Who gets to sign off on ceremonial designations has shifted in Santa Clara.
At its Tuesday night meeting, the Santa Clara City Council changed how it designates proclamations and commendations. These designations are ceremonial, but a recommendation from the Governance and Ethics Commission saw the council changing the procedure relating to how it hands out such accolades.
Previously, such proclamations, recognitions or commendations lay solely under the mayor’s purview. But the change allows the rest of the council to weigh in on such ceremonial matters. Should the mayor deny a proclamation, recognition or commendations, the shift allows for council members to take a matter to the council.
Further, the change calls for the signature of all council members on any such designation.
“Looking at the comparisons to other cities, I think this is a very fair process,” said Vice Mayor Anthony Becker. “I think it is equitable.”
But not everyone agreed.
Council Member Kathy Watanabe bemoaned the loss of mayoral authority on the matter.
“I am disappointed because this city charter has been part of the city for the longest time, the policy has been a part of the city for the longest time and from my observation, over the last eight years, when there are events, people care about the mayor,” she said. “What’s been done here is just, once again, taking some of that — I don’t want to say power — but just that responsibility that the mayor represents to the city. I think it is just a shame.”
The council approved the change in a 6-1 vote, with Watanabe as the lone “no” vote.
Silicon Valley Power Goes out for bonds to Fund Big Projects
The council also approved the issuance of $143 million in bonds to fund expansion to Silicon Valley Power. Those bonds amount to the utility borrowing money against future earnings, allowing for the funding of more ambitious projects.
Silicon Valley Power hit a new peak of 750 megawatts in July.
Rebuilds at the Kifer and Scott receiving stations and an upgrade at the Northern receiving station made the bonds necessary. Both new and existing customers will fund the upgrades.
“Sales are expected to continue to increase and expected to double over the next 10 years,” said Manuel Pineda, chief electric utilities officer for Silicon Valley Power.
Annual debt service on the bonds is roughly $9 million, said Kenn Lee, the city’s finance director. Structuring the cost of such utility improvements over a long arc benefits the city, he added.
“It is advantageous to smooth that cost out over a period of time … to avoid any kind of sudden large rate increase to fund projects at one point in time. This allows for the spreading of cost over a 20-to-30-year period,” Lee said.
The council unanimously approved the issuance of the bonds.
Consent Calendar Spending
- A $491,998 in purchase orders with Lenco for armored vehicles and a BearCat Medevac G2 and to “other vendors” for “related system accessories and services.”
- A $483,000 purchase order with Municipal Maintenance Equipment, Inc. for a street sweeper for the public works department.
- A two-year $630,316 contract with dataVoice International Inc. for the purchase and implementation of an outage management system and interactive voice response system.
- An $8 million five-year contract with 10 companies — 4LEAF, Inc., BPR Consulting Group, The Code Group, Inc., CSG Consultants, Inc., Plan Review Consultants, Inc., Shums Coda Associates, Inc., TRB and Associates, Inc., True North Compliance Services, Inc., UpAvanti Inc. and West Coast Code Consultants, Inc — for plan check review, field inspection services and permitting support staff services.
- A $2,000 easement deed for an overhead electric aerial easement at San Tomas Aquino Creek.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1500 Warburton Ave. in Santa Clara.
Members of the public can participate in the City Council meetings on Zoom at https://santaclaraca.zoom.us/j/99706759306; Meeting ID: 997-0675-9306 or call 1 (669) 900-6833, via the City’s eComment (available during the meeting) or by email to PublicComment@santaclaraca.gov.
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