On Thursday April 26, 2018, the BART Board of Directors voted 5-0 in support of the Single-Bore tunneling method. I, along with my colleagues on the VTA Board of Directors, voted in support of Single-Bore on April 5th, 2018, and I am ecstatic to see our two agencies working together to bring much needed public transit infrastructure to San José.

On April 16th, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) and my office hosted a community information meeting to discuss the application of Fumitoxin and other available options for squirrel abatement in Murdock Park. The park currently has an overpopulation of ground squirrels, with numbers expected to increase due to the impending breeding season. Squirrels cause significant damage to our park turf, trees, and cemented pathways. Staff’s evaluations show that trapping and relocation are not the most effective method for abatement. The application of Fumitoxin at this time will allow staff to maintain and employ less aggressive forms in the future.

We are postponing California Ground squirrel abatement at Murdock park until Murdock-Portal school is closed for the summer. To ensure the abatement is effective, treatments will take place several times in early summer. The goal is to ensure public safety and a quality park for all to enjoy. For questions, please contact Tori O’Reilly in PRNS at tori.o’[email protected] or David Gomez in my office at [email protected].

• ARO

  • Clarify that the pass-through of utility charges to tenants are not allowed (Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS) and other related methodologies)

  • Allow landlords that currently retain RUBS policies to petition for a one-time rent increase to offset losses in costs resulting from discontinuing RUBS

• TPO

  • Prohibit landlords from disclosing or threatening to disclose a tenant’s immigration or citizenship status to authorities with the intent of retaliation

  • Add “Criminal Activity” as a separate just-cause basis for eviction for tenants who are “held to answer” in a court of law for a serious or violent felony committed during tenancy within 1,000 feet of the premises

  • Other items to return to Council for further consideration

• Ellis Act

  • Subject redeveloped properties to a 50% re-control of ARO units

  • Allow an exemption of said requirements if 20% of new construction is voluntarily-restricted affordable rental housing built on-site.

    • 15% to meet the Inclusionary Ordinance

    • 5% to be restricted at 100% Area Median Income (AMI)

I was proud to have the Council accept my memo on the TPO to improve public safety within our communities. Often times, a community may be afraid to come forward and testify against a tenant that may be causing harm. The “Held to Answer” criminal activity provision gives communities another tool to address crime and improve their quality of life.