The Sports & Open Space Authority of the City of Santa Clara was created in 1974, establishing a separate agency to deal with the problems of acquisition and preservation of open space within the City and the development of local sports activities. The validity of the Authority and its legal existence was established in 1975 by final judgment of the Santa Clara County Superior Court. The Santa Clara City Councilmembers serve as Authority Members and the City Manager serves as Contract Administrator. Authority Members and Officers are as follows:

• Patricia M. Mahan, Authority Chairperson
• Dominic J. Caserta
• Will Kennedy
• Pat Kolstad
• Jamie McLeod
• Joe Kornder
• Kevin Moore
• Contract Administrator, Jennifer Sparacino
• Authority General Counsel, Helene Leichter
• Authority Secretary, Rod Diridon, Jr.
• Director of Finance (SOSA), Mary Ann Parrot

Since its creation, the Sports & Open Space Authority has been involved in a number of successful projects for and on behalf of the City including the Santa Clara Golf & Tennis Club. The facility was developed by the Authority on City-owned land and is operated by the Authority under a management agreement with a private company. The Santa Clara Golf & Tennis Club also includes a restaurant facility and a banquet facility, both leased to a private operator.

The Authority owns 80 acres in the City of Santa Clara along Lick Mill Drive, south of Tasman Boulevard. A portion of that property, 43.1 acres, has been leased to a private party and 1162 apartment units have been developed on that portion of the property. The City has set aside approximately 40 acres of the property to be maintained as an open space park, called Ulistac Natural Area. Trails and amenities have been developed to protect and preserve the natural amenities of the site while providing public access. Additional uses under consideration are a Native American cultural center, and potential use of the property to replace wetlands being displaced by area development.

These projects provide on-going revenue, recreational open space and/or housing opportunities, employment, and diversification of land uses in the City.