Screenshot: Norah Sheppard-Hutchins
Mayor Matt Mahan presents item 2.19 Consent Calendar: Increase the Maximum Administrative Penalities of the San José City Council meeting on Aug. 26 to the audience.
On Tuesday, Aug. 26, San José City Council announced several changes set to occur, including changes to the SAP Center and the city’s legal council.
The motion for the SAP Center to undergo nearly $425 million in renovation passed unanimously.
City of San José Director of Real Estate Kevin Ice, relayed that the center is no longer compliant with the National Hockey League regulations.
“We’ve had independent operators look at the facility,” Ice said. “It was concluded to take upward of 100 million just to bring the facility up to modern standards to better compete with arenas like the Chase Center for touring acts.”
This will be paid for by both the city and the Sharks, with the city expected to bond for $350 million. The Sharks are expected to contribute $100 million, with $25 million going towards the city for debt service.
The Sharks will use these finances to help fix major structural issues in the arena.
“There is significant deferred maintenance that needs to be addressed and in the plumbing, electrical, HVAC, technological, the TV media equipment needs an overhaul and the kitchens need to be expanded,” Ice said.
Renovations are set to take place over seven years during the San José Sharks offseason. There will need to be a new arena for the Sharks by 2051. In the upcoming two years, there will be searches for potential locations to prepare, according to Ice.
“This new arena location will anchor a district that includes other uses such as retail, restaurants, hotels, arts and cultural venues and other gathering spaces,” Ice said.
Among these changes discussed in the meeting, Mayor Matt Mahan announced the new San José city attorney, Susana Alcala Wood.
“I was struck through the process at how deeply she had thought about the role of municipal law in making people’s lives better,” Mahan said. “It’s clear (Wood) is motivated by a desire to serve the public and is really relationship driven.”
Wood was voted in unanimously following the retirement of the previous city attorney, Nora Frimann, who had served since 2020.
“I’m really excited to come work for all of you in this community,” Wood said.
Wood has worked as the City Attorney for Sacramento since 2018, taking on various facets of her municipal law practice, according to the City of Sacramento website.
According to Mahan, after many online and in-person interviews, background checks and written responses, Wood stood out the most.
Following this announcement, San Josè City Vice Mayor Pam Foley declared Aug. 25-31 as Silicon Valley Pride Week.
“Each year in San José we are proud to celebrate and recognize Pride twice,” Foley said. “Once in June with Pride month, and once in August for Silicon Pride.”
This comes as Silicon Valley Pride approaches its 50th annual celebration, according to the Silicon Valley Pride website.
Nicole Denson, the CEO of Silicon Valley Pride, is set to retire from her position at the end of the year.
“Fifty years remind us of the fight— reminds us of how unstoppable we have been and unstoppable we will continue to be,” Denson said.
Along with the deceleration of Silicon Valley Pride Week, District 5 Councilmember Peter Ortiz announced that Aug. 30 will be Lowrider Day.
“Lowriding tells the story of the Chicano community’s artistry and resilience, turning steel and chrome into symbols of identity, unity, and pride,” Ortiz said.
David Polanco, President of the United Lowrider Council of San José, explained the history behind Lowrider Day. Its emergence was in celebration of the City Council lifting the cruising ban in 2023.
“I never would’ve thought that we’d be doing this going into the third year of Low Rider Day— really the fourth time in front of City Hall,” Polanco said.
The United Lowrider Council of San José posted on Instagram that celebrations will take place from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at San José City Hall.
“Nationally and throughout the state of California, people would just look and see that collaboration between the city and the lowrider community and probably never thought it ever would happen,” Polanco said.