d4sanjose.com • (408) 535-4904 • district4@sanjoseca.gov

Berryessa Art Festival This Weekend!

More than 100 arts and crafts vendors, service providers, food trucks, live musicians and wine will draw thousands from around the South Bay to Penitencia Creek Park, Saturday May 11th for the 47^th Annual Berryessa Art Festival!

This longstanding Berryessa tradition is the neighborhood’s biggest event of the year and a major fundraiser for the Berryessa Education Foundation, benefitting Berryessa Union School District programs.

This year’s festival is expected to be one of the biggest and best! We'll see you there!

Check out our video from last year's Berryessa Art Festival!

Shop and explore this incredible list of vendors for this year's BeArt!

This is the second year the District 4 Council Office is providing major funding and coordinating the festival. Contact District 4 Community Relations Liaison Angela Pedrigal to volunteer for the festival on Saturday, at angela.pedrigal@sanjoseca.gov or at 408-535-4904.

You're Invited! Budget Town Hall with Mayor Matt Mahan and Councilmember Cohen

We want to hear from you! Join me and Mayor Mahan for a Budget Town Hall, Monday, May 13th at 7pm at Berryessa Community Center. Learn about the City of San Jose’s 2024-2025 operating budget and give us feedback for us to consider as we craft the final budget in June. Hosted by BCAC.

• Monday, May 13th
• Starting at 7:00PM
• Berryessa Community Center (3050 Berryessa Road)

Please RSVP to join the Mayor's Office, Councilmember Cohen, and the Berryessa Citizens Advisory Council for the District 4 Community Budget Townhall!

2024-2025 Budget Discussions Underway

For the first time in over a decade, San Jose faces a significant budget shortfall in the next few years. The structural deficit for 2024-25 is estimated at $4.5 million. Next year (2025-26), the deficit increases to $37.6 million. In addition to this structural shortfall, issues linked to homelessness and our stormwater permit require us to find an additional $50 million. So this year's budget requires some significant belt tightening and creativity. The City's Budget Office has come forward with a very responsible proposed budget based on direction given by the Mayor and Council in the March Budget Message. In addition to balancing this year's budget, we are able to set aside $20 million to apply toward the 2025-26 deficit.

General Fund Forecast

In February 2024, the Administration released the 2024-2025 City Manager’s Budget Request and 2025-2029 Five-Year Forecast and Revenue Projections document to estimate the budget condition of the General Fund and selected Capital Funds over the next five years. The Forecast initially anticipated an ongoing shortfall of $3.6 million in 2024-2025. That shortfall has been revised slightly downward to $4.5 million due to a number of factors, including corrections to personal services costs within the Base Budget and minor revisions to several revenue categories.

Table 3 below displays the incremental General Fund shortfalls estimated over the next five years. It is important to note that the shortfall anticipated in 2025-2026 assumes that the $4.5 million shortfall for 2024-2025 is fully resolved with ongoing solutions. Any portion of a shortfall not fully resolved would be carried over to the following year.

Naturally, a $5.3 Billion budget for a city of nearly a million people is going to be very dense and complicated. It can be difficult for anyone to navigate and understand. In this week's newsletter we'll dip our toes in the pool, with some links to deep dives, for those readers interested in the more granular details.

City Manager's Budget Message

Budget Guide

• Annual Budget Process
• Capital Programs by City Service Area
• Capital Budget Guide
• Fund Descriptions
• Glossary of Terms
• Acronyms Index

Summary Information

• Total City Source and Use of Funds (Table)
• Summary of Transfers, Loans, and Contributions (Table)
• Summary of General Fund Sources (Graph and Table)
• Summary of General Fund Uses (Graph and Table)
• Summary of General Fund Uses by Category (Graph and Table)
• Summary of Total Staffing by Department (Graph and Table)

Budget Policies and Practices

• Budget Policies
• City Service Area Policy Framework
• Significant Accounting Practices

General Fund Revenue 

• General Fund Revenue Overview
• General Fund Revenue Estimates
• General Fund Revenue Descriptions

This presentation offers a detailed look at the city's $5.3 billion budget, exploring fund breakdowns, allocation analysis, and the impact on services and employment. Understanding our financial landscape can optimize resource use and benefit the community.

General Funds: Primary revenue for daily city operations like safety, education, and infrastructure.

Special Funds: Designated for specific projects like capital improvements and public health programs.

