[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6610818,"mediaKeyId","2902099-f5a32959eed2432dc32ea7c1ecdeb149","parentId",2902099,"title","Council opens pathway for two Westbank mixed housing-and-data-center projects; requires housing start before full data-center operation","audioSeconds",2662,"startMs",7308000,"endMs",9970000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902099-f5a32959eed2432dc32ea7c1ecdeb149&start=7308&end=9970","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2902099-f5a32959eed2432dc32ea7c1ecdeb149/thumbnail_7308000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6610818/San-Jose/Santa-Clara-County/California/Council-opens-pathway-for-two-Westbank-mixed-housing-and-data-center-projects-requires-housing-start-before-full-data-center-operation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610818-abc5b239bd4b510d36137fed815a4d6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129351&Signature=I4npg0-GXQiaAfTpzE7qcoOSbZnzHXU6ysB3cP8o2hel1sw4b7TNKZPFWGNM9LYhhAdF7NnkyZ63hdPJJXXvigUWDHwODuVC0WEfvaerDQ5~3xrG-RSVkn6Fi-70386awH-8AuwX1aThsNsOB3~IeN4VmNry9K2fLC2rOVnL6mUhvhHaQ4op8QZ7tLCBSW3oc91Y66FUgpYH9Mk5XWhcIHKilgV-WdxVroOaGV7dUwnLpa4yEdQFKaJTtbtkCOOY2Qy~nbn6mkWW4NJVb125-S8pXszS~PxWgjPzJxiEIN2fuK38GVFo1U1dqATR31ZWU~gdALuWTmd6KQVSwYMkWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Jose CA","date","2025-04-08T23:20:07.113Z","article","The San Jose City Council on April 8 used an early-review process created last year to evaluate two Westbank proposals that pair data centers with residential towers in downtown San Jose and gave staff direction to proceed with tailored approvals if the projects meet conditions endorsed by council members.

Westbank representatives described the projects as a way to finance dense housing and district energy infrastructure by pairing residential towers with data centers whose waste heat can be reused for heating and hot water. \"We think housing is actually the most important thing for the AI economy,\" Andrew (Westbank) told the council and described district-energy examples built in Vancouver where waste heat powers nearby development.

Nut graf: Council supported advancing both project proposals through the new Innovative Project Pathway, but asked staff and the applicant to lock in public benefits: the multi-signature council memo accompanying consideration asks that residential construction begin on-site before the data center is permitted to operate, that staff explore dedicating a small percentage of future data-center revenue to arts, entertainment and cultural activation downtown, and that applicants provide robust ground-floor activation (beyond standalone public art) so the developments do not create \"dead zones.\"

The two projects reviewed are: the Terrain site (an entitled 18-story residential tower of about 345 units where Westbank proposes converting an office/garage element into an 11-story, roughly 680,000-square-foot data center) and the Valley Title site (a previously entitled commercial/office parcel where Westbank proposes three residential towers totaling about 1,100 units with an integrated 8-floor data center of roughly 330,000 square feet). Westbank presented renderings showing activated outdoor spaces, photovoltaic facades and plans to route waste heat to adjacent residential uses.

Staff said the Innovative Project Pathway allows the council to consider project-level trade-offs where a use (data center) would not ordinarily be a downtown priority but could unlock housing, district energy and fiscal benefits. The council additionally asked staff to craft approvals and conditions so the projects deliver the housing and district-energy benefits described, and to ensure ground-floor activation, public art, community investment and workforce-development commitments are enforced in any final approvals. Several council members emphasized moving quickly to capture what they characterized as a time-limited market opportunity while protecting downtown vibrancy.

Both motions to advance the projects (and the council's multi-signature memo with the conditions) passed unanimously.

