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
It seems like we had our first mini Mayoral debate between Councilmembers Raj Chahal and Karen Hardy on the topic of employee reviews. Raj’s amendment to Karen’s motion was a back and forth exchange that led Mayor Gillmor to ask what is going on here? While it ended in compromise between Raj and Karen it was a little strange. Is there tension?
Gillmor demanding transparency and records to World Cup and Super Bowl costs is a joke. Gillmor truly turns everything into a stadium crisis, something that she is responsible for. Her transparency crusade falls short when she fails to be transparent herself as former Councilmember Becker challenged her. Speaking of Becker, what was with the accusations about Teresa O’Neill. Why is Kevin Park’s political opponent at his divorce proceedings.
The end of the meeting spat between Mayor Gillmor and Councilmember Suds Jain suds was interesting to say the least. First Suds put forward his 030 for a sustainability manager which passed but ruffled Gillmor’s feathers where Gillmor said Reena Brillot is still there. Suds then pushed Gillmor further in her disagreement when Suds talked about his report on the Stadium Relation Committee that was formed. This is a committee Gillmor was always against since it contradicted her narratives. Suds mentioned all the delays to get the committee going then said that the only complaints received were more about parking not so much about litter or noise. Noise was always Gillmor and Kathy Watanabe’s go to narrative. Suds then referenced my public records request that talked about how there are only 22 emails over an eight year span for all the complaints Mayor Gillmor and Kathy Watanabe said they had received over the decade. Apparently they didn’t save one email or text with no backup. The exchange then turned when Gillmor said she needed to defend herself yet Suds fired back saying why none of these complaints and meetings are in her public records or in her calendar. What is interesting though whenever Gillmor looks to be losing an argument Glen Googins pops in to get everyone on track. This has been evident over the years in the city attorneys office from Brian Doyle, Steve Ngo and now Glen Googins. They only step in when Gillmor loses the argument and she needs the attorney’s help. Lastly, this is for commenter Peter Skinner on Robert Haugh’s blog. Yes, Gillmor spends way too much time on petty grievances that she accuses others of doing when they call her out. The public is very disgusted with the Mayor’s behavior meeting after meeting and it is no surprise that the spat ended up in the Gillmor Enquirer. Skinner is probably Lisa Gillmor herself or James Rowen.
For reference to the phony statements Gillmor and Watanabe have said they got stadium complaints over the years with not one to back them up. https://www.svvoice.com/letters/letter-to-the-editor-city-of-santa-clara-public-records-request-and-gillmor-watanabe-cry-wolf-over-stadium/. This is what Suds was referencing to the public record.