PHOf'lE MO.

: 4000934051

P01

Jim Beall

Environmental Leader and Transit Champion
by Ted Smith,
Executive Director

years, San

For many

Jose city Councilman Jim Beall has beeii

leader who has stood up to protect the environment
courageoi:K « npnort
battle ‘

a

from his

of environmental initiatives to his unrelenting

improve our inefficient and smog producing transportation

eysteji;.

Jim w&ii one of the early proponents of district elections for the
Sai

1' \r

r 'r

go

•

his
the

91 rr > ig

gov;
new

c

Council, because

B

understanding that local

with
-■ be brought bad,
^ neighborhood It- ol,
'• ■•.cround in city p
.j.ng, h© has always understood
<-■ of grass roots participation in the shaping o ■

■-rntai policy, whether it be for the purpose of planning foj
ity park or for a new economic development plan.

.Jim was on© of the early su].

of Proposition 65 and later

Proposition 120,
two of tho major environmental propositions
catise
during the last decade. His support was strong and true

he believed in the issues, even when many of his colleay. 3 were
soared off by industry oppO£_^ian.
has always been willing to
St,’',

! i:p and be counted on importan
powerful opposition.

Jim

has

also

council's

played

Environment

an

iinportant

Committee,

even when he faces

issues,

role

where

on
le

the
has

San

J

city

• orked

pass

<^^dinanc©s that have regulated the use of CFCs, the compounds that
are destroying the ozone layer.
He has also been a strong
supporter of the city''s recycling programs, which are recognized as
th© best in th© country.
Jim.

is

probably

developing

best

progressive

known

for

his

transportation

regional
policio. .

leadership
H.‘ 9

list

in
of

accomplishments is long and impressive;
★ it

Chair of the National League
Communications Steering Committee

of

Citi‘="e

Transp>.AL Cation

** H© was one of the key supporte.rs of the sui

and

transportation

reauthorization act, which provides millions of dollars for
n
Clara County transportation projects
** He was Chair of the California League of Cities Transportation
and Public Works Committee

' bh

\

** He has served as vice-chair and later as chair -of the Santa

Clara County Traffic Authority
★

He has served as vice chair of the T2010, the county's rail

master plan which is developing rail projects to improve mass

PHONE NO.

. ^FROM :

: 4089984051

P02

r

transit int

the next century.

** He has served as the Santa Clara County representative to the

Metropolitan Transportation Coitunission, and has been a leader in

efforts to reduce congestion and to reduce polliition.
** He has also worked with local bicycle associations and rail
cojomuters to improve bicycling and rail service.

Throughout his years of service to the community, Jim has been
recognized by his constituents and hxs peers as someone who can get
things done.

He has also maintained his approachability and his

for hie years
humility, We salute him as our honoree and thank him with
hija ove
of service. We also look forward to working closely

the next decade I

V

/>

)- P'lf- e23

P':'7 c.'

c

' of2_ eu^-(I

■, i 7' ( Cl A. . ,

s

O

7

children; it is being located in District Nine,

Jim

worked with the group to solicit neighborhood input and
mitigate concerns.

The project has been overwhelmingly

accepted by the community, and will be a model facility.
Clinic Protection

When Jim was asked by local women's health clinics for
support, he promptly called the Police Chief and

reguested advance assistance from the Department to
prevent groups from blocking access to women's clinics.
Chair. CDRC

For two years.

Jim has served as Chair of the City's

Community Development Block Grant Steering Conunittee.
He has worked with a group of nine citizens to evaluate

community based organizations' requests for funding,
steered millions of dollars into City and community

and

projects addressing blight and low income needs.
Senior Wellness Program

Jim worked to restore this popular program largelv for
black seniors which was operated by a non-profit group
and closed down.

He worked with the program director

and the City to restore funding through the CDBG program
and find a new location for the program .

