Councilmember Madison Nguyen has served the people of the City of San Jose for the past two years. Since her election, she has worked hard to resolve many issues by various venues such as creating a dialogue with constituents through quarterly Town Hall meetings, developed a bi-monthly newsletter, created a website, organized three annual Litter Clean Up days and five annual Dumpster Days as well as attend monthly neighborhood association meetings (we have over 13 associations), and city wide committee and commission meetings. With the help of city staff and community leaders, Councilmember Madison Nguyen has made significant progress on some of the most pressing issues that affect her district. Here is a summary of what she has accomplished since her election to the District 7 San Jose City Council. 

 ►Committee and Commissions:

Chair, Public Safety, Finance and Strategic Support Committee

Vice Chair, Neighborhood Services and Education Committee

Alternate Member, Rules Committee

Member, Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Committee (BART)

Liaison, San Jose Beautiful Commission

Liaison, Small Business Development Commission

Liaison, San Jose/Santa Clara Treatment Plant Advisory Commission

Liaison, Santa Clara County Health Benefits Commission

Liaison, Traffic Appeals Commission

Liaison, Housing and Community Development Commission

Liaison, Mobile Home Advisory Commission

 ADA Ramps in West Evergreen & KONA SNI     

These two groups, as part of their Top 10 Priorities, identified the installation of curb ramps as a priority. Curbs ramps were installed at 100 identified streets in each Strong Neighborhood area making it safer for our elderly, families, and disabled persons to access the sidewalks.   

 Affordable Housing Projects

It is our goal to provide City of San Jose residents with affordable housing and to give more people the opportunity to purchase a home. In order to realize this goal, the city has built 10,136 affordable housing units to date and there are 1,407 more units currently under construction. We are fortunate to have 4 of these affordable housing projects in our district, which will open the doors for better living to many District 7 residents. Here are the projects in our community:  

1.                  Almaden Family at 1525-1541 Almaden Road.

2.                  Corde Terra at 150 Tully Road

3.                  Corde Terra Senior Housing at 345 Tully Road

4.                  Paseo Senter I & II at 1970, 1986 & 1099 Senter Road

 Alma Senior and Youth Center Improvements

Many meetings were held to hear the community’s input on the schematic plan for the Alma Senior and Youth Center Improvement project. The plan was drafted by RDA staff using community input from previous years. RDA staff is currently working with the CDGB committee to apply for a 18 month (pending one design item) extension on the usage of the grant money designated for the center.

 Alma Storm Drain

Storm drains were improved, South of Alma Ave in the Alma neighborhood particularly in Little Orchard Street and Pomona, Sanborn and Ford Streets.

 Bellevue Park  

Bellevue Park opened for the community in October of 2006. The park includes a play area, restroom building, picnic tables, benches, ornamental fountain, irrigation, and landscaping. 

 Build partnerships w/schools to improve appearance of sites and facilities (KONA)

The Urban Planning Department of San Jose State University conducted a facilities and services assessment in order to prepare an action plan for investment in school improvements. Phase I has been completed (resident needs assessment). As part of Phase II SJSU conducted a facilities and services assessment and feasibility study related to school improvements. All assessments have been completed.

 Burke Street and Senter Road

The traffic signal installation at Burke Street and Senter Road was activated on October 27, 2005.  This traffic signal will improve pedestrian and vehicle mobility and provide safe crossing for the businesses and residents in the neighborhood. 

 Coyote Creek Trail

Funds were approved to continue the development of a trail from Los Lagos Golf Course to Tully Road.  

 Communications Hill/Tuscany Hills Park

Council approved the naming of this new park recently—Veira Park. Design review and construction is to start in August 2007.   

Communication Hills- Fire Station # 33

On August 9^th, 2006 city staff had a groundbreaking ceremony for Fire Station 33 on Communications Hill. This is a $4.4 million dollar non-bond “turnkey” fire station project funded by private development. It is approximately 6,200 S.F., two-story, two-bay apparatus, single company fire station on a half an acre site. Completion is scheduled for August 2007.

 Design Scope & Conceptual Design for School Hub (Tully/Senter)

Scoping and conceptual design of a school-community hub at Fair Middle School. The NAC has identified a permanent hub as its highest priority. Improvements to the Santee Neighborhood Action Center are not feasible at this time due to cost constraints.

 Goble Lane Development

Developer ROEM will build close to 900 new homes on this parcel next to Chateau La Salle Mobilehome Park on Monterey Road. It will be a mix of attached and detached single family units, condominiums and townhouses. Their will be some retail components incorporated into the housing plans. A 2 acre park and additional amenities are also in the plans. This project is currently under construction and will be completed in several Phases with final completion in 2012.

 Happy Hollow Park and Zoo

The Happy Hollow Park and Zoo Project is currently on schedule to begin construction in the summer of 2007. The project provides for a significantly enhanced facility with improvements spanning over 19 acres including:  expanded parking and picnic facilities on the Roberts Avenue side of Coyote Creek, a pedestrian bridge across the creek, and expansion of the zoo and ADA improvements.

