GENERAL INFORMATION
Cold Weather Expected throughout the Weekend
The City of Milpitas, in coordination with the Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing, will provide warming center services and overnight shelter through the incoming inclement weather event, Friday, February 1, through Monday morning, February 4. If you, or someone you know, needs somewhere to warm up during business hours, head to any of the following Milpitas Warming Stations:
- Community Center: 457 E. Calaveras Blvd. Open Monday – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Open Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone: 408-586-3210
- Barbara Lee Senior Center: 40 N. Milpitas Blvd. Open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Phone: 408-586-3400
- Sports Center: 1325 E. Calaveras Blvd. Open Monday – Thursday, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Open Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Open Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Phone: 408-586-3225
- Milpitas Library: 160 N. Main St. Open Monday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday – 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
For overnight sheltering assistance, contact:
- Milpitas Communications Center, available 24/7, at 408-263-1212
- Call 211
- Homeless Helpline: 408-793-0550
- Homeless First Helpline: 408-510-7600
- Register to receive text information by sending “HOMELESS” to 888777
Warming center participants will have access to the lobby area only of the facilities listed above. Animals, other than service-animals are not permitted inside the facilities.
Local Emergency Alert System – Alert SCC
Many people think that if they receive AMBER alerts and/or federal alerts, they are signed up to received ALL emergency alerts. In order to be better covered by local emergency alert notifications in Milpitas and Santa Clara County, you need to register with AlertSCC. Milpitas utilizes the Federal Emergency Alert System but we also use AlertSCC as an effective means to communicate in an emergency. AlertSCC is an opt-in program, meaning people must register themselves. To register, visit https://www.sccgov.org/sites/alertscc/Pages/home.aspx
Smart Sewer Cover Helps to Avert Sewer Blockage
Over the past two months, the Department of Public Works (DPW) staff have been working with Smart Covers Systems to install monitoring devices on approximately thirty sanitary sewer manholes in critical areas around Milpitas. These devices are part of a web-based smart technology that provides real-time data on sewer flow levels in the wastewater pipeline. The Smart Cover System provides notifications to staff on changes in flow levels in the sewer system that could indicate a potential issue within the system, such as blockages.
This technology has already proven helpful to Public Works staff. Last week the system identified a sudden decrease in flows at one of the manholes in the sewer system, and notified staff. As staff investigated, the decrease in the sewer flow levels was traced to an upstream blockage in the system which staff was able to resolve. As result, the Smart Covers effectively provided real-time data that enabled DPW staff to address a system blockage and prevent a potential sanitary sewer overflow.
Water and Sewer Open Community Engagement
Staff continues to outreach to the community to provide critical information on the water and sewer services and the need for the proposed rate changes. This week, an additional outreach meeting was held on Wednesday, January 30 with Pioneer Mobile Home Park. The City’s website www.milpitas.gov/watersewer2018 continues to updated on a daily basis with information, including a list of frequently asked questions.
Black History Month Flag Raising
Join us on Wednesday, February 6 from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at César Chavez Plaza for a flag raising to honor Black History Month. Light refreshments will be available. For more information,
call (408) 586-3210.
Milpitas Sports Center Master Plan
Join us and be part of the discussion on the plan for future improvements, amenities and accessibility in the Sports Center Complex. The community meeting will be held Wednesday, February 13 from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the Barbara Lee Senior Center, Community Room. For more information, please call (408) 586-3225.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Text to 9-1-1 Now Available in Milpitas
Milpitas Police Department Text-to-911 services are now available in emergencies where the caller is unable to talk. Callers from cell phones can send emergency text messages to the Dispatch Center when the callers are unable to call 9-1-1 directly. Traditional voice calls to 9-1-1 are still the fastest way to reach the Dispatch Center in case of an emergency. A Press Release was disseminated and posted to Social Media.
Breakfast with a Cop
On Saturday, February 16, the second Breakfast with a Cop! Event will be held at Christy’s Donuts from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., located at 1291 East Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas. No agenda or speeches, just a chance for residents to ask questions or voice concerns. For more information, please contact Sergeant Hinkley at 408-586-2527. A Press Release was disseminated and posted to Social Media.
Active DUI Operation on Sunday, February 3
On Sunday, February 3, the Milpitas Police Department will be actively looking for drivers suspected of driver under of the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs during Super Bowl LIII. Funding for this DUI operations is provided through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A Press Release was disseminated.
Community Service Awards Ceremony
On Friday, January 25, Sergeant Joseph Heylen and six (6) police officers attended the Community Service Awards Ceremony at Spangler Elementary School located at 140 North Abbott Avenue.
Flame Keepers and Milpitas Black Caucus Black History Month Breakfast
On Saturday, February 2 at 9:00 a.m., Police Department staff will attend the Flame Keepers and Milpitas Black Caucus Black History Month Breakfast. The event will be held at the Sunnyhills United Methodist Church located at 355 Dixon Landing Road.
BUILDING PERMITS AND OCCUPANCY
Building permits were issued to the following:
- KB Homes, developer for the construction of three, 3-story buildings with a total of 16 townhome residential units out of the total 144 units being developed at Circuit, located at 1210 California Circle. Estimated construction cost is $5.46M.
- View Dynamic Glass, an intelligent, electrochromic window manufacturer, for tenant improvements at their facility located at 195 S Milpitas Blvd. Estimated construction cost is $2.5M.
