Despite overwhelming public support to have the city’s July 4 celebration return to Central Park, the Santa Clara City Council opted to keep the event at Mission College.
At its most recent meeting Feb. 10, the council considered where to have the celebration in light of construction at the park that greatly hinders the city’s ability to host the event.
Several council members worried about logistics, such as parking and traffic as well as its proximity to the city’s last FIFA World Cup game July 1.
“I know that the neighborhoods have always been jammed with people parking on the streets, parking in people’s driveways, blocking our driveways, blocking the streets,” Council Member Kevin Park said. “If we don’t have the parking, if we don’t have the other essential elements resolved, if we don’t have those, this could be a worse experience for everyone. I think there is more to consider than just where it is.”
Kim Castro, the city’s recreation manager, presented three options. The first was to have an evening event, complete with fireworks. The second was a city picnic during the day. The third was to continue having the event at Mission College, 3000 Mission College Blvd., as it has for the past two years.
A community survey of more than 400 residents showed overwhelming support for the night event at Central Park, with more than half saying it was the most important thing to them.
Council Member Kelly Cox and Mayor Lisa Gillmor opposed holding the event at Mission College.
While there was nothing wrong with the fireworks show at Mission College, both said it was more of a “regional event.” Cox said it lacked the “heart” of a community event that lost the “family feel.”
Gillmor and Cox both lamented the council going against clear public sentiment.
“This is kind of a slap in the face, saying ‘you’ve said what you wanted. We are going to do something different’,” she said.
The difference in cost between the two options is roughly $100,000, with a city fireworks event in Central Park costing $254,100 and the event at Mission College costing $154,000.
Castro said the city has $66,000 earmarked for such events and anticipates another $146,000 in grants and sponsorships before July 4.
Cox and Gillmor dissented.
Library Plans Future
The council also approved two plans for its libraries.
City Manager Jovan Grogan described the strategic plan as the programs the library offers, while its master plan details the infrastructure needed to enable those programs.
Patty Wong, the city’s librarian, told the council that the three-year strategic plan focuses on a few pillar ideas. Among those was greater access. That includes expanding library hours and offering after-hours access to community rooms.
Through partnerships, marketing, strengthening services and improving capacity, Wong said the library is placing an emphasis on “forward thinking.”
“We can’t be everything to everyone, but we can develop our role as a community resource,” she said. “We really need to take a good look at all the things that we do to make them operationally more efficient, but also to use technology in the best way possible.”
More support for the homeless and creating a public dashboard were also priorities.
Further, Wong said, the longer view of the 20-year master plan “dovetails nicely” with the city’s recent influx of bond measure money, roughly $9 million of which is earmarked for libraries. That money will likely go toward adding more community rooms, cafe enhancements and overall, just adding more public space, she said.
Moreover, Wong said, if the city grows at the expected rate, adding another library to the city’s northside will likely be necessary in the upcoming years.
The council approved the plans unanimously.
Ousted Vice Mayor Tees Off Publicly
Finally, the city’s former vice mayor showed up during public comments to decry the state of city hall.
Anthony Becker, who served as vice mayor until his perjury conviction last year, gave a lengthy indictment of his political enemies, namely Gillmor. He lobbed accusations of political assassination, saying many of the things that happened to him while serving on the council “haunt” him.
He said he “didn’t listen to the warnings” of how “hostile,” “insular” and “crooked” Santa Clara could be.
Becker said accountability is “lacking” in the city. Toward that end, he called for the council to investigate how information about the FIFA World Cup games showed up in the media despite supposedly being confidential.
“Investigate council members. Investigate staff. Investigate me,” he said. “Enough is enough … let’s put some accountability in this city.”
Old guard Santa Clara gadfly Deborah Bress called into the meeting, echoing some of Becker’s sentiments. She too pointed the finger at Gillmor.
“It is about time somebody looked under the kimono and start exposing the people that are cheating and lying and ripping off the people of Santa Clara,” she said.
Consent Calendar Spending
The council approved the following spending via the consent calendar:
- A $767,985 contract with Henkels & McCoy West for transmission line extension at the Laurelwood Substation.
- A $11.2 million contract with Par Western Line Contractors for expansion at the Juliette Substation.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 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
Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com
Previous City Council Meetings:
Santa Clara Council Passes Anti-ICE Policy
SVP Gives Bi-annual Report, Council to Discuss Opposing ICE at Super Bowl
Santa Clara Puts Bond Money to Work
Santa Clara Budget Surplus to Bolster Reserves
