invited to participate in the information session, available in-person, via webinar (WebEx), and to recorded and post online. To register,
click here
.
November 26, 2019, 11:59 p.m.:
Proposal submission deadline
January 2020:
Announcement of grant awards
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What you need to know about PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs
This summer and fall, PG&E can de-energize (or shut off) power to their distribution and transmission lines to prevent their equipment from starting wildfires, also called PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).
The City of San José has formed a task force with the Office of Emergency Management, Community Energy Department, Fire, Public Works, and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services to prepare for PSPS events, assess and plan City response during an event, and coordinate with PG&E, the County of Santa Clara, and other stakeholders.
One or more PSPS events
could happen in San José
, and power outages could last
seven days
. Public Works is coordinating with departments to determine their backup power needs and capacity.
In the meantime, here is what you need to know about preparing yourself and your family for a multi-day power outage.
Why San José could be affected
Even though much of San José is urban, parts or all of the city could be affected because transmission and distribution lines powering San José are located in areas the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has designated as extreme and elevated fire-threat. In addition, if high voltage transmission lines are de-energized, the interconnected nature of the grid could result in a cascading effect that causes other transmission lines and distribution lines – potentially far from the original fire-risk areas – to also be de-energized, potentially resulting in a
regional
power outage.
Learn how to sign up to receive power shutoff notifications from PG&E or make sure your contact info is up-to-date:
Visit www.pge.com/psps or
Call PG&E at 1-866-743-6589
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How you can help keep our community safe and clean
See blight or homelessness in your neighborhood or around San José? Report it to the appropriate agency. All reporting is tracked at each agency and forwarded to the appropriate response team for action.
Union Pacific
(usually the property around the railroad tracks)
1-888-877-7267
Submit complaints regarding the Union Pacific Railroad to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Complaints regarding train noise or encampments can be submitted to their office directly by constituents either by sending an email to
r7_gx@dot.gov
or by phone to 916-414-2315.
Caltrans
(usually property surrounding / adjacent to freeways and highways)
Fill out a Maintenance Service Request (MSR): https://csr.dot.ca.gov/
Homeless Concerns
(on City of San Jose property)
408-975-1440
MySanJose App
- request services on City property
408-535-3500
Download the app to your smartphone!
Schedule a FREE Large Item pick up
, right in front of your home
Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office for support in contacting these agencies and departments:
(408) 535-4902 |
District2@sanjoseca.gov
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Need to report abandoned vehicles, street light outages, and more? Use
MySanJose: Our quick & easy tool to request City services
Want to get that pothole or street light fixed? Need to report graffiti, illegal dumping or an abandoned vehicle? Have a different question for the City? With the new state-of-the-art MySanJose
app
and
website
, it is now a breeze to file and track a City service request or reach one of our customer representatives. It is super easy to use – see our zippy
tutorial
.
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Please don't leave your large items on the side of the road. It's easy &
FREE
to get rid of your junk!
San José residents can
schedule FREE appointments
to have large items (such as mattresses, sofas, refrigerators, tires, and
more
) picked up by their recycling collection company.
Thank you for keeping our City clean and combating illegal dumping!
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Students, get involved! My District 2 Team is looking for interns!
Join our team and make a difference in the community! The Office of Councilmember Sergio Jimenez welcomes college or graduate school students interested community engagement, public service, policy research, and local government to apply for our District 2 Internship.
This unpaid internship provides students with an immersive experience in day-to-day operations of a City Council office that serves about 100,000 residents.
Student interns are expected to:
Communicate effectively with others
Adapt and work in a fast-paced environment
Have a willingness to learn and apply academic training to required job assignments
Commit a minimum of 15 hours per week
How to apply:
To be considered for the District 2 Internship, please:
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Get involved: District 2 Neighborhood Associations
Neighborhood Associations (N.A.s) are groups of community members who meet and collaborate to work towards common goals such as: beautification/clean-up efforts, safety enhancements, and social events. N.A.s serve as a connection between the community and City Hall. We are here to support N.A.'s by providing direction, resources, grants, help with outreach, models for success, and more.
Sign up for N.A. Newsletters:
Reserving meeting space as an N.A.
As an established Neighborhood Association, you may reserve space for community use directly with Libraries and Community Centers in our District. As long as the meeting takes place during regular hours of operation, there is no charge to to your N.A.
If your event goes beyond the hours of operation, there is a charge for staffing. Our office is happy to accommodate
2 uses per N.A. per year for N.A.’s by paying for the staff time. Any additional uses outside of this would require your N.A. to cover the cost.
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Beyond San Jose: Get the latest news from your other elected officials
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In addition to the City Resources listed below, here are City contacts for common resident concerns. We encourage you to copy (CC)
District2@sanjoseca.gov when you submit a report to these addresses:
Request pavement maintenance and pothole repair, median landscaping, and clean-up of illegal dumping on streets and sidewalks
Report burned out bulbs and other street light damage
Report problems with signs, street markings, and striping on roadway to improve traffic safety
Contact the City Arborist
Report safety concerns related to street trees and sidewalk damage
Request bicycle, pedestrian, and traffic safety improvements in your neighborhood
Report traffic flow problems and request traffic signal adjustments
Report encampments and vehicle dwelling
Report parking violations and abandoned vehicles
Report illegal dumping
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Sergio's Office Hours
Office Hours are a time to come ask questions, share concerns, or simply have a conversation.
Meetings are first come first serve
, and time may be limited to 15 minutes per person depending on the number of attendees.
My next Office Hours will be:
Monday, November 18
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Santa Teresa Library, Study Room B
Saturday, December 7
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Edenvale Library, Study Room B
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City Resources
Speak with a live Customer Service Representative (408) 535-3500
Additional Resources:
(408) 975-1440
(408) 535-7770
(408) 534-2900
(408) 793-5510
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JOIN US IN THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND TO
CONNECT, ENGAGE, AND BE INFORMED.
#SJD2
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San José District 2 | Office of Councilmember Sergio Jimenez
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