San Jose council approves police contract, public‑safety ID ordinance and downtown land purchase; backs Gateway Tower housing plan

San Jose City Council took a series of formal actions on Sept. 30 that include ratifying a police contract, adopting a public‑safety identification ordinance, authorizing a downtown land purchase and advancing a major workforce housing project.

The votes were taken across several separate agenda items. The council approved each item by the margins recorded in the meeting; where stated, staff and the mayor noted unanimous support.

San Jose Police Officers Association memorandum of agreement (Item 3.3) City staff presented a negotiated successor memorandum of agreement with the San Jose Police Officers Association covering July 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2028. The agreement — which the POA membership ratified — includes wage increases, a longevity pay structure, changes to compensatory time accrual, a Tier‑2 retirement evaluation process and changes to arbitration and grievance resolution. City Manager Jennifer McGuire and the administration described the deal as a way to stabilize the sworn workforce and support recruitment and retention. The council approved the agreement; staff recorded the motion as passing unanimously. Councilmember Peter Ortiz, who moved the approval, framed the pay and retention elements as “not a perk” but “a strategy” to keep officers who reflect and serve San…