Legal Aid

When the previous contractor for rair housing services
shut dovTn, Jim v/orked with Legal Aid to develop a
proposal to provide these services to iandlords,
and low income individuals.

tenants

He helped Legal Aid to

receive the CDBG contract for fair housing services
which are mandated by the federal government.
Environment
CFC's

Jim worked to ensure that the Council passed an
ordinance banning certain CFC's in the City, and
reducing dependence on ozone-depleting compounds.
Environment Committee

Jim serves as a member of the Council's Environment
Committee.
The Committee is in the process of

developing a state-of-art garbage and recycling program
which far exceeds that of any City in the nation.

San

Jose currently picks up nine items curbside.
Labor

Justice for Janitors

Jim has consistently supported all aspects of the labor
movement, including publicly standing behind the Justice

for Janitors effort which has sought fair wages and
working conditions for largely Spanish-speaking.

low

2

and other informational events for the child care

community.
Parks and Recreation
Camden Lifetime Activities Center & Park

Jim worked with the City and private developers to

preserve 10 acres of a former high school site for open
space and a community recreation facility. He worked
with the neighboring community to develop the mission
for the facility, which is lifetime health and wellness.
The Center houses the City's ONLY municipal gym, an

extensive weight room, a dance studio and classrooms for
exercise and wellness programs. [See also "Camden Child
Care Center" above.]
Houae Park

Jim worked with the neighborhood and the City to

preserve a former school site as a neighborhood park,
with a par course and community center.
Kirk Community Center

Jim worked to develop a comprehensive community center
and park on a closed school site, Kirk serves as the
main community center for District Nine and houses many
popular programs, including dramatic arts for children,
summer sports camps, and senior activities. The Center
also houses the City-wide Therapeutic Recreation program
for the disabled.
Doerr Park

Jim obtained funds through the City budget process for
renovation of this neighborhood park ($200,000) . He also
worked with the neighbors to receive a grant from the
City for a joint City and community-sponsored tree
planting project.
Play Equipment at Athenour School
Due to construction of Route 85, which divided Branham

High and Athenour Elementary schools and reduced the
open space area for the elementary school, Jim worked
with the Traffic Authority to build a new state-of-art
playground, par course, and picnic area and install new
landscaping. The Traffic Authority spent $122,000 on
this project.
Skateboard park
Jim worked with the San Jose Youth Commission in 1909 to

prepare a report evaluating alternatives for

skateboarding in San Jose. Subsequently, he is working
to develop a skateboard park in his Council district.

3

Guadalupe River South

Jim is working to develop a landscaped river trail along
Reach 12 ot the Guadalupe River in his Council District,
for the enjoyment of pedestrians and bicyclists.

Transportation
County Transportation Agency Sexual Harassment Policy

At Jim's request, he was appointed to lead an Ad Hoc
Committee of the County Transportation Commission to
evaluate and improve the County policy on sexual
harassment.

The committee's work changed the County

Transportation Agency's practice in training employees
and addressing specific problems in the workplace, with
the goal of reducing the number of incidents of sexual
harassment.

Chair ■

NLC T&C Committee

Jim was appointed by the Chair of the National League of
Cities to be Chairman of the NLC Transportation and
Communications Steering Committee for a one-year term.

He lead the group in developing policies for cities in
the areas of transportation and telecommunications.
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act

As Chair of the National League of Cities Transportation
and Communications Steering Committee, Jim lobbied

Congress on behalf of the nation's municipalities for

passage of the surface transportation reauthorization
act.

