On November 8, the City Council will consider selling the Oakland A's an exclusive "option" to buy 5 acres of land in downtown San Jose to build a major league ballpark. The option agreement would give the A's two years to purchase the land, as the team awaits a decision from Major League Baseball on whether it can relocate to San Jose. Read the staff report 

 

"This deal is a great investment for San Jose," said Mayor Chuck Reed. "A $500 million privately financed, privately constructed and privately operated major league ballpark will provide the City with a new ongoing source of tax revenue, generate more than $100 million in annual economic activity, and create thousands of new jobs in San Jose."

 

The negotiated $7 million land price in the option agreement is based on the estimated value of the land when used as a major league ballpark site. While this price is considerably less than what the Redevelopment Agency paid for the land (due in part to the current recession), the City would more than recoup its investment since a downtown ballpark is expected to generate $3 million in annual tax revenue for the City, including $1.5 million to the General Fund (read the independent economic analysis). The A's would also pay $50,000 for the option itself.

 

The option agreement explicitly stipulates that the land must be used for a major league ballpark (the A's could not use the land to build anything else). Furthermore, a vote of the people would likely be necessary before the sale could be finalized.

On November 1, the City Council approved the Envision San Jose 2040 General Plan, a long-term plan and policy framework that guides the city's development in order to meet its social, economic, and environmental goals. Learn about the Draft Envision San Jose 2040 General Plan Update

 

A major element of the plan is accommodating up to 470,000 new jobs and achieving a 1.3:1 Jobs to Employed Resident (J/ER) ratio by 2040 (San Jose currently has a 0.86 J/ER ratio which is much lower than most other cities in Santa Clara County). Prioritizing the city's capacity for job growth is key to the city's long-term fiscal stability.

 

The updated plan also outlines goals to limit development within existing city streets, and sewer and utility areas; support "urban villages" near transit hubs, such as the Diridon Station Area near Downtown San Jose; and promote a more walkable and bicycle-friendly city.

 

"I would like to thank the Task Force members, our staff, and the thousands of community members who actively participated in this process over the past four and a half years for preparing a General Plan that best understands our values and hopes, addresses the opportunities and challenges of our time, and guides the future development of San Jose to achieve community priorities," Mayor Reed said.

The San Jose Public Library is proud to announce that it has received the 2011 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest national honor for libraries and museums.

 

The award is given to only 10 institutions each year and our city's library system is the first in California to receive the award. San Jose Public Library was selected for service to its diverse community, for outstanding and innovative educational programs, and for offering patrons with on-demand services and self-service options such as self-checkout machines and online account services. 

 

"We are extremely proud of our libraries here in San José and I'd like to thank the Institute for Museum and Library Services for this distinguished honor," said Mayor Chuck Reed. "This award is a testament to the many staff, volunteers and supporters who have helped San Jose libraries continue to provide excellent services during these tough budget times."

 

Learn more about the National Medal for Museum and Library Service