[{"_1":2,"_85":-5,"_86":-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",[32,74],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6524456,"mediaKeyId","3842250-d861ece188c6d3d2bbfea8707b1a0852","parentId",3842250,"title","Santa Clara council names Edward Souza to Parks and Recreation Commission; Monique Havicote designated alternate","audioSeconds",2633,"startMs",1616000,"endMs",4249000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3842250-d861ece188c6d3d2bbfea8707b1a0852&start=1616&end=4249","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3842250-d861ece188c6d3d2bbfea8707b1a0852/thumbnail_1616000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6524456/Santa-Clara/Santa-Clara-County/California/Santa-Clara-council-names-Edward-Souza-to-Parks-and-Recreation-Commission-Monique-Havicote-designated-alternate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6524456-b8c95ea04d599ec3b7f839a3761a1b91/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215003&Signature=ZGineQwHzkoWmN61C6Syi5G3eJJmJFHgn-gNeJwMLIeWLJ0JWP6MHMsRXR7J6UC8aBKKwxOLVfQws11OA0GxMqwYwAG1SSVxt3LbwBa8SuEe9OnoYX9~IxAoO3bhUE7~p2wubmu5w1bJizvj4h17V0UfVp0IcBsLM4wxel7R9oWFO5N-uWylKhlUOaab-qWRDkjNpbhEroDXdcfP-ddZgDdx7UCcsDDDRJ1D71e261ZWnoxR5ZZjYQK1UapE7h3kNl~HDAZabBnFLsHnv~zZiXif6DoXRYuH5peX46zr~cZiqxxOYXJKR7xgRNKZlv1MUbf7EapmBMVSdC-9Uq338Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-17T13:45:44Z","article","The Santa Clara City Council appointed Edward (Ed) Souza to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a full term ending June 30, 2029, and named Monique Havicote as the alternate eligible for appointment if a vacancy occurs. The council voted unanimously after interviewing four candidates in a special meeting.

Souza, a lifelong Santa Clara resident who described a 30-year career in parks and recreation management for Santa Clara County, told the council he has experience in park operations, fiscal management and volunteer programs. “I bring a wealth of knowledge to the city with information and a background in park maintenance, park operations, fiscal, and diversity,” Souza said during his interview.

Monique Havicote described experience using local parks, community events and programs and said she would like to expand adult education and volunteer-driven community garden efforts. Candidate David Curtis emphasized youth sports, field use and community events as priorities; candidate Anurag Dixit (transcript spelling varied) emphasized data-driven evaluation of sites and standardization across parks.

Council members used a two-round process to identify finalists: each member named a top two candidates, producing a tie between Souza and Havicote; subsequent roll calls selected Souza. Council members discussed applicants’ experience with community gardens, the International Swim Center master plan and youth programming during interviews. Several applicants urged continuing oversight of swim-center renovations; Souza and others noted available bond funding for pool rehabilitation.

The council made a single motion that included both the appointment of Souza to the commission and placement of Havicote on the eligibility list as alternate; the motion passed unanimously. The clerk recorded the appointments as effective immediately, with terms through June 30, 2029. No additional conditions or follow-up tasks were adopted at the meeting.

The interviews and voting process were conducted as part of a special meeting the council held to fill commission seats; the city clerk had noted that one previously listed applicant (Asim Vaid) did not participate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Call and Notice of Special Meeting of the City Council - June 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After interviewing four candidates, the City Council appointed Edward (Ed) Souza to a full Parks and Recreation Commission term ending June 30, 2029, and placed Monique Havicote on the eligibility list as alternate; the council voted unanimously.","taxTitle","Santa Clara , Santa Clara County, California","taxId",2859,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":44,"_47":79,"_49":80,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6524461,"Santa Clara council appoints Kaushal Varshney to Historical and Landmarks Commission",901,715000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3842250-d861ece188c6d3d2bbfea8707b1a0852&start=715&end=1616","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3842250-d861ece188c6d3d2bbfea8707b1a0852/thumbnail_715000.jpg","/articles/6524461/Santa-Clara/Santa-Clara-County/California/Santa-Clara-council-appoints-Kaushal-Varshney-to-Historical-and-Landmarks-Commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6524461-755b39a02187adc4efe1f4245b2eb40f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215003&Signature=YMum97ir~DCuh9MRSpRGQTaY3To1fJn46CwXw--BKu1zW9IWBftdSNzkDYp3pA4i0skUm-Nufc9o6fuzu~e3aS-3FSNj9sQM640LkgkV~rg30FO7gML9SQsg~FUaFuGhrGTyBRwKz11UFgEFH8Eqh3NxgpgZWwJ8B4z1RUHZxKsCfveJA2lya1~IazKt2Dr2SV3awvbGMyCTAwmkIivABxGoOQLrhkfj5cXTsQhDsd1oi6xaCj5YnN9I6ZxYoVeioMIhh5xv76Xqs7Yysc~O7mjMflS5Lr4XssdNswTs6y2ujXDDMRs4Go57QdLEhE2Ip7GVY8VpF5cl2bgZlb08jQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Clara City Council appointed Kaushal Varshney to the Historical and Landmarks Commission for a full term ending June 30, 2029. The motion passed 4–1 during a special meeting devoted to commission interviews and appointments.

Varshney, who told the council he has lived in Santa Clara for 25 years, described volunteer work organizing cultural exhibitions and presentations about Diwali and local history. “I have been resident of Santa Clara for 25 years,” Varshney said during his opening remarks, and said he would like to “keep the historical significance of Santa Clara” by preserving and publicizing specific historic sites.

The appointment came after city staff told the council four people had applied for the vacancy but three had since withdrawn, leaving Varshney as the sole candidate present for interview. Mayor Gilmore said she supported the appointment, calling Varshney “quite qualified” and noting his prior community work. Council member Hardy dissented, saying she was “just a little uncomfortable” appointing a sole remaining applicant and asked that recruitment be reopened to allow more comparison among candidates.

Council practice discussed during the meeting holds that applicants are typically appointed to one commission at a time; the city clerk advised the council that past practice has been to avoid appointing the same person to multiple commissions. Varshney told the council he would withdraw his other application for Parks and Recreation if appointed to the Historical and Landmarks Commission.

The council passed the motion to appoint Varshney by a 4–1 vote. The council’s record lists the outcome as approved with a 4 yes, 1 no tally; individual yes/no votes were not recorded by name in the transcript.

The appointee’s term runs through June 30, 2029, and the council did not adopt any additional direction to staff as part of the appointment.","The City Council appointed Kaushal Varshney to the Historical and Landmarks Commission to a full term ending June 30, 2029, by a 4–1 vote after a special meeting of applicants.","actionData","errors"]

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Santa Clara council names Edward Souza to Parks and Recreation Commission; Monique Havicote designated alternate

Santa Clara council appoints Kaushal Varshney to Historical and Landmarks Commission