Ending: Staff will work with the applicant to define a project-specific approval path and return to council with land-use and development approvals tying the data-center elements to the housing, district energy measures and the public-benefit commitments council requested.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","APR 8, 2025 | City Council","oneSentenceSummary","The council reviewed two Westbank proposals under a new Innovative Project Pathway and signaled support, with conditions including that residential construction begin before data centers operate and that staff explore dedicating a portion of future revenues to arts and cultural activation.","taxTitle","San Jose , Santa Clara County, California","taxId",2857,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6610823,"Council cuts city's historic equity share in first-time homebuyer loans from 30% to 15%",1282,5223000,6505000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902099-f5a32959eed2432dc32ea7c1ecdeb149&start=5223&end=6505","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2902099-f5a32959eed2432dc32ea7c1ecdeb149/thumbnail_5223000.jpg","/articles/6610823/San-Jose/Santa-Clara-County/California/Council-cuts-citys-historic-equity-share-in-first-time-homebuyer-loans-from-30-to-15","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610823-29b87c0576412bf0e3a3dd505118b4af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129351&Signature=hc6B42ICsRmVNLXfh9B9b9PnhHOyPcoA8GxjI7inn4wie8W60ZKwejaNn6oMKidpDh5y5elMCInegj4a1WuyQ5ooZYfhze62-zDmkWKWP37efc4lN27jo~AoStO6-oec1-lq13IpxpWaSx2gbAQvQwxpL7GqJPBo2Z5zPxC4OQWp~oCkqRSWo6t8Xuo3naEikAb4oCUPCiYOqcYbMVHYtGi5dBgXmWELlNnyuPQieOHS~kLDYolbyNAUJM5~S8q183bdOiiTm~8a-vItOFfYxIODbtKpr6zTbwh8-PkBWzE1CelbnD~G-cKmS~FNpYfxZc6bw79rthPebseE17oWTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Jose City Council on April 8 approved a staff proposal to reduce the city's equity-share portion in the long-standing First Time Homebuyer Loan program from 30 percent to 15 percent for loans that trigger a resale, staff said.

Housing Director Eric Sullivan and Deputy Director Banu San presented the analysis. Sullivan summarized the policy trade-offs and historical context, saying the program started more than 30 years ago and that the city's original documents intended these units to remain affordable over time. \"What is proposed here is to reduce that equity share by 50% going from a 30% take of their equity down to 15%,\" Sullivan said.

Nut graf: The program affects a relatively small but legacy portfolio of loans. Staff said there are roughly 438 loans in the portfolio and that the city originally lent a little over $30 million across those loans. Staff modeled the immediate pool of loans that have reached their 30-year term and estimated how much equity would accrue to the city under the two equity-share formulas.

Deputy Director Banu San presented figures for loans reaching their 30-year mark today and through 2029. San said 13 loans are due today; if sold at current modeled values the city's 30% share on those 13 would total about $1.2 million (average approximately $97,000 per loan), while a 15% share would total about $631,000 (average about $49,000 per loan). The analysis used assumed average market values of about $650,000 based on 2024 comparable sales and applied a modeled annual rate for future-value calculations.

Council members discussed trade-offs between preserving permanently deed-restricted affordable housing stock and boosting homeowners' equity. Several members noted most of the homes in the portfolio are small condominiums and that many owners are likely to remain in their homes rather than trigger a resale. Vice Mayor Foley moved support for the reduction; the council approved the change unanimously.

Ending: Staff will update program procedures to reflect the new 15 percent equity-share formula and continue outreach to loan holders; because the city does not record revenue from these loans until a sale occurs, implementation will proceed as borrowers trigger resale or other transfer events.","Facing a decades-old portfolio of 438 equity-share loans, the council voted to reduce the city's share of earned equity on resale from 30% to 15% to increase sellers' net proceeds while retaining affordability restrictions until 30 years elapse.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6610826,"Council authorizes long-term agreements for resource adequacy and long-duration storage; costs capped at about $25M/year",375,4833000,5208000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902099-f5a32959eed2432dc32ea7c1ecdeb149&start=4833&end=5208","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2902099-f5a32959eed2432dc32ea7c1ecdeb149/thumbnail_4833000.jpg","/articles/6610826/San-Jose/Santa-Clara-County/California/Council-authorizes-long-term-agreements-for-resource-adequacy-and-long-duration-storage-costs-capped-at-about-25Myear","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610826-40e3b57b3595039e3eef75b986019499/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129351&Signature=bA5O3FmkC7f89OkfhF8YBcICzpqFQgfWodM7jl-cyMbWHllDjxry6~JU3Rfq5rJ~Qt-t4NslkIRMfjQVhRrcpc3Pu4JTS9mJEbC6ChGXp9SPWKHQxwN41rF-yHyqOPlwaYTsGdYP4CYSD4PendH~dQgPn50QzVhjbu1o-ydBJ7N6e-lSlJwF-wc-8yDL6hGWUrzg3ffwm71CtZJs6yBoe0Yn7RnSZ2MQYQ9mrbVWqp~snp5DbHoQMYP6VzF7dPy9bEySiPZikTXcdkzRtuyeeAWXeYBjEUY0iERPIinj~ohIY0sRW17oQ6Pij2~p9DYtmubN3QjIvS66-wnB925Orw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Jose City Council on April 8 authorized the director of the Energy Department to negotiate and execute long-term agreements to secure resource adequacy, mid-term reliability and energy from a co-located long-duration storage facility and an existing combined-cycle plant, staff said.

