Just as with the Super Bowl earlier this year, Santa Clara will establish a special event zone for the FIFA World Cup.

Levi’s Stadium will host six games for the global soccer events starting June 13. 

As it did with Super Bowl LX, the city will limit commercial activity within a boundary of the stadium prior to the games.

“We want to support public safety. We want to make sure there is emergency access. We want to reduce crowding and congestion, and we also want to protect public health. We also want to manage our event impacts,” said Elizabeth Klotz, assistant city manager.

The special event zone will prevent people from selling counterfeit merchandise, vending on sidewalks and giveaways that could attract a crowd.

City Manager Jovan Grogan said the establishment of the boundary was informed by the city hosting the Super Bowl earlier this year. 

But Mayor Lisa Gillmor challenged who the agreement really protected. 

“Is this really for public safety or is this really for commercial purposes for FIFA to make sure they are only the really ones selling T-shirts out there?” Gillmor said.

Despite some back-and-forth, the council unanimously approved instituting the special event zone. 

Additional FIFA Action

On a similar note, the council also heard an update on the city’s policy regarding cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The city had previously established a ban on federal immigration officials conducting immigration enforcement on city-owned or city-operated land.

With the FIFA World Cup on the horizon, the city updated the council on its efforts to ensure immigration enforcement isn’t operating within the city. The policy doesn’t interfere with ICE executing lawful criminal warrants. 

Paulina Morales, assistant city manager, told the council that the policy establishes “clear directives” for how city employees will behave should ICE agents attempt enforcement during the World Cup.

She said that the city posted signs at 15 locations for the Super Bowl in February.

“This reinforces existing security procedures and ensures that access to restricted spaces is properly controlled and verified,” she said. “Together these components create a consistent, structured framework to guide employee action, support compliance with the policy and ensure clear communication to all city employees.”

The city intends to post know-your-rights materials throughout the city to inform immigrants. 

The policy empowers city officials to “verbally object,” but disallows them to “physically interject or obstruct” ICE and “to prevent escalation.”

Some saw the action as a step in the right direction.

Kimberly Woo, Services Immigrant Rise and Education Network (SIREN), said her organization supported the action but would also like to see stronger data protections for residents.

But not everyone agreed with the action. 

“This is ridiculous and empty,” said Claudia Daw. “It doesn’t do anything.” 

John Haggerty called the action “unwise, unnecessary and unconstitutional.”

Still, the council approved it in a unanimous vote.  

Consent Calendar Spending

The council approved the following spending via the consent calendar:

• A $200,000 contract with Joaquin County Fire Authority for municipal hazardous materials response services for the FIFA World Cup.
• A $918,401 increase to a contract with Innovative Interfaces, Inc. for hosting and maintenance of the integrated library system. The contract is now 11 years and $1.83 million.
• A two-year, $808,029 contract with Santa Clara County for mental health services. 
• Two $100,000 increases to contracts with Moveable, Inc. and Walk Talkin International for event planning and production service. Both contracts are now $350,000.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, 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.alexander@gmail.com

Previous Santa Clara City Council Meetings:
Council Nixes Proposal to Move City Hall to Former Oracle Site
Santa Clara Approves Bonds to Fund Below-Market Housing Project
Santa Clara Updates Fee Schedule