Millions of dollars are directed for Santa Clara

County transportation projects in the bill, Ji.m was
invited by President Bush to attend the bill signing in
Dallas, Texas in December 1991. Jim attended and got
rained on, along with Bush!
Chair. LCC Transportation and Public Works Policy Committee
Jim served two one-year terms as Chairman of the League
of California Cities Transportation and Public Vtorks
Committee.
He lead the committee in developing policy

for state and municipal legislation on these issues.
Paratransit Coordinating Council
Jim has served since 1987 as Chair of the Santa Clara

County Paratransit Coordinating Council which oversees
programs operated by cities and non-profit agencies
which provide transportation services to the frail
elderly and disabled.
Traffic Authority

Jim worked in 1984 to develop the concept of Measure A,

the one-half cent sales tax for transportation projects
approved by the voters in June 1984. Santa Clara Count y
became the first

self-help

county in the state with

4

Measure A's passage, choosing to tax itself to improve

transportation in the area. The Traffic Authority will
raise and spend over one billion dollars on freeway

improvement,
^

widening, and building activities in the

County in a ten-ye'ar period. Projects include
construction of Route 85, widening of Rout- 101 and
upgrading of Route 237. Jim served as Vice Chair rrom

1985 to 1990, and has served as Chair since 1990.

T.A. projects have

All

come in on-time and under budget.

Jim is working with a consortium to develop a new

mechanism to

raise funds for transportation upon the

expiration of Measure A in 1995.
Route 87

Jim proposed the concept of this project and enlisted
City support as Chair of the Task Force which oversees
the upgrading of Guadalupe Parkway from 101 to Colem an
into a full freeway, to connect with the southern
portions of Route 87. Responsibilities have included

design and leveraging of funding. The City,
Redevelopment Agency and Caltrans are funding this
project. He has been Chair since 1986.
Guadalupe Corri dor

Jim served on the Guadalupe Corridor Joint Powers Board
responsible for the development of the light rail system

in Santa Clara County. He worked with City and County
o^icials to build the 20-mile light rail system which

runs from oanta Clara to South San Jose servin'commuters, visitors, students, and recreational users.
[See. also next item regarding Jim's efforts to expand

light rail system.]

County—Transportation Commission
Since 1981, among numerous projects, Jini worked to
plan

future

expansion of the light rail system to Mountain
View and Sunnyvale, the West Valley, and the East Side,
Jim also served
on a committee looking to expand service

to San Jose State University.
T20]0

Jim worked in 1991 and 1992 as Vice Chair of the

County's rail master plan effort to strategize the
County's transportation system into the next century.
They held public meetings, and identified the future
rail projects to improve mass transportation in the

County.
MTC

Jim has served as the representative of Santa Clara
regional transportation authority
since 1986. He has worked closely with the grant

5

allocation committee and has

directed funding to the

signal synchronizati

' a^^cluding San Jose's

traffic back-up, congeSJiSn and
has improved traffic f?oi
P^Hatant

reduced

emissions,

and

=°°g^^on_^aMgemg^
wh-i

legislation which '

He worked hard for^sf^h®
propositions which

. l^ansportation

^ which drafted the

Propositions 108/11'
and

116.

Passage of these

transportation bonds for c????cart^'‘'"^''

-ion

planning mechanicsrn
use projects which

Jim worked clo^ii7~;^^—
repeal the County's prohibition

.
^®®°^l^tions to

expressways in San jLe.

on County

£BASH Board

Jim serves

of CRASH,

ot Directors

lobbies

e Highways which

truck

improved highway
Jaltrain
As

member of the Joint

Powers Board, Jim lead
negotiations to
acquire the right of
Pacific to
way from Southern
services.

preserve the Peninsul

He has worked

w-it-h i-u

^^itrain commute

the Board to hire a new
run the train. with
and worked to extend service
to Gilroy.
service to

in his DismcrwMcrwas^"ear"thfri^hf’f

the ho^e^ri-1^
houoe was moved to the Citv'=^
^ deal whereby
Museum and
preserved
lor
the
use
of
futir^
SeS?a?[^n“^
‘
Roundhouse
Jim is

railroad enthusiasts tS prese ""
Pacific Roundhouse. ^Se SnSh® f
trains before locomotIvL haS^n^%"

backwards. it is one oPonf^ f

organization of

Southern
to

rotate

technology to move

xn the state, and the last oL ^"hJvrbSen^iruSf