Assistant Energy Director Zach Scribe and Deputy Director Paul Anamorato presented the recommendation. \"As we've constructed our portfolio, it's been important to take a diversified approach on a number of fronts,\" Scribe said, adding the proposed resources are geographically nearby and fit the city's portfolio modeling.

Nut graf: Staff described a package of fixed-price, long-term products that start delivering in 2027, extend 12 years for the combined-cycle facility and 14 years for the long-duration storage, and carry an annual cost cap of just over $25 million (lifetime not to exceed roughly $308 million), representing roughly 5 percent of the city's power supply budget.

Paul Anamorato said the products will meet state resource adequacy requirements and contribute to the state's midterm reliability mandates because long-duration storage is a required technology type. \"The products will begin delivery in 2027 and last for 12 years for the combined cycle facility and 14 years from the long duration storage facility,\" Anamorato said. He also said because the battery will leverage existing infrastructure it can come online faster than many greenfield projects and will displace some operation of the combined-cycle unit, lowering emissions by roughly 12 percent; staff characterized that reduction as equivalent to removing approximately 50,000 gasoline-powered cars from the road for one year.

Staff estimated the annual cost will not exceed just over $25 million and the lifetime obligation will not exceed about $308 million; the price was described as fixed for the term of the agreements. Middle River Power (the developer) was described as having experience with hybridizing batteries and gas plants and having been recently acquired by Partners Group.

Council approved the staff recommendation by unanimous vote with one councilmember absent.

Ending: Staff will finalize agreements consistent with the council authorization and continue to coordinate with procurement and legal to execute the fixed-price contracts; details will be reported back as required.","The council authorized city staff to execute long-term agreements with Middle River Power (MRP) Pacifica Marketing for a combined-cycle facility and a co-located long-duration storage battery. Staff said the contracts will start deliveries in 2027, reduce emissions and add reliability; the annual cost is capped at just over $25 million.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6610828,"City review: funded ratios rose but San Jose retirement plans still carry $3.1 billion unfunded liability",332,3900000,4232000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902099-f5a32959eed2432dc32ea7c1ecdeb149&start=3900&end=4232","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2902099-f5a32959eed2432dc32ea7c1ecdeb149/thumbnail_3900000.jpg","/articles/6610828/San-Jose/Santa-Clara-County/California/City-review-funded-ratios-rose-but-San-Jose-retirement-plans-still-carry-31-billion-unfunded-liability","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610828-42f3dfc9a4e7a9a8d79a0a85064ac718/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129351&Signature=VLLgQJKxAuphDC5xPwiHX~RXwqntBZvwxtsQRpWhwZbGS2BDe3p7EGszd~W5tl-g-xq1GYEBKwFSjP3f92tooQm7y0pE-vOUh8IB9kFoFpRwghqDYks9dQcb9uN4u4L2rVWJd~nu7MCUNjNnO0qTFHFZmJZ8KPc1m6CVychAfnaRpFHMwwaihzTpS9Zcu4qkjJHQbKxcn59guWqYqXHemqxj53sr8y0WXMvbSkJ3iCFyFOpFq34XtsK7n439OWw1N1sZ4trorbMoJTf4LCLbqdY6mDbH4juQviA5uqw4GjM1-PY0deOVu1gLduFZakLtjH1m7KFznwlI31CsagdRLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City retirement staff and the board's actuary told the San Jose City Council on April 8 that actuarial valuations as of June 30, 2024, show improved funded ratios for both the Police and Fire and Federated retirement plans, but the systems continue to carry a multi-billion-dollar unfunded actuarial liability.

The valuations were prepared by the board's actuary, Chiron, and \"have been prepared in accordance with generally recognized and accepted actuarial principles and practices,\" John Flynn, the city's director of retirement services, said during the presentation.

Nut graf: The increase in funded status reflects the actuarial smoothing method that recognizes 20% of recent investment gains, staff said, but the plans still face a long-term repayment schedule. System speakers and trustees emphasized contributions and past market losses as the principal drivers of the remaining unfunded liabilities.

Key takeaways from the presentation: staff and the actuary reported that the plans' actuarial funding ratios rose between the June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2024 valuations, driven in part by the actuarial asset-smoothing method that recognizes 20 percent of the most recent fiscal-year gains. Bill Hallmark, the systems actuary attending, noted the magnitude of the long-run shortfall: \"There's about a $3,100,000,000 unfunded liability,\" he said and explained that much of that growth dated to the Great Recession and subsequent changes in return assumptions.

The report also outlined contribution and membership changes: the total annual contribution requirement across stakeholders increased to about $615.8 million, and the city's modeled normal cost rose to about $115 million. The retirement system serves roughly 15,805 members and beneficiaries, an increase of about 445 people (approximately 2.9%) from the previous year, staff said.