 Holy Hill Infrastructure Improvements

Holy Hill Dive at McLaughlin Avenue has pavement, curb, gutter, and sidewalk on the north side of Holy Hill, 125 feet east of McLaughlin Avenue. This project is completed.

 Improve Access to Elementary Schools (Spartan/Keyes)

Improve access to Lowell and Washington Elementary Schools. At the 11/1/05 meeting, the NAC approved a list of 8 intersections to receive pedestrian countdown upgrades along Keyes (@ 1^st, 3^rd, 7^th), Martha (@ 1^st, 3^rd), Oak and First Street, and Hwy 280 (@ 10^th). Project Complete 

 Improve and Beautify Lower Silver Creek (West Evergreen)

Improve and beautify Lower Silver Creek alignment through the neighborhood. PRNS hired a consultant in March 2006 for $15,000 to prepare an Environmental Study. The study hoped to document environmental issues and propose remedies, such as landscape architectural modifications, for an open channel along the Lower Silver Creek (South) alignment between Corda Drive and Kin Road.

 King/Story Road Street & Sidewalk Improvements –

King Road between Marsh Street and Lido Way. Construction of street and sidewalk improvements on King Road and Story Road, this project was completed in December 2006.

 Los Lagos Golf Course

Due to environmental concerns this project has been separated into two phases.  Phase I is design and Phase II will be construction.  The first phase is installation of additional and higher netting at the perimeter holes (6, 17, 18). The second phase is additional tree planting and barriers at the internal holes (1, 10, 12, 15).  The plan is currently being reviewed by city staff. After review, the plan will be submitted for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance. Council has approved an agreement to allow Courseco to be the project manager of construction.

 Lucretia Ave Improvements (Story to Phelan) 

The project widens Lucretia Avenue to accommodate four lanes, where feasible, between Story Road and Phelan Avenue. It will also construct pavement, curb, gutter, sidewalk, streetlights and a drainage system. Project completed in December 2006.

 New Park at 1588 Aborn Master Plan (West Evergreen) Towers Park Master Plan

For those who live in the Aborn area, Barry Swenson Builders is in the process of donating one acre of land to the City to be developed into a neighborhood park at the corner of Aborn and Towers Lane. City Parks staff had a community meeting this past November to seek comments and suggestions on the design of the park. A follow-up community meeting will be held in late February to review some preliminary designs.

 Nisich Park Development

The Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) staff is planning on conducting final community meetings to give residents a last chance to voice their opinions on the latest park layout. This will be a half acre new park in the Meadows Area of District 7.

 Painted Island at Rocksprings

Our office has been working with the Dept of Transportation to alleviate the traffic hazard at the corner of Rocksprings and Needles. As a result, a painted median island has been installed in order to make that intersection safer for the residents and children of that area.

The Plant Groundbreaking (on the former General Electric site)

The old GE Site had its groundbreaking for a future shopping center, which will be called “The Plant.” This community is an underserved retail market, and “The Plant” will serve as a source of new jobs for the area. This project is a 646,000 square foot Regional Power Center on 56 acres, the largest in the City’s history which will feature a town plaza and community park. Target, Ross and Home Depot as well as an array of well known restaurants have signed leases at The Plant.

 Phelan Ave/ Roberts Avenue Pedestrian Improvements

Phelan Avenue east of Roberts Avenue Project includes the construction of median island pedestrian refuge, reconstruction of AC pavement, and installation of crosswalks and traffic signs. Project has been completed.

 Senter Road Widening

City Council approved a contract to widen Senter Road to the bidder, Top Grade Construction, at the March 6, 2007 council meeting. The project is for improvements on Senter Road between Tully Road and Singleton Road.  Residents will see new landscaping, gutters, sidewalk, driveways, street trees and Median Island landscaping. There will also be traffic signal modifications and additional left turn lanes in the north and south leg of Senter and Capitol expressways. Upon completion, this segment of the roadway will accommodate three lanes of traffic and a bicycle lane in each direction. Construction is scheduled to begin in April with completion in October 2007.

 Seventrees Library and Solari Community Center

The design for the center and library has been developed and meetings to hear community input on the final design and layout will be scheduled. This useful meeting will serve to prioritize and accommodate the needs of the community. This is a 40,000 square foot community center and 20,000 square foot library which will include a baseball field, soccer field, tennis courts, basketball court, restrooms and picnic/barbecue areas. The Master Plan process is underway and staff is currently working with a consultant to finish the design. Construction is estimated to begin in February of 2008.

 Seventrees Strong Neighborhood Initiative Pilot Program

$5 million was set aside from fiscal year 06-07 budget for a Citywide SNI program. Seventrees was chosen as one of the neighborhoods selected as part of the pilot program. The program will bring in existing city resources to the neighborhood, and work with the community to identify projects that will improve the quality of life for the residents and surrounding communities in Seven Trees. 

