City Council and Authorities Concurrent & Santa Clara Stadium Authority Board Meeting - July 7, 2026

The City of Santa Clara held a joint meeting of the City Council and Stadium Authority Board on July 7, 2026, which included extensive discussions on several procurement and budget-related topics. Key procurement matters included the approval of a revolving credit agreement with TD Public Finance for up to $350 million to fund capital costs in the electric utility, supporting major infrastructure projects such as the NRS, KRS, and SRS transmission upgrades and a battery storage project. The council discussed the financing strategy, vendor selection process, and the impact on utility rates and residents. Additionally, the council held a public hearing and approved a non-exclusive franchise agreement with LS Power Grid for the Power of the South Bay transmission project, including adoption of the related environmental impact report. Another significant agenda item was the comprehensive update to the city charter, including proposed changes to public works procurement rules to allow alternative contracting methods like design-build. The council debated the scope, transparency, and timing of the charter revisions, with concerns raised about the complexity and rushed process. A motion was passed to bring back the charter update and related procurement provisions for further consideration at the next meeting, excluding the revenue bond proposal which requires additional review. No final votes were taken on the charter update itself during this meeting. Public comments addressed data sharing concerns, city ethics, and infrastructure issues. Overall, the meeting focused heavily on electric utility capital financing, procurement policy modernization, and governance reforms.