Milpitas council schedules closed sessions on labor talks and three property negotiations

The Milpitas City Council announced four closed‑session items at the start of its March 18, 2025, meeting, including a conference with labor negotiators and three conferences with real‑property negotiators, Acting City Attorney Creech said.

The items were listed under California Government Code section 54957.6 for labor negotiations and section 54956.8 for real‑property negotiations, Creech told the council. “You have 4 closed session items,” Creech said while briefing the public before the council recessed to closed session.

Why it matters: Closed sessions under these Government Code sections allow the council to negotiate contract terms and real‑estate transactions in private before any reportable action is made in public. The listed items identify the negotiators, the opposing parties or prospective purchasers, and the subject parcels or addresses, which indicates the matters are at a stage the city expects to negotiate price or terms.

Details provided to the public at the March 18 meeting were as follows:

- Labor negotiations: The council listed a conference with labor negotiators pursuant to California Government Code section 54957.6. The city’s designated representative was identified as Rick Bolanos of Liber Cassidy Whitmore. Employee organizations named were ProTech, Midcon, MEA, and unrepresented employees.

- Real‑property negotiation 1: A conference with real property negotiators pursuant to California Government Code section 54956.8 regarding property identified by assessor parcel number (APN) 086-37-018. The agency negotiator named was City Engineer Michael Silvera, and the negotiating partner was the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Under negotiation were price and terms of payment.

- Real‑property negotiation 2: A conference regarding property at 1480 through 1488 (Milpitas, California). The agency negotiator named was Alex Andrade, Economic Development Strategic Initiatives Director. The negotiating party named was Espana Collision Repair, doing business as Costar Espana (as stated in the meeting). Under negotiation were price and terms of payment.

- Real‑property negotiation 3: A conference regarding properties listed by APN numbers 028-34-001 through 028-34-094. The agency negotiator named was Alex Andrade. The negotiating partners named were Sarah Milpius and Milpius Community Museum. Under negotiation were price and terms of payment.

The council did not take public action on these items at the March 18 meeting; they were announced for closed‑session consideration. The public briefing also noted that oral public comment for the meeting may only be provided live at the Milpitas city council chambers, and the agenda included instructions for instant translation services.

Any reportable action taken after the closed sessions must be disclosed in subsequent public minutes or reports in accordance with state law.