Upcoming Nov. 2, 2010 City Council and SCUSD board elections:

Seats up for election:

• Mayor (termed out)
  
• 2 city council seats (1 seat termed out, the other seat is up for re-election)
  
• 4 Santa Clara Unified School District Board seats
• We will know by August 6, 2010 who is running for the open seats.

City Budget Deficit:

Santa Clara is currently running a $20 million budget deficit (2009-2010) with another $20 million deficit expected for 2010-2011.  General Fund reserves have been used to cover deficits from the previous few years. 

Another $750,000 has been allocated for attorneys and consultants for the stadium project.

The legal and consulting bills continue to mount for Santa Clara's stadium.  The total spent on consultants is $1.8 million to the law firm Goldfarb and Lipman LLC's, and $1.6 million to financial adviser Keyster Marston Associates.  These bills are paid for from our redevelopment funds.

Update on Tasman Substation Move-the giveaway of our electric utility's money to move a substation just to make 380 parking spaces at $52,000 each has started.
We will spend $20 million of our electric utility's money at a time when Silicon Valley Power's Cost Reduction Fund is far below where it should be.  Our blog has the details:
http://www.stadiumfacts.blogspot.com/

July 6, 2010 City Council meeting - Parking Garage Update:
The 1800 space parking structure for the Convention Center/Stadium was discussed. The $42 million in RDA funds that was budgeted for the parking structure is a cost estimate from 1999-2000. We have not been told how much more the parking structure will cost given that 10 years have elapsed since the $42 million cost was estimated.  The $42 million does not include interest on the bonds. We have not been told how much that interest will total.  The parking structure will have 6 levels and entrances/exits at Tasman and Stars and Stripes Drive.  Given that Tasman is supposed to be closed on NFL game days, we have not been told how drivers will enter/exit the parking structure on game days.
Here's the link to the agenda report on the parking structure from July 6, 2010:
http://santaclaraca.gov/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=3331

What's next for the stadium?

The Stadium Authority will be formed, and the Disposition and Development Agreement (the binding agreement) will be developed.  The DDA is supposed to be based on the (non-binding) Term Sheet. The DDA was supposed to be finished in July 2010-no word as to when it will actually be finished, or when Santa Clarans will be able to read it.

Here's the link to Santa Clara's website with stadium information:
http://santaclaraca.gov/index.aspx?page=1197

Information on the stadium from the city's website: "Now that the ballot measure has been approved, there are a number of actions that must occur before construction can begin.  
Summer 2010: Council considers approval of Joint Powers Authority (JPA) agreement between the City and the City's Redevelopment Agency to form the Stadium Authority (SA). In addition, staff will continue to work with the 49ers to develop all the necessary documents and agreements, including a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) and City and Stadium Authority Leases, consistent with the negotiated terms in the Term Sheet.
Summer-Fall 2010: Planning Commission considers approval of the PD Zoning District Ordinance and Offsite Parking Ordinance amendments, and Stadium Project entitlements.
Fall 2010: Council, the SA, and the Redevelopment Agency will consider several actions related to the proposed stadium:

Please check our 'In the News' for a listing of new articles about the stadium, Santa Clara, SCUSD, and related

articles.

http://santaclaraplaysfair.org/index.php/news