Council endorses scope for 4‑year Envision San Jose review, directs broader outreach and labor engagement

San Jose City Council on June 3 approved the proposed scope of work for the four‑year review of the Envision San Jose 2040 general plan and endorsed a council memo that calls for expanded community outreach and targeted engagement with labor organizations.

Vice Mayor Pam Foley and Councilmember David Cohen, among others, urged early and broad engagement to ensure the review produces actionable changes rather than simply updating capacity numbers. Foley said the general plan sets long-term land-use policy and that outreach must be “huge and as far reaching as possible” if the planning commission will serve as the primary task force. “The general plan is perhaps one of the most important documents that we produce at the city. It guides future growth for decades, so it’s important that we get it right,” Foley said.

Councilmember Raul Ortiz successfully proposed a friendly amendment to the outreach direction asking staff to specifically engage labor partners — including the South Bay Labor Council and building trades unions — during the outreach process. Ortiz said labor should be part of the conversation because development and land-use choices shape local job opportunities.

Members of the public including Professor Robert Chapman Wood (San Jose State University) and Angel Aliano of the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits urged a robust community process. Wood urged the council to focus the review on actual housing production rather than simply increasing theoretical capacity. Aliano asked that the city involve nonprofit community-engagement experts if the task force is narrowed and that outreach be deep, not merely informational.

Chris Burton, director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement, said staff will return with a detailed communications guide — likely in August or September — explaining the outreach plan and how public input will be integrated. The city intends to hold a limited number of study sessions while conducting broader, parallel outreach to collect iterative input and ensure diverse participation.

The council vote adopting the scope and directing broader outreach passed unanimously.

Votes: Motion to adopt the 4-year review scope and associated outreach direction passed unanimously.