MINUTES OF THE CITY
COUNCIL
The Council of the City of San Jose convened at 5:30 P.M. at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California to hear the Mayor’s 2001 State of the City Address.
PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chavez, Cortese, Dando, Diquisto, LeZotte, Reed, Shirakawa, Williams, Yeager; Gonzales
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE.
VACANT: DISTRICT 5
WELCOME
The Honorable Mike Honda, United States Representative, welcomed the assembly and called the Meeting to order.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
The audience stood to welcome the San Jose Police Department Color Guard and the Oak Grove High School Marching Band which played the National Anthem.
INVOCATION
Rabbi Raphael Lapin of Congregation Am Echad gave the Invocation.
COUNCIL SWEARING IN CEREMONY
City Clerk Patricia O’Hearn administered the Oath of Office to newly-seated Council Members Forrest Williams, District 2, Chuck Reed, District 4, Ken Yeager, District 6 and David Cortese, District 8.
GOOD
NEIGHBOR RECOGNITION AWARDS
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, via video, announced the 2001 Good Neighbor Recognition Award recipients. The honorees were asked to stand to be recognized following completion of the video.
Mayor Ron Gonzales
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Participants
Council District 1
Vicki Poulos, Lassen Friendship Garden
Council District 2
Boys and Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley
Council District 3
Walk San Jose
Council District 4
Coalition for Better Community
Council District 5
Dorsa Community Association
Council District 6
Willow Glen Business and Professional Association
Council District 7
West Evergreen Neighborhood Association
Council District 8
Bea Baechle, activist in the East Side Union High School District
Council District 9
Cambrian Community Council
Council District 10
Doris Dillon, Teacher and Librarian at
Graystone and Williams Elementary Schools
PRIDE
OF SAN JOSE AWARDS
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, via video, announced the 2001 Pride of San Jose Award recipients. The honorees were asked to stand to be recognized following completion of the video.
Christopher “Kip” Harkness
Community Services Supervisor
Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services
Jeanne Lofranco
Senior Analyst, Library
Juan Rodriguez
Parking Meter Technician
Streets and Traffic
Mitch Wisinski
Fire Engineer
Fire Department
Michelle Young
Associate Environmental Services Specialist
Environmental Services
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF SPONSORS
Congressman Mike Honda noted the generosity of sponsors Cisco Systems, GreenTeam of San Jose, Summerhill Homes, American Medical Response, Blackwell Brothers, Cellular One, Granite Rock Company, Great Oaks Water Company, Hayes Renaissance Conference Center, Legacy Partners, The Morley Hunter Group, Norcal Waste Systems, Otto Industries, Pacific Bell, Palm, Inc., and Robert J. Bettencourt, and extended a special thank you to those providing In-Kind donations to the event, Ampco Parking, City Year, Personal Telephone Answering Service, San Jose Conservation Corps, and Volume Services America.
INTRODUCTION
OF MAYOR RON GONZALES
Congressman
Honda introduced Mayor Ron Gonzales.
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
Documents Filed: (1) State of the City Address Program; and (2) Complete Text of “State of the City 2001.”
Mayor Gonzales thanked those in attendance and extended congratulations and warm wishes to those Council Members elected in November, 2000, Forrest Williams, Chuck Reed, Ken Yeager and David Cortese and the same to outgoing Council Members Charlotte Powers, Margie Matthews, Manny Diaz, Frank Fiscalini and Alice Woody for their many accomplishments during their terms in office. He thanked Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren for her participation in this evening’s activities via video, and the many teachers sharing the stage with him as he presented his State of the City Address.
Mayor Gonzales presented the State of the City Address and reported on progress made in many areas during his first two years in office. He emphasized the Council’s common goals for San Jose, building stronger neighborhoods, providing good services for the people, and securing the prosperity of the community. Mayor Gonzales referred to San Jose as a great city, one that listens and responds to it’s people, one to count on, one to be proud of and one that has a special character. He stated the City has been successful in several areas - 1000 new homes have been constructed in the downtown area, $10 million a year from the Healthy Neighborhoods Venture Fund is being used to meet the needs of children and seniors, the Redevelopment investment in neighborhoods has increased by 400 percent, four ballot measures were approved in November, 2000 affecting open space, traffic congestion, libraries and parks and a customer service call center was established at City Hall. Mayor Gonzales stated he will continue to concentrate on neighborhoods, safer streets, graffiti abatement, a nightlife and arts community for the downtown area, affordable housing, doubling the Future Teacher Scholarship Program and the Smart Start centers, and development of a Digital Divide Blueprint and a model program for San Jose employees to be screened for breast and prostate cancer. Mayor Gonzales welcomed and thanked Senator Dianne Feinstein who addressed the audience via video, and presented his seven point San Jose Smart Energy Plan which calls for a Silicon Valley Energy Summit to be held in March, identification of appropriate locations in the region for new power plants that will protect the economy and environment, creation of energy partnerships among cities, reduction of energy needs through vigorous conservation, expansion of the City’s model program for energy-efficient buildings, consideration of small, clean and green power plants that can be built faster and relieve demand on the power grid and which can be located in industrial areas, not residential neighborhoods, and the setting of clear predictable standards for clean local generation with a streamlined approval process for appropriate power projects.
CLOSING
Mayor Gonzales thanked the Honorable Mike Honda and the audience, extended an invitation to everyone to attend a reception on the concourse level and welcomed back the Oak Grove High School Band.
ADJOURNMENT
The 2001 State of the City Meeting adjourned at 7:10 P.M. to a reception on the concourse level.
RON GONZALES
MAYOR
ATTEST: PATRICIA L. O’HEARN, CITY CLERK