REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Council Written Request (Council Policy 030) Submitted by Vice Mayor Jain Requesting to Place an Agenda Item at a Future Council Meeting to Discuss working with the Water District and any other agency with Jurisdiction to Widen the San Tomas Aquino Trail. The Discussion Should also include a Discussion of the Costs of a Study to Look at all the Opportunities for Widening the Trail and Associated Costs
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
Council Policy 030 - Adding an Item on the Agenda (Attachment 1) sets forth the procedure for written petitions. Any member of the public or Council may submit a written request raising any issue or item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Council. Per the policy, the written request will be submitted on the agenda, in the form substantially provided by the requestor, without any staff analysis, including fiscal review, legal review and policy review. If a simple majority of the City Council supports further study of the request, then a full staff analysis shall be prepared within thirty (30) days, unless otherwise directed by the City Council.
DISCUSSION
The City Clerk’s Office received a Council Written Request on June 8, 2022 from Vice Mayor Jain requesting to place an agenda item at a future council meeting to discuss working with the Water District and any other agency with jurisdiction to widen the San Tomas Aquino trail. The discussion should also include a discussion of the costs of a study to look at all the opportunities for widening the trail and associated costs. (Attachment 2)
In the request, Vice Mayor Jain states:
The San Tomas Aquino trail is very popular as a commuter route as well as for people recreating. I ride it frequently. Often there are groups of employees walking the trail at lunchtime. It is very difficult to walk side-by-side with all the other traffic on that trail. I expect that there would be fewer collisions were the trail to be widened and it would be a more pleasurable route.
At the June 7, 2022 City Council meeting, the Council approved a housing development project by Greystar adjacent to the trail and also approved to amend the General Plan to add a Future Freedom Circle Focus Area. It seems to me that as we develop adjacent to the creek trail, we should look at any opportunity to widen the trail
I would like to have a discussion on the City Council to discuss working with the Water District and any other agency with jurisdiction to widen the trail. The discussion should also include a discussion of the costs of a study to look at all the opportunities for widening the trail and associated costs.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with considering the request to be placed on a future agenda except for staff time.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project" within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes to the environment.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any report to Council may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Set a future Council meeting date to take action on the Written Petition received.
2. Take no action.
3. Any other City Council Action, as determined by the City Council.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff makes no recommendation.
Staff
Reviewed by: Nora Pimentel, Assistant City Clerk
Approved by: Rajeev Batra, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Policy and Procedure 030 - Adding an Item on the Agenda
2. Council Written Request dated June 8, 2022 submitted by Vice Mayor Jain