REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Waive Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2067 in Compliance with Measure R, Authorizing the Substantial Building, Construction, Reconstruction and/or Development of Warburton Park in Accordance with the Warburton Park Master Plan Update
Report
BACKGROUND
At the May 13, 2025 Council meeting, proposed Ordinance No. 2067 was passed for the purpose of publication. Pursuant to City Charter Sections 808 and 812, a summary of proposed Ordinance No. 2067 was published to the Santa Clara Weekly on May 21, 2025, and copies were posted in three public places.
DISCUSSION
The approval of an update to the Warburton Park Master Plan may be subject to Measure R. In November 2016, voters passed Measure R, which added Section 714.1 Protection of Parkland and Public Open Space to the City Charter. Measure R prohibits selling, leasing, or otherwise disposing of parkland for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days or more, and also prohibits its use from changing, being abandoned, or discontinued without such sale, lease, disposal or changed use having first been authorized or ratified by a two-thirds majority vote of the electorate during a general municipal election for that purpose. Measure R also prohibits changes in park use for over 180 days without a majority vote of the electorate and substantial building, construction, reconstruction, or development upon dedicated parkland except pursuant to ordinance subject to referendum. The referendum process is set forth in the Elections Code.
The proposed updated Master Plan for Warburton Park will include changes to the existing park that may be considered "substantial building, construction, reconstruction, and/or development." Therefore, approval of the Master Plan will require an ordinance to comply with Measure R.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered was determined by the Council to be categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pur...
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