REPORT TO CULTURAL COMMISSION
Title
Action to Recommend a New Cultural Commission Member to Serve on the Station Area Task Force
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
Manage Strategically Our Workforce Capacity and Resources
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
The City received grant funds to prepare a Specific Plan for the Santa Clara Station Area. Preparation of the Specific Plan utilizes a consultant team, as well as City staff, to conduct a planning process that includes community engagement, technical analysis, and the preparation of land use policy documents.
The Santa Clara Station Focus Area consists of 244 acres generally bounded by De La Cruz Boulevard, Reed Street, and Martin Avenue to the northeast, and Franklin Street and El Camino Real to the southwest as shown in Attachment 1. At the center of this area is the existing Santa Clara Station, which is served by Caltrain and Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) rail lines and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus service. The station area will also become the terminus for VTA’s planned extension of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system also known as BART Silicon Valley Phase II (BART Phase II). BART Phase II is an approximately six-mile-long extension of the BART system from the Berryessa/North San Jose BART Station in San Jose to the proposed Santa Clara BART Station. As such, the Station Area will transform into an important transit hub for the Bay Area.
The Station Area Task Force (SATF) is part of the overall community engagement strategy, and its purpose is to provide input during the preparation of the Specific Plan. The SATF generally meets on the third Thursday of each month and consists of 11 members which includes a designated representative from the Cultural Commission.
DISCUSSION
At the Cultural Commission meeting on November 4, 2024, the Commission voted to appoint Chair Jonathan Mariano to the SATF. As of June 30, 2025, Jonathan Marinaro has completed his term on the Commission and is no longer eligible to serve as the Cultural Commission representative on the SATF. Consequently, the Community Development Department is requesting that the Commission identify a new representative.
The new Commission appointee will be expected to attend the monthly meetings held at City Hall and report to the Commission at the regular meetings. The SATF meetings start at 6:00 p.m. The new representative will be expected to review past meeting materials and potentially meet with staff to understand the role and responsibilities of the SATF. It is anticipated that the new representative will assume their responsibilities effective with the next meeting of the SATF which is scheduled for July 17, 2025, and will continue until the completion of the specific plan, targeted for the end of the 2026 calendar year.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Recommend that the Commission review the request from the Community Development Department and appoint a commissioner to serve on the Station Area Task Force.
Staff
Prepared by: Rebecca Bustos, Principal Planner, Community Development Department
Reviewed by: Kimberly Castro, Recreation Manager
Approved by: Damon Sparacino, Director Parks & Recreation
ATTACHMENTS
1. Santa Clara Station Area Boundary Map