Capital Funds: Long-term investments in infrastructure and equipment, vital for future development.

Budget Impact:

• Service Delivery: Directly affects services such as safety, healthcare, and education.
• Employment: Influences job availability across departments, with economic implications.

Financial Responsibility: Emphasizes transparency, public engagement, and compliance for effective resource use.

Optimizing Services:

• Adapting to changing community needs for efficient delivery.
• Strategic workforce planning for productivity and development.

Community Well-being:

• Supporting essential services and job opportunities.
• Fostering growth and sustainability through informed budgeting and planning.

Total Proposed Budget

The 2024-2025 Proposed Budget totals $5.3 billion for all City funds (General, Special, and Capital). This amount is $764.0 million (12.5%) less than the 2023-2024 Adopted Budget (Table 1 below). The Proposed Budget, however, does not yet include funds that will be rebudgeted and added to the final 2024-2025 Adopted Budget to complete multi-year projects. Once these rebudgets are included, the total amount of the budget will increase.

Budget Decision Milestones



City Council Study Sessions • May 8 -16

Public Hearings on 2024-2025 Proposed Budgets and Fees & Charges • May 14/June 10

2024-2025 Mayor’s June Budget Message Released • June 3

Council Review/Approval of the 2024- 2025 Mayor’s June Budget Message • June 11

Adoption of the 2024-2025 Capital and Operating Budgets, 2025-2029 CIP, and the 2024-2025 Fees & Charges • June 18

Budget Study Sessions Streamed on YouTube

Budget study sessions are taking place from May 8th through 16th. This video is from today's Study Session

Replay City Council Meeting May 7, 2024

Ask VTA: Active Transportation Public Q&A

Mass transit and human-powered transport like cycling, skating, etc, are very important elements of our sustainable future. Join VTA officials and partners for a public discussion on Active Transportation May 29th 6-7pm. See Vta.org/ask-vta for more info.

Join Valley Water Youth Commission

A Message from Dick Santos, Vice Chair, Valley Water Board of Directors:

I am excited to announce a free leadership opportunity for high school students in Santa Clara County. Valley Water is now accepting applications for the Youth Commission, an official board advisory committee made up of 21 high school students from all seven Valley Water districts.

The Youth Commission gives teens the chance to engage in local government and be the voice of youth in Santa Clara County.

I represent District 3, and I invite any high schoolers from my district interested in building leadership skills and serving their community to apply for this wonderful opportunity.

You can find more information about the Youth Commission, including the application and eligibility requirements at valleywater.org/youthcommission 

The application period closes Friday, May 24, at midnight. 

Please help us spread the word and share this opportunity with high schoolers who may be interested.

Stay safe and healthy.

Richard P. Santos 

Vice Chair, District 3 

Valley Water Board of Directors

(408) 234-7707

We Want To Hear From You!

Connect North San José is a two-year effort by the City of San José's Department of Transportation to create a Multimodal Transportation Improvement Plan (MTIP). This City values community opinions and intends to prioritize them in the plan. This process began in January 2024 and is expected to continue until mid-2025. The final plan will include short- and long-term transportation projects, guidelines, and programs that will aim to make North San José safer and easier to get around.

Please visit the project website to learn more about the project and discover community engagement opportunities.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities in D4

May:

Saturday, May 11^th - 47^th Berryessa Art Festival

• Date and time: Saturday, May 11^th 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Shifts available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
• Location: Penitencia Creek Park – behind Berryessa Community Center 3050 Berryessa Road
• Volunteers will get a meal!
• To sign up: https://forms.office.com/g/vDGdBqDwtG

Saturday, May 31^st – Multi-cultural Festival

• Date and time: Saturday, May 31^st 5 – 8 p.m.
• Location: Berryessa Youth Center, 1970 Morrill Ave, San Jose
• Shifts available: 
• 5-6pm: Set-Up
• 6-8pm: Booth support
• Description: Join us at the multi-cultural festival where we will have booths celebrating different cultures! 
• To sign up: Email Afia Laiq at afshaq@gmail.com

Alviso Park Community Day - May 25

May 25th! Community Day at Alviso Park is a wonderful opportunity to give back to your community and contribute to the well-being of our local environment. By signing up to volunteer, you can actively participate in the upkeep and maintenance of the park, ensuring that it remains a clean, safe, and enjoyable space for all visitors. Your dedication and support will not only make a positive impact on the park itself but also foster a sense of unity and pride within the community. Join us in this meaningful initiative and together, let's create a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.

