REPORT TO NEIGHBORHOOD UNIVERSITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Introductory Meeting of the Restructured Neighborhood University Relations Committee
Report
BACKGROUND
On April 8, 2025 the City Council took action to restructure the Neighborhood University Relations Committee (NURC). The Committee is now comprised of seven members: two City Councilmembers; two members of Santa Clara University staff; one Santa Clara University student; one Old Quad resident; and one property owner/landlord representative. This restructuring was done with the goal of achieving a more inclusive Committee reflecting the diverse interests and promoting collaboration within the various interest groups and stakeholders in the community.
The Committee Member positions of Old Quad resident and property owner/landlord representative were subject to a recruitment process. The Old Quad resident committee member position is to represent the perspectives of residents who live adjacent to Santa Clara University. To be eligible, the Old Quad resident must reside within the boundaries of the Old Quad neighborhood. The property owner/landlord Committee representative is to represent the perspective of landlords who own rental property in the Old Quad. To be eligible, applicants must own or represent rental property within the Old Quad neighborhood.
The City Clerk’s Office (“CCO”) facilitated the recruitment for these two Committee member positions and accepted applications for both positions. On October 7, 2025, the City Council held interviews for both positions and appointed Shanfang “Jennifer” Zheng for the Committee member position of Old Quad resident and Collin Forgey for the position of property owner/landlord representative.
Santa Clara University has three Committee Member positions: two staff members; and one student. Santa Clara University has designated Sean Collins, Assistant Vice President for University Operations and Steve Ross, Assistant Dean of Students - Dean of Students Office as the two staff representatives and Shea Mulqueeney, Senior, Community Development Vice President - Associated Student Government as the student representative. On October 7, 2025, the City Council appointed the three Santa Clara University designees to the NURC.
DISCUSSION
At the October 20, 2025 NURC meeting, the Committee members will meet for the first time as the newly structured Committee.
The Committee members are as follows:
• Suds Jain, Santa Clara City Councilmember (Chair)
• Raj Chahal, Santa Clara City Councilmember
• Albert Gonzalez, Santa Clara City Councilmember (Alternate)
• Sean Collins, Assistant Vice President for University Operations, Santa Clara University staff
• Steve Ross, Assistant Dean of Students - Dean of Students Office, Santa Clara University staff
• Shea Mulqueeney, Senior, Community Development Vice President - Associated Student Government, Santa Clara University student
• Shanfang “Jennifer” Zheng, Old Quad Resident
• Collin Forgey, Property Owner/Landlord representative
Committee members will share why they were interested in serving on the Committee.
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(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no additional cost to the City other than administrative staff time and expense.
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 agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Note and file the staff report
Staff
Reviewed by: Reena Brilliot, Director of Economic Development & Sustainability
Approved by: Jovan Grogan, City Manager