Council Wrap-up: Lehigh Employees and Jobs Tributes, Campaign Fireworks

The mood was somber at the start of Tuesday's City Council meeting as the council paid tribute to three fallen as well as Steve Jobs who succumbed to cancer the same day.

Later sparks flew during a routine discussion over a design review ordinance, when Vice Mayor Mark Santoro pointed a finger at Councilmember Barry Chang over an illegal Homer Tong campaign sign in front of Chang's business office, that Chang denied having anything to do with.

Here's a wrap-up of what happened.

Lehigh Employees

"October 5 was a sad day in Cupertino," Mayor Gilbert Wong said, opening the meeting, the first since the tragic shooting at Lehigh when three employees were killed and six others were wounded. Wong said of Mark Munoz, Manuel Pinon and John Vallejos that they "worked hard, loved their families and were loved in return."

Former Mayor Sandra James, now public relations and community affairs manager for Lehigh, thanked the city and its employees for helping the company that day. The city opened up the Cupertino Community Hall to Sheriff's Deputies and the company, becoming a second command center, as well as a place for families to receive official word about loved ones at the plant, and employees to receive grief counseling.

"It’s one of those things that you hope that your city will rise to the occasion when something like this happens, but I’m here to tell you, because I was in the middle of it, you should be very proud of your employees and all the services you provided, they were absolutely wonderful," she said.

James also thanked the community for its "outpouring of support."

She said Tuesday, Oct. 18, was the first day the cement kiln had been fired up since the incident two weeks earlier. She also said not all employees had returned because they needed further grief counseling.

Steve Jobs

The council took a few moments to honor Steve Jobs, who died Oct. 5 from cancer. They presented a video tribute created by city staff that interspersed Jobs' last presentation to the City Council on June 7 with photos of Jobs throughout his career.

Santoro and Chang Clash

A two-minute shouting match broke out between Santoro and Chang during a discussion of a new ordinance streamlining the city's design process. Santoro was running through a long list of questions and corrections for city staff, when he interrupted himself to make a comment about rules concerning campaign signs.

Santoro pointed out that campaign signs are limited to four square feet in size—alluding to two over-sized Homer Tong signs that were placed in front of Chang's real estate office at the corner of De Anza Boulevard and McClellan Road—then turned to his right, the direction of Chang, and said "Barry." Santoro later said he was trying to indicate somthing to Interim City Attorney, Gary Baum, who sits just to the right of Chang.

Chang, who is endorsing Tong in the Nov. 8 election, immediately asked Santoro why he was singling him out.

"I'm not running in the election at this time," Chang said.

"I only mentioned you because you have an illegal sign in your business," Santoro responded.

As Chang asserted that he did not put up the sign, the two began talking over one another, getting louder in the process.

At one point Chang yelled, "Mark that’s not very nice of you, I don’t like it."

"I don’t care if you don’t like it like it," Santoro shouted back. "You’re acting wrong, you’re doing something wrong, you should follow the rules, you're elected officials, you make the rules, you should follow the rules."

Staying out of the argument was the only incumbent running for office, Mayor Wong, who presides over the meetings.

Finally, Councilmember Orrin Mahoney said, "Let's calm down." Santoro then returned to his list of questions for staff.

Later, both men apologized to one another for the incident.

Chang explained at one point that he called Tong when he saw the signs, and that Tong told Chang that he did not erect the signs, suggesting they were placed by a supporter unaware of campaign sign rules. Chang said Tong received an email from the city, giving his campaign until the next day to remove the signs.

Home of Christ Church

The council unanimously approved a general plan amendment and rezoning measure for the expansion of the at 10340 Bubb Rd.

The church acquired an adjacent building, 10420 Bubb Rd., former home of the UC Santa Cruz Extension Office. The growing 16-year old church plans on offering more classes and programs, a bookstore for its members, a cafe for members and business park neighbors only, as well as leasing out any unused space to businesses.

Not happening at the church: a day care center or school. Because the church is located in a light industrial area, it is prohibited from daily activities that include "sensitive receptors", in other words children, the elderly or disabled people, who might be negatively affected by surrounding industries and could not be easily evacuated in an emergency.

More than 100 church members attended the council meeting in support of the changes. They wore black buttons with red hearts, that said, "I love church".