Meeting Minutes of D1 Leadership Group General Membership MeetingMarch 21, 2026 San Jose West Valley Library – community room

Chair Bob Levy opened the meeting at 9:05 a.m.

Meeting Attendees present: D1 Leadership Group Steering Committee Officers: Bob Levy,
Chair; Amy Cody, Vice-Chair; Gary Smith, Secretary; and Jerry Giles, Treasurer.
D1 Leadership Group Steering Committee Members-at-Large: Gary Cunningham, Doris
Livezey, and Vince Navarra.
D1 Leadership Group members present: Betty Kabanek, Minh Nguyen, Jim Landowski,
Charleen Marfil, Carlin Black, Elizabeth Guimarin, Ana Brioni, Nora Chen, Mike Chen, Maria
Ines Ortega.
Elected officials present: District 1 Councilmember Rosemary Kamei; Kathy Sutherland, Board
Chair– Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority.
Councilmember appointed officials present: Daniel Cao, San Jose District 1 Planning
Commissioner.
City staff present: Elise Lester, Policy & Legislative Advisor (City of San Jose District 1
Council office), Greg Cajina (Beautify San Jose Neighborhood Engagement Team), Timothy
Choy (City of Saratoga).
Speakers present: Andrea Mackenzie, General Manager, Santa Clara Valley Open Space
Authority.

A meeting quorum was present (at least nine D1 LG member organizations and at least two D1
LG Steering Committee members).

Councilemember Rosemary Kamei gave a report including an update about San Jose’s budget,
as well as fielding questions, providing info about remaining D1 Asks Funds that neighborhood
associations can be considered for, and she and City staff provided a few large written wall-
charts with small round color markers for members and guests to post their preferences.

Minutes approval from D1 LG General Membership Meeting of Jan. 17, 2026. A motion (by
Doris Livezey) was seconded and motion carried successfully.

Treasurer’s Report: Betty Kabanek, recent past D1 LG Treasurer, gave a report and current D1
LG Treasurer Jerry Giles was present during report. Current D1 LG checking/savings account
balance is $8951.

D1 LG Bylaw Changes: Gary Smith explained that the D1 LG Steering Committee
recommended Bylaw Changes were included in one email, with three separate files, that was
emailed in advance of this meeting along with D1LG’s Meeting Agenda for this Meeting.

Gary Smith made a motion to approve the D1 LG Steering Committee recommended Bylaw
changes, which were stated in writing in two of three separate attached to the email invitation
to this D1 LG General Membership Meeting. Motion carried successfully.

These approved Bylaws Changes, included in the motion shown above, include the following:
Change accepted in ARTICLE III

The D1LG has will organized itself into four distinct working groups as needed in order to
focus on our Mission.
These are:

• Outreach and Communication
• Training and Succession Planning
• Policy and Identity
• Autonomy and Advancement
  Change accepted in ARTICLE V, Section 2
  The Steering Committee shall consist of a minimum of 4 officers of the District 1 Leadership
  Group. Officers of the Steering Committee shall be Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer,
  optional Member(s) at Large, and a representative from the District 1 Council member’s Office
  (non-voting)
  Change accepted in ARTICLE V, Section 3, Paragraph 3
  Nominations shall be taken at the November March meeting. A member being nominated must
  be present to accept or decline the nomination, or have been asked prior to meeting to determine
  if he/she is willing to accept the nomination.
  Change accepted in Article V, Section Three, Paragraph Five:
  An election shall be held at the January May meeting as the first order of business. Votes shall be
  taken by a secret ballot. Tally and verification of the eligible votes shall occur immediately after
  the close of voting.
  Change accepted in ARTICLE VI, Paragraph Two:
  The CHAIR, unless absent, shall preside at meetings of the D1LG, co-sign on all is authorized
  to sign checks drawn against the funds of the Group, and perform such other duties as the Board
  may require.
  Change accepted in ARTICLE VI, Paragraph Five:
  The TREASURER shall keep an account of the income and expenditures and report at each
  meeting, and co-sign on all is authorized to sign checks drawn against the funds of the D1LG,
  and is authorized to sign all contracts.
  Change accepted in ARTICLE VI, Paragraph Six:
  The Optional Member(s) at Large shall be responsible for oversight of D1 Projects as they arise

and will work with the SECRETARY on Leadership Group communications will work with all
members of the Steering Committee, regarding any and all projects, communications, and issues assigned by the Committee.

and, the following three additional Bylaw Change recommendations, that were approved by
the motion noted above, which were originally brought up during the prior D1LG General
Meeting on 1/17/26:
Change accepted in ARTICLE IV – SECTION 2, Paragraph Two

2. Each community-based organization, neighborhood association, neighborhood
group, or business group can appoint up to two (2) four (4) members with two (2)
alternates in order to ensure representation and continuity. Said member representative
will be14 years of age or older.

Change accepted in ARTICLE V – SECTION 2

The Steering Committee shall consist of a minimum of 4 officers of the District 1
Leadership Group. Officers of the Steering Committee shall be Chair, Vice-Chair,
Secretary, Treasurer, up to three (3) Member(s) at Large, and a representative from the District 1
Councilmember’s Office (non-voting).
Change accepted in ARTICLE VII MEETINGS – SECTION 3 – Paragraph two

2. Any named member or alternate may add recommend an item to the agenda by
communicating the agenda item to the Secretary verbally or in writing no less than two weeks prior to the meeting.

A third separate Bylaw change request shown below, requested by UNSCC and approved by D1
Leadership Group Steering Committee, was mentioned by Bob Levy, Gary Smith, Betty
Kabanek, and Gary Cunningham duringt this D1 Leadership Group General Meeting. This third
Bylaw change request, shown below, can be voted on for approval or disapproval at the next D1
Leadership Group General Meeting on May 16.

Proposed changes to Bylaws ARTICLE IV – SECTION 1 – MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY
The D1LG is open to any resident, community-based organization, neighborhood
association, neighborhood group, or business group that is recognized by the District One
Council member located and residing within the District 1 Leadership Group boundaries as
designated in ARTICLE I.

Proposed changes to Bylaws ARTICLE IV – SECTION 2 – Paragraph 1

1. The membership composition of the D1LG shall be made up of residents,
representative(s) of each community-based organization, neighborhood association, neighborhood group, or business group. recognized by the San Jose Council District 1 Office.

Reports:

Daniel Cao, San Jose D1 Planning Commissioner gave a report including there’ll be two
upcoming public hearing meetings on San Jose General Plan: 1) on April 1, 2026 with focus on
Residential Capacity and Jobs; and 2) on May 20, 2026 with focus on General Plan Missing
Middle Housing. Daniel’s email address is bc_daniel.cao@sanjoseca.gov.

Elizabeth Guimarin gave a report regarding community Emergency Preparedness including
providing a brief overview of San Jose Community Emergency Response Team ‘CERT,’ Village
Hubs, and emergency preparedness command.

Guest Speakers:
Andrea Mackenzie, General Manager, and Kathy Sutherland, Board Chair of Santa Clara Valley
Open Space Authority gave a talk and provided written brochures and a list of current activities
pertaining to Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority including explaining that a parcel tax
citizens’ initiative Ballot Measure D will be on the June 2, 2026 voter ballot for this area.
San Jose Police Department: No report since no SJ PD officers were present at this meeting.
Greg Cajina, BeautifySJ Neighborhood Engagement Team, gave a report and provided printed
copies of a “Monthly Training Schedule 2026.”
Meeting adjourned by Chair Levy at approx 11:30 a.m.
Next D1LG General Membership Meeting: May 16, 2026 (3rd Sat. Of the month) at Cypress
Senior Center.