Editor’s Note: The Santa Clara City Council also spent an extensive time speaking about a recent article posted in the Los Angeles Times titled “Data Centers in Nvidia’s Hometown Stand Empty Awaiting Power.” The Weekly has consistently offered in-depth coverage of Silicon Valley Power and its efforts to supply data centers with the electricity they need. We will cover the issue discussed at the most recent city council meeting in a separate article.

A “clean zone” for Santa Clara’s 2026 big-ticket events will have to wait.

At its most recent meeting, Nov. 18, the Santa Clara City Council bounced back a proposed ordinance that would limit several activities in the areas surrounding Levi’s Stadium for the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup games next year.

The zone, which is made up of most of the city’s northside, sought to prevent food vendors, illegal merchandise sale and unlicensed advertising.

Elizabeth Klotz, assistant city manager, told the council that the proposed “clean zone” would be “narrowly tailored,” event-specific, temporary and in a specific area. 

It would temporarily suspend vending permits, prohibit mobile vending, promotional giveaways and outdoor merchandise sales except by fixed businesses.

Rules for signs and advertising in fixed businesses would remain the same. The proposed rules would be largely complaint-driven. 

Additionally, tents, canopies and inflatables would require city approval, and for any parade, procession, march, race, or block event, organizers would need to secure a permit from the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD).

“This is a way to deter the activity, so we can keep our public sidewalks and public right-of-ways clear,” Klotz said.

The zone would be active for the Super Bowl, 8 a.m. Feb. 1 to 10 p.m. Feb. 10, and for FIFA, 8 a.m. June 12 to July 1. SCPD and code enforcement would be responsible for fielding complaints.

Klotz said the city would give businesses advanced notice through email, social media and the city site. Further, the city would conduct targeted outreach to vendors and coordinate with the chamber of commerce and hotels.

However, many council members disliked aspects of the proposed ordinance, specifically the size of the area.

“The way it’s written doesn’t make sense,” said Mayor Lisa Gillmor. “We’re basically telling other cities ‘you are going to benefit, but our entire northside is not’ … Some of this makes zero sense.” 

Gillmor asked whether the area’s scope was necessary for public safety.

Police Chief Cory Morgan told her that, in some of the more residential regions of the zone, it wasn’t.

Vice Mayor Kelly Cox joined Gillmor in decrying the impact on residents.

“I would like staff to tell me if they can name a safety-related event that was caused at Levi’s that was caused by temporary signage, window advertising, coupons, or tents,” she said. “If we are looking at what’s best for our residents — stuff like that — giving away coupons, maximizing benefit at something like this is what we told our public this would be about.”

Many worried how the city would be able to enforce the zone.

Klotz told the city council that the city would need to pay for enforcement out of pocket.

Council Member Kevin Park said he saw a “purpose” in limiting commercial activity but thought the language needed to be “tightened.”

Hearing the council’s feedback, City Manager Jovan Grogan suggested the council direct city employees to rework the ordinance and return to the council at its first meeting in December. That motion passed unanimously.

Townhome Development to Get Gas Stoves

The council also approved allowing a 22-townhome development to install gas stoves. The developer, SCS Development, intends to have electric hookups for tenants of the single-family homes, located at 1957 Pruneridge Ave., but wanted to amend the plans to make the default gas.

Steve Schott, president of SCS, said having gas stoves would increase marketability as well as provide cooking options during power outages.

The development would institute a transportation demand management (TDM) to offset the stoves’ emissions. 

Afshan Hamid, community development director, told the council that the city is in the process of updating its reach code to allow developers more flexibility in how they offset emissions. 

The change became necessary because the developer originally billed the project as all-electric because of a Berkley lawsuit that sought to outlaw gas appliances.

Schott said whether that case would get appealed to a higher court was unknown at the time. Since that window has closed, he said the company would like to give buyers the option. 

Models are already under construction on the 2.47-acre site.

Council Member Suds Jain dissented, and Gillmor recused herself.

Consent Calendar Spending

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

• A three-year, $750,000 agreement with Cascade Energy, a third-party efficiency and electrification solutions, for industrials program.
• A 9.5-year, $717,644 agreement with NeoGov for an applicant tracking system and related software subscription services. 
• A five-year, $2.93 million agreement with TRC Solutions, Inc. for electrification rebates and incentive program services.
• A three-year, $1.59 million agreement with Utility Data Contractors for upgrade services to Silicon Valley Power’s geographic information system.
• A $4.81 million agreement with Suarez & Munoz Construction, Inc. for playground rehabilitation at Henry Schmidt Park.
• $2.7 million in purchase orders to Fire-Dex, LION First Responder, L.N. Curtis, Ricochet Manufacturing Company for personal protective equipment for the fire department.
• A $419,641 amendment to a contract with Schaaf & Wheeler Consulting Civil Engineers for the Bowers Avenue underpass storm drain pump station.
• A five-year, $4.1 million contract extension with Accela, Inc. for land management software.
• A $24,000 amendment to a sprinkler system contract with Everon. Total contract amount: $252,000.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 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:
City Defers Developer Impact Fees In Hopes Of Bolstering Housing Stock
Community Events For FIFA And Super Bowl Get Santa Clara City Council Thumbs-up
Santa Clara Council Approves Amendment To BART Extension