Santa Clara City Desk
By Carolyn Schuk

49ers Stadium Scores City Council Approval

The football analogies were free-flowing and the TV network cameras were rolling at last week's city council meeting, as Santa Clara's multi-year effort to bring a 49ers football stadium to the city crossed one of the project's most significant milestones: city council approval of the Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) and a financing plan for the proposed $1.02 billion stadium.

The council unanimously approved both the Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) and financing - "Joinder" - agreements. This was hardly a surprise, given that five of the seven council members actively campaigned for the stadium ballot measure, 2010's Santa Clara Measure J.

Perhaps the only surprise of the evening was the unanimity of the Council - with even Will Kennedy and Jamie McLeod giving the stadium strong endorsements. The two have been the sole critical voices in the Council's warm embrace of the 49ers proposal.

While there was plenty of talk about touchdowns, field goals, and end zones, it was left to Santa Clara Planning Commissioner and 2010 candidate for City Council Teresa O'Neill to deliver the most realistic analogy.

"This is not the end of the game, this is not the end of the season," said O'Neill. "This is the first play of a very long season. All the work that's gone into this at this time is only the beginning."

City Revenues Tick Up, Reducing Employee Furloughs

City employees who have been on one-day-a-month work furloughs will have fewer furlough days in 2012. Thanks to Santa Clara's slightly improved revenues, City Manager Jennifer Sparacino recommended three fewer furlough days in the coming year. The recommendation was approved unanimously.

In Memoriam: The Dec. 13 meeting was adjourned in memory of longtime Santa Clara resident and San Jose teacher, Richard Bartells.

Closed Sessions Matter

At its regular closed session meeting Tuesday, the City Council discussed two items: "Purchase/Sale/Exchange/Lease of Real Property(provisions, price and terms of payment)" of the proposed stadium site at Tasman and Great America with the 49ers and Great America owner and operator Cedar Faire, and contracts with the city's 10 unions. There were no reportable actions, said City Attorney Ren Nosky.