Santa Clara Activity

Serving on Council

Committee Assignments

Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee (BPAC) - Chair

Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) Board of Directors

BAWSCA Policy Board - Vice Chair

Treatment Plant Advisory Committee (TPAC) - Committee Member

Santa Clara Valley Water Commission (SCVWC)

Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority (SVRIA) - Vice Chair

World Cup in Santa Clara in 2026

Soccer is an international sport, and many of my students are obsessed with this event. When I heard of the bid for Levi Stadium to be one of the 22 chosen, I saw it as an opportunity to have an international event in town that could benefit our city. After hearing the pitch, I felt the need to step up and make a statement.

I wrote the resolution to assure the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) committee that the majority of the City Council was in favor of the bid. The City Council meeting to vote on the resolution coincided with my scheduled family vacation in Disneyland. As we were already one member down, and a minimum of four yes votes was needed to pass the resolution, I found a “quiet” place in Disneyland and joined the meeting by Zoom on my phone as my family went on more rides. The council discussion left me with only 6% on my phone battery, but thanks to my husband’s quick thinking and a vending machine phone charger, I was able to vote and the resolution passed! Our FIFA bid was saved by technology, how fitting. On July 22 the committee made their announcement, and the San Francisco Bay Area was one of the chosen. We will have approximately 12 games at Levi Stadium with MANY activities around the Bay. Notice the picture of Anthony Becker and I the moment it was announced. I am off the ground! Yes, I was excited and happy. It will require much work, but it will be worth it.

Machado Park Updates

I was so excited to cut the ribbon for the much needed upgrades to the playground at Machado Park, the only park within District 3 boundaries. But something was missing… There were NO BENCHES around the playground for adults to watch the children. I contacted the director of Parks and Recreation and explained the oversight. (I was not on the council when the design was approved). He concurred with my frustration and within a few months three benches were installed.

National Night Out

August 2 was great. I enjoy visiting with neighbors and hearing about community concerns. I am so glad that the majority of neighbors are happy with the traffic calming the council approved on Briarwood Drive. I had a great time and the children’s faces were priceless when the police officers and the firefighters showed up!

Water is life, don’t waste it!

The water committees I serve on are working to protect and expand our water sources. In the meantime, we need to conserve. While keeping trees alive is a priority, outdoor watering is limited to 2 days a week. Options such as gray-water and rain barrels (if we get rain this winter) can help.

Santa Clara has three sources for our potable water. In the North section we have Hetch Hetchy water (about 19% of total city use). In the South section we have Valley Water (about 21% of total city use). The rest of the water is from groundwater wells (60% of the city use). All of these sources are impacted by the current drought.

Stadium Waivers

As a member of a group of citizens fighting against the stadium, I worked hard to explain why having a stadium in town was not in our best interest. Unfortunately, we lost that fight. Now as a council member I must work hard to make the stadium an asset to the City as we have a 30 year contract. We can choose to fight with the 49ers or we can find some common ground and work from there.

Large concerts are an opportunity for financial benefit for Santa Clara. With the curfew being 10 PM Sunday through Thursday, we were losing concert bookings. I voted with the majority of the council to allow up to 5 ONE-HOUR extensions of the curfew to 11 PM (the same at the San Jose Airport) which allowed us to facilitate booking more concerts. This year we will have had Cold Play, Grupo Firme, Red Hot Chilie Peppers,The Weeknd, a soccer match between Mexico and Columbia and two nights of Elton John. Six special events in one year for a large venue is considered a success. Two to three of those events would have been lost without the waivers. It is my hope that Santa Clarans will be able to enjoy these events.

Civic Activities

It has been my pleasure to be able to make a difference in Santa Clara for the last thirty years. I initially got involved in Santa Clara city politics in 1992 when I fought a card room from opening across the street from Great America. I was a Historical and Landmarks Commissioner for five and a half years and a Planning Commissioner for eight years. I also served on the Architectural Review Board as well as on the City Charter Review Committee in 2011.

I served as Chairman of the CAC (Citizens Advisory Committee) in 2017-2018. I am excited that the parade of champions has come back as one of Santa Clara's favorite traditions. I look forward to participating again in October along with my Wilcox Robotics Teams. One of my favorite events in Santa Clara is the Historic Home Tour and I am looking forward to helping with this event again this coming December.