- Pulte Homes, developer of Metro Flats & Rows, 303 townhome and single family units located at 1401 S. Milpitas Blvd (former Milpitas Station), for the construction of one 6-unit building. Estimated construction cost is $1.85M.
- Tarob Court 2, developer for the construction of 53 residential townhomes located at 1992 Tarob Ct., for site grading. Estimated construction cost is $320,000.
- Tesla Motors, for installation of 20 EV charging stations at the Great Mall located at 1234 Great Mall Dr. Estimated construction cost is $248,000.
A Building permit application was submitted by the following:
- Semi, a semiconductor manufacturing company, for tenant improvements at their facility located at 673 S Milpitas Blvd. Estimated construction cost is $350,000.
The following business has received final inspection and is now open for operation:
- Nilgiris Inc., an Indian grocery store located at 114 S Abel St.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Centre Pointe Townhomes, a 241 townhome development by DR Horton located at 1501 Centre Pointe Dr.: Two additional 3-story buildings with a total of 11 units were finalized, bringing the total to 141 completed units in the development.
Fire at Manferd St.: The Building and Safety Department responded to a request for inspection and assessment at a residential structure fire at Manferd St. that occurred on Sunday, January 20th, 2019. The inspector posted the building with a restricted use sign allowing entry only with an escort to obtain personal belongings.
PLANNING UPDATE
Alder Lane Hotel Development
Staff from the City Manager’s Office, Economic Development and Planning Department met with Lodging Dynamics on Wednesday, January 23 to discuss their previously approved Element Hotel site at Alder and Barber Lane. The Site Development Permit was approved in April, 2018 for construction of a 194-room, five-story hotel. Construction of the Element Hotel is anticipated to start in the coming months.
The developers are proposing a second hotel (the A/C Hotel is a consideration) to occupy the site in addition to the Element Hotel, and will be submitting a Site Development Permit application in the near future. The applicant would like to explore options regarding height, floor area ratio and parking for the new hotel and staff will present a memo to the Planning Commission on February 13 for their feedback. Staff anticipates a formal planning application will follow thereafter.
VTA Alder Lane Site Update
The Request for Quote closed in late December and VTA received one response from a hotel developer who is experienced with hotel development on municipal ground leases. VTA will request a formal proposal from the developer in early February and will give 2 months to the developer to develop their proposal (which will include site plan, preliminary architecture, and also ground lease business terms). In mid-April, VTA will interview the proposed Development Team and invite one City staff member to participate on the interview panel, review their proposal and provide feedback. VTA anticipates VTA Board approval on June 6 enter into Exclusive Negotiations with the developer.
Serra Center Ownership News
During recent background analysis of the 16.2 acre Serra Center commercial retail properties, staff discovered ownership news of interest. The Serra Center was last considered an active preliminary plan review with the City in early 2015. The stated owner was Henry Horng. According to the United States Attorney’s Office press release (Link attached), a federal jury returned a verdict against Jyh-Chau “Henry” Horng, finding him guilty of two counts of filing false tax returns and one count of lying to the IRS during a 2010 audit. Horng owned and operated an international trading business from his Saratoga home. During the period of tax evasion, the Horngs purchased millions of dollars of real estate, and invested over $5 million into a Milpitas shopping center. Horng faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison for each false tax return and up to an additional five years in prison for lying to the IRS auditor. In addition to the prison terms, the court also may order Horng to serve an additional period of supervised release and to pay restitution and monetary penalties.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Update
The Planning Department held a final community workshop at City Hall on January 17 to provide receive feedback on potential ordinance changes and to share Council’s direction from the Council meeting of January 15. Using the feedback received from City Council and the community, staff is preparing a draft ordinance for Planning Commission consideration on February 13, 2019. While preparing the ordinance, staff received a legal determination that homeowners’ associations (“HOAs”) may still enforce requirements and restrictions on ADUs notwithstanding State and local regulations.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Explore Milpitas App
The City of Milpitas launched a free, new mobile app called Explore Milpitas on December 21, 2018. The App gives residents and visitors an easy way to discover and connect with restaurants and hotels in the city. This new app serves as a directory of all of Milpitas’ dining and lodging destinations, providing app users with useful information, including an establishment’s address, website, contact information, and hours of operation. Users can also search for local hotspots by keyword or category, call businesses directly through the app, and map driving directions.
Businesses also have the option to add or claim their business listing, which will give them access to edit and customize their listing with pictures, discounts, social media links, and any other information they would like to share.
The app is available on the Apple iTunes app store and the Android Google Play store. In the past 30 days 57 people have downloaded the app using an Apple device and 21 people have downloaded the app on an Android device. 47 local businesses have already claimed their listing using the website.
Discover Milpitas – Silicon Valley Business Journal
The City of Milpitas Economic Development team published the first three of six articles available on the Silicon Valley Business Journal website. These articles highlight the strengths of the Milpitas economy and potential for growth moving forward. The first article, ‘Milpitas: Invest, innovate, inspire’, outlines the current economic foundation of the city and new opportunities for development. The second article dives into the manufacturing sector and the local talent that drives the Milpitas advanced manufacturing cluster. The third article highlights the incredible growth occurring in the Transit Area surrounding the opening of the Milpitas BART Station.
The three articles will be hosted on the Silicon Valley Business Journal website for three months and subsequently available on the City’s economic development website, MilpitasInnovates.com. Three additional articles will be added in the following weeks. To view the articles visit https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/partners/discover-milpitas/.
