Committee assignments

The Evergreen-East Hills Development Policy

Happy New Year!

The end of the 2009 gives me a good opportunity to reflect on the past year.  As my first year as your councilmember comes to a close, it has been an exciting and challenging year that I will never forget.  It is an honor and pleasure to serve the residents of District 8 on the City Council.  This is the best city in the world and I feel fortunate to represent the area where I was raised.
 
Despite the challenges of 2009, we were able to make progress on many projects.  Here is a short summary of my first year in office.  I look forward to serving you for three more years. There is so much more that can be done!

• I'm especially proud of our Day in the Park event. Over 3,500 people and 100 vendors and booths attended this year.
  
  
• In May, we hosted my first Senior Resource Fair at Eastridge Mall. The event was a huge success and we are excited to continue the tradition this year. 
  
  
• Highway 101: As a VTA Board member, my colleagues and I secured funding for the redesign of the Highway 101 interchanges at Tully, Capitol Expressway, and Yerba Buena, which will bring much needed traffic relief to an intersection that serves as gateways to District 8. 
  
  
• Light Rail: I also worked to maintain the $68 million appropriated for the Capitol Expressway Light Rail project. In the next two years, VTA will focus on bringing pedestrian safety improvements to Capitol Expressway.
  
  
• Neighborhood clean ups and dumpster days: We hosted 4 neighborhood clean-ups and 12 free bulky waste dumpster days.  This is one of the most in-demand services the City provides to the community.
     
  
• Coffee chats: My office has hosted eight coffee chats. If you have not been able to join me for coffee yet, this is a great opportunity to meet with me one-on-one and discuss any issue of concern. My office is diligent about tracking issues until they are resolved. Over 200 resident concerns, from the installation of "no parking" signs to organizing neighborhood watch groups, have been handled by my staff.
  
  
• As a veteran of the US Air Force, I am dedicated to the issues of our nation's veterans. On Veteran's Day, I was honored to participate in the 92nd Annual Veterans Day Parade, the Veteran's Day Concert hosted by the Villages, and a Dedication of New Flag at the Regency of Evergreen Valley - Ceremony. I also co-authored a memo proposing a new Vietnam War Memorial.
  
  
• The District 8 portion of the Lower Silver Creek flood protection project, from Moss Point Drive to Lake Cunningham, was completed in October. The overall project restores and enhances the natural landscape along the creek and trail and brings flood protection to 3,800 homes in the area. In June, the City Council approved $370,000 for restoration and repairs to the Thompson Creek Trail.  This covers funding for the repair of erosion damage at the foot of a City pedestrian bridge on Everdale Drive and a pedestrian path on Farnsworth Drive at San Felipe Road.

Photo Galleries

This is just the beginning! One of my top priorities as your councilmember is growing the economy in San Jose. I am focused on supporting our local businesses and pursuing employers to locate in District 8.  

I am also very focused on bringing quality retail to our area. A new shopping plaza is coming to the East Side! I led the way to have the City Council approve 350,000 square feet of new retail at the Arcadia site, located at Capitol Expressway and Quimby Road. I advocated for park space we desperately need. I was able to secure 14 acres for new parks. Retail and housing will be joined by open space, parks and sport fields. This project will be a wonderful addition to our community and a new gathering place for residents.

Save the date! I'm excited to announce that we awarded the construction contract for the Aborn Park Play Lot. The groundbreaking event is set for February 6th. It will be an exciting event and I will keep you posted as we finalize the program. The projected completion date is for early summer 2010, just in time for the summer break. I look forward seeing you at the groundbreaking and ribbon cutting.

I made great progress on important issues in District 8 and San Jose. I am committed to serving the residents of this area by keeping our neighborhoods safe, bringing jobs to Evergreen, developing strong neighborhoods, and staying focused on the issues that are important to you. I hope you enjoyed my first newsletter. Please feel free to contact me with any issues you may have or your thoughts on the newsletter.

Sincerely,
Rose Herrera