Council Approves FIFA Documents

Santa Clara’s mayor is dissatisfied with the specifications in the FIFA World Cup documents.

At the most recent meeting of the Santa Clara City Council Feb. 11, Mayor Lisa Gillmor told city employees she disliked how open-ended some of the contract parameters the city negotiated with the Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC) are.

The documents, released last week, insulate the city from costs associated with the six World Cup games Levi’s Stadium is set to host in 2026. Not only has the BAHC agreed to cover the costs, the 49ers, through an entity known as TeamCo, has agreed to pay for any costs the BAHC fails to cover.

Among Gillmor’s concerns was whether the agreements eroded what she called the “firewall” between the city and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority. She called the agreements “complicated and convoluted,” saying she would like a law firm to look them over.

Gillmor also took issue with whether the BAHC would pay for a suite and 52 tickets for Levi’s. The naming rights agreement requires that the city cover those costs. A $6-per-ticket surcharge, estimated to generate $2.16 million, will pay up to $200,000 of $1.6 million.

Further, Gillmor didn’t care for what she said was a vagueness surrounding what counts as a “qualified event cost.” She said she anticipated many disputes on expenses.

“The group paying the bills, the Bay Area Host Committee and TeamCo, should not be deciding what is acceptable and what isn’t to our general fund,” she said. “I am concerned about the city’s general fund … public funds are at risk for unreimbursed expenses.”

Estimates of how much planning leading up to the event have decreased to $11.4 million, a number Gillmor said she is skeptical will be enough to cover the games’ costs.

More than $20 million in field improvements to the field at Levi’s Stadium are slated to start Feb. 12 and see completion in June.

Vice Mayor Kelly Cox said her narrow experience on council made her apprehensive about the contracts, adding that she consulted her fellow law students and ChatGPT to better understand them.

City Manager Jovan Grogan said he was “shocked” by how guarded many of those the city negotiated with were, the biggest reason the contracts took so long to iron out.

“Santa Clara’s disputes with its partners, frankly, is legendary,” he said.

The rest of the council didn’t share Gillmor and Cox’s apprehension.

“I feel very comfortable. No contract is risk-free, to be very frank,” said Council Member Raj Chahal. “I feel confident in what this multiple year process has come to.”

In a 5-2 vote, the council approved the contracts. Cox and Gillmor dissented.

Consent Calendar Spending

The council approved the following spending in one motion via the consent calendar:

• A $400,000 purchase order with Cresco Equipment Rentals for equipment rental and services for Silicon Valley Power.
• A $600,000 increase to purchase orders with Pivot Interiors, Inc., other suppliers, and/or their authorized dealers for the purchase and installation of office cubicles and furniture. The contract total is now $1.2 million.
• Two amendments — one for $87,515 and another for $21,878 — to contracts with Lyngsoe Systems, Inc. for the automated materials handling system at the Central Library, including repair, maintenance and software subscription services. Contract totals are now $412,246 and $434,125.
• A $1.5 million amendment to a contract with Electrical Consultants, Inc. for system expansion planning. The contract total is now $3 million.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 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.

Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexnader@gmail.com