Your Chance to Try an EV!

San José Clean Energy is hosting a Neighborhood EV Ride and Drive for residents of the Mayfair and surrounding neighborhoods. The event is an opportunity for community members to get behind the wheel and test drive electric cars.

Saturday, May 18 from 10am to 2pm

Emma Prusch Farm Park | 647 S King Rd, San Jose, CA 95116

RSVP (encouraged but not required): bit.ly/sjce-ev

• Test drive EVs in a no-sales environment. The opportunity to test drive an EV helps overcome one of the biggest barriers to adoption: unfamiliarity.

• Speak to representatives from non-profits and other community organizations about EV charging and incentives to save money on a new or used EV. Families with low to moderate incomes can save up to $16,000 on a used EV, while a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 is also available.

• Sign up for an “EV coach” to navigate incentives and more.

Free health and dental screenings from Bay Area Community Health, as well as MediCal and CalFresh enrollment services.

Get up to $4,000 Rebate When You Purchase a Used EV!

Great news! Driving an EV is now more affordable with the Pre-Owned Electric Vehicle Rebate program.

You may qualify for a rebate up to $4,000 on the purchase or lease of an eligible used, all-electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid EV.

Learn more »

From Silence To Action!

Come join us at San Jose City Hall's Meeting Room (NOT ROTUNDA) for an impactful panel discussion tackling the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People in our local area, and beyond.

We're uniting policy makers and community leaders, while centering survivors, to kickstart a dialogue aimed at addressing this urgent issue. Discover how you can actively contribute to your community and help shift from silence to meaningful action. Let's take steps forward together!

For more information

Teresa Gomez|teresagomez@ihcscv.org

SJPD Community Meeting at Berryessa Community Center May 15th

The San Jose Police Department is collaborating with an independent community consultant to enhance community engagement efforts. These consultants will be studying the department's current practices and will propose actionable steps to improve our community engagement efforts.

Join me and my staff, along with members of the Police Department and their consultants to discuss neighborhood issues, traffic safety, and more, May 15th at Berryessa Community Center, from 6:30 to 8:30pm.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, May 11th - 10:00 am-5:00 pm

Berryessa Art Festival

Penitencia Creek Park

3050 Berryessa Road

Monday, May 13th - 7:00 pm

Budget Town Hall with Mayor Matt Mahan

Berryessa Community Center

3050 Berryessa Road

Tuesday, May 14th - 1:30 pm

City Council Meeting - Afternoon Session

City Council Meeting - Evening Session 6:00 - 8:30 pm

San Jose City Hall

200 E. Santa Clara St.

Wednesday, May 15th - 6:30-8:30 pm

SJPD Community Meeting

Berryessa Community Center

3050 Berryessa Road

Free Junk Pick Up!

We could all use a little extra space around the house this time of year, if you've got junk and clutter in your garage or yard, take advantage of this great FREE service from the City of San José! Make an appointment to get rid of old appliances and furniture, mattresses, and more. It's easy, just fill out a short form online, move your stuff to the curb, and a truck will come and take it all away!

Let's Be Friends!

Get the latest from me and my staff on Instagram, Nextdoor, Facebook, and Twitter.

We post everything from emergency notifications and district specific updates to council meeting breakdowns and inside looks at life at City Hall. Got recommendations for businesses, schools, or local heroes we might want to highlight? Send us a DM!

We welcome all your feedback as comments on our posts, direct messages in our inbox, phone calls to the office. Click the links above or the icons below to connect with us.

Nominate a District 4 Star!

Our annual District 4 Stars Gala is our way of honoring members of our community who've worked hard to make a positive impact in District 4. Small businesses, public servants, local leaders, and more. If you know someone you think is a Star in District 4, nominate them by clicking the button below.

Easily Access City Services

San Jose 311 is your gateway to City Services from vehicle blight abatement, graffiti removal, reporting fireworks, illegal dumping, pot holes, and more.

click here to get started.

Rebates up to 90% for Your Building Upgrades!

Through the San José Energy Efficient Business Program, your business can receive rebates when you make certain energy-saving upgrades. These significant rebates (80-90% off!) help make the projects more affordable, and when you combine the rebates with your lower monthly energy costs, the upgrades can quickly pay for themselves.

click here to get started.