 Spartan Little League

Spartan Little League is in year one of a two-year agreement with the City allowing for use of the Tully Community Ball Fields and concessions building. The City has established use fees specific to the site built around the cost to maintain the fields. The agreement allows the League to offset the field use fees through maintenance activities at the site. In addition, the League is to pay 15% of net operating costs of the concession operation to the City. The agreement allows for a third year option with the concession fees going up to 20% in that year.

 Streetsweeping "No Parking" Signs

My office has been working with the Department of Transportation for the past year to get permanent 'No Parking for Street Sweeping' signs installed in several areas in Council District 7. After several studies, much community input and exhausting alternative solutions, these areas have been qualified to have the signs installed. These projects will be complete in summer 2007.

 The following areas have been considered by the Deptartment of Transportation for the Fiscal Year 2006-2007: Terilyn Avenue/Miami Drive, Alvin Avenue/Fontaine Road, Seven Trees Blvd/Rancho Dr. 

 Story and King Corner Development:

A series of community meetings were held to review the design, survey results and development schedule of a development proposal on the corner of Story and King. A final community meeting will be held when the developer submits design plans to the City Planning Department. This meeting will give the community a final opportunity to review the architecture and site plan. The developer, Don Imwalle continues to contact retail establishments and restaurants for leasing the space. 

 Towers Lane

Towers Lane Project is finally complete.  Towers Lane is one of the oldest dirt roads in San Jose that took more than 20 years to pave. After many years of planning, the area that was once a dirt road is now a newly constructed public street with curbs, sanitary sewers, storm drain systems, sidewalks, wheel chair ramps, streetlights, and trees.

 Traffic Signal: Phelan & 7^th

Installation of a new traffic signal system for safety of pedestrians and motorists. Estimated completion date 9/07.

 Tully/McLaughlin Pedestrian Traffic Devices 

The installation of the traffic devices was completed in June 2006. 

 Tully Road Parking Lot Improvements

Tully Road Library parking lot is gravel and is currently in the process of being paved.

 Viet Heritage and Cultural Gardens

On August 27, 2006, the City of San Jose, along with Viet Heritage Society, hosted a groundbreaking for the Viet Heritage and Cultural Gardens at Kelley Park. This project has been in the planning stages for over two decades. The event was a great success with well over a few thousand in attendance.  Construction is set to begin in August of 2007.

 Vietnam Town Development

This is a 300,000 square feet commercial and retail condominium project located on Story Road that will bring 256 new businesses to the area. The project is expected to be completed in Winter of 2008.

Smoking Ban in City Parks, Community Centers, and Libraries

October 2007---The San Jose City Council amended an existing ordinance to prohibit smoking in public parks, community centers and libraries as introduced by Councilmember Madison Nguyen and Vice Mayor Dave Cortese.

 Cities in California and around the nation, recognizing the negative effects of secondhand smoke, have adopted smoking prohibitions in city parks. San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Calabasas, Los Angeles, Belmont, San Diego, Oakland and now San Jose has extended their smoke free policies to include entire city parks.

 New “no smoking” signs have been posted at all City of San Jose public parks, community centers, and libraries. Park Rangers have also been educating the community on the new ordinance and will start citing violators July 2008.

 Proposed Projects:

Coyote Creek Trail Update

Several years ago, City staff conducted a series of public meetings to master plan the Coyote Creek Trail north of Los Lagos Golf Course. Since that time, the City has secured environmental clearance and completed construction drawings for a half mile extension. Beginning in October, residents will see work performed between the Golf Course and Tully Road. The resulting project will include over 2,500 ft of new paved trail that will meander along the east bank of the creek within Stonegate Park, pass behind the police department’s horse stables, and meander through open space near the Tully Road Ball Fields. Like all new trail projects, Tully Road will benefit from stone entry columns to increase awareness of the trail system and add additional character to our neighborhood. The project will go out to bid this summer and the trail project should be open to the public by August 2008.

For more information about this trail system or trails throughout San Jose, be sure to visit the City’s award-winning Trail Program website at: http://www.sjparks.org/Trails

Vietnamese American Community Center

The proposed Vietnamese-American Community Center will address the social, cultural, educational and recreational needs of the growing Vietnamese population as well as serve the general community.  Our office has secured $1 million to fund a portion of the center’s construction costs and an allocation of $200,000 from the Citywide and District 7 Construction and Conveyance Tax Fund for the costs of amending the Kelley Park Master Plan and Design. Also an additional $1.6 million from the Redevelopment Agency capital budget will be reserved, bringing the City’s investment to a total of $2.8 million.  The center will be built and operated by a non-profit organization, and there will be substantial private fundraising to complete its construction. 

 McLaughlin Park next to Duc Vien Temple

Community and neighborhood leaders in the McLaughlin area have requested for more parks to be built in District 7. This 2.34 acre parcel of property on McLaughlin Road and Candia could potential be a feasible site for a future community park. District 7 has a high deficiency of parks, acquiring this property would be beneficial for the community and help to alleviate parking issues for the adjacent Buddhist Temple.

Staff is currently working on real estate appraisals and submission of a budget document to the Redevelopment Agency to request potential funds for acquisition of these parcels.