Actuarial assumptions have also shifted in recent years, Flynn and Hallmark said. The plans' assumed investment returns were lowered from levels above 8 percent in earlier decades to 6.625 percent (\"6 and 5/8 percent\" in the presentation), which increases modeled liabilities and required contributions.

Vice Mayor Foley, who led the motion to accept the report, emphasized that the unfunded actuarial liability affects general-fund capacity to fund city services and moved acceptance of the valuation reports; the motion passed unanimously.

Ending: Council accepted the actuarial valuations and will consider the valuation data during upcoming budget discussions and labor negotiations; staff said it will return with any required follow-ups tied to contribution-setting and plan administration.","City staff and system actuary told the council the pension plans' funded ratios improved for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, largely because actuarial smoothing recognized recent gains; the plans still show about $3.1 billion in unfunded actuarial liability and higher near-term contribution requirements.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6610830,"City council appoints Genevieve Waltwer to Appeals Hearing Board after candidate interviews",956,2890000,3846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902099-f5a32959eed2432dc32ea7c1ecdeb149&start=2890&end=3846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2902099-f5a32959eed2432dc32ea7c1ecdeb149/thumbnail_2890000.jpg","/articles/6610830/San-Jose/Santa-Clara-County/California/City-council-appoints-Genevieve-Waltwer-to-Appeals-Hearing-Board-after-candidate-interviews","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610830-be13e50ca57d33f81bee20e53370376a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129351&Signature=Zp8dEvH4bJ5xU~mXtQZlWTp9JEGRMT4sWdQorUHd6Fo1fCK9kT4gla-dZwa5Id6jWnNIm9k~H6Lul3G9YctYPE162CfGU4XFeNnCwI931v3ypnUNlVCkYaB9BnNxd7QA7n8kusL3chBuQh07VVoWuXcb5Zh2Qv7571RaqumYTqHZqjNwlbvSEoRn3Fz47b5pptqoHUJeFG4CACdEWZ1z1hDldCz0DdGg4ndxP2OuS~EdwyVC8IExhdqo6Hlaacxsx9PBR2JWNTp8Sy26TKSW9VI0CQhIQ5TcLmGuaDuSYB05P2lbWuVlLgx4aCe-4e~~M-bzriQC7-a0-WrUTxVLIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Jose City Council on April 8 appointed Genevieve Waltwer to a vacant seat on the city's Appeals Hearing Board after interviewing two candidates for the position.

In an interview before the council, Waltwer described herself as a licensed marriage and family therapist with a private practice in San Jose and said she grew up in the city. She told the council she has prior experience working with first responders and reading ordinances, which she said gives her a useful perspective for board hearings: \"I am familiar with code enforcement. I'm familiar with, reading ordinances, translating them,\" Waltwer said during her remarks.

Nut graf: The council held structured interviews and used a paper ballot to pick a single appointee for a term that runs until December; the appointment was unanimous. The council noted there will be additional vacancies in December and encouraged qualified applicants to reapply.

Samantha Kaye, the other finalist, described her background in internal audit and corporate compliance and her long residency in San Jose. Kaye said she has served on advisory boards and worked with government agencies and the private sector: \"I have been working with a variety of organizations on volunteer work and also including serving on the customers advisory board for San Jose Water Company,\" she told the council.

Council members asked both candidates about experiences with code enforcement and how they would separate personal beliefs from applying city policy. Waltwer said she respects laws and policies even when they conflict with personal beliefs and emphasized both physical and emotional safety when adjudicating cases: \"I have to say, there's an emotional safety component to this too, making sure that our community members who are going through this process are getting a fair process,\" she said.

Following the interviews, the council used paper ballots. The clerk reported unanimous support for Waltwer; a later verbal correction said the tally was nine votes unanimous. The council appointed Waltwer to the current vacancy through December; the mayor noted the appointee will need to reinterview in the fall if they seek a new full term.

Ending: The city clerk and staff will process the appointment and notify the board; the council also signaled there will be additional appointments to consider in December and encouraged applicants to apply then.","After interviewing two candidates for a single vacancy on the Appeals Hearing Board, the council appointed Genevieve Waltwer to serve through December and invited the other candidate to reapply in the fall.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council opens pathway for two Westbank mixed housing-and-data-center projects; requires housing start before full data-center operation

Council cuts city's historic equity share in first-time homebuyer loans from 30% to 15%

Council authorizes long-term agreements for resource adequacy and long-duration storage; costs capped at about $25M/year

City review: funded ratios rose but San Jose retirement plans still carry $3.1 billion unfunded liability

City council appoints Genevieve Waltwer to Appeals Hearing Board after candidate interviews