"We're the 10th largest city in the country," Yeager's assistant Megan Doyle said. "You come up here, and you believe it."

Architect Richard Meier, whose other designs include the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, made use of the California sunshine in designing San Jose's $348-million City Hall. John Mills, Yeager's chief of staff, says he appreciates the fact that even the conference rooms, which were interior rooms in the old city hall, now look out over San Jose.

"The views give you a real sense of where you are," Mills said.

View aside, Yeager said he will miss the intimacy his old office offered on N. First Street. "I chose [the old] office because it was away from the beaten path."

Yeager and the other city council members, along with Mayor Ron Gonzales, made the move to their new downtown digs on July 18. From the 18th floor, Yeager has a bird's-eye view of his district, as well as of San José State University, where he teaches a class in local politics.

Yeager, who used to drive to the campus from the old city hall on N. First Street, said he can now "hoof it" to the campus. His students can also take advantage of city hall's proximity to campus, since Yeager requires them to attend City council meetings as part of their course work.

However, parking is another issue: the bulk of the parking spaces in the new building's underground garage is reserved for city hall visitors. City employees have been issued permits to nearby city-run parking lots.

As his staff boxed up his old office, Yeager said he wasn't daunted by the prospect of packing five years' worth of files and mementos.

"I'm not a packrat," he said. "I won't have much to go through because I don't save things in general."

Once in the new building, however, Yeager's staffers were wondering if they'd have enough wall space for all the plaques and photos they'd stacked on his office table.

"We haven't prioritized what's going to go up," Doyle said.

After they're settled in, council members and staff must familiarize themselves with the new building. The council chambers, constructed so council members are at eye level with speakers who come to the podium, are outfitted with high-tech tools, such as audio-visual equipment, to use during meetings. There are new phone numbers to learn and a new phone system to master.

Despite a training session, Doyle said, "I realized quickly I was in over my head, even though I never met a phone I didn't like."

City employees who were accustomed to going to a cafeteria downstairs must now find a different place for lunch, since the new city hall doesn't offer food service.

"It was just so easy to go down six flights," Yeager said.

Doyle said having all the city's departments under one roof will make it much easier to facilitate meetings.

"The department of transportation used to be on Second Street, and they had to drive over [to the old city hall] for meetings and find parking," she added.

Yeager said the new city hall should draw more public attention than its 50-year-old predecessor.

"When it is finally completed, it will receive many awards, and people will come to see it," he said.

The new city hall is located at 200 E. Santa Clara St. The new phone number for District 6 is 408.535.4906.

New city hall department contact information

San Jose's movers and shakers are still moving into the new city hall building in downtown San Jose one department at a time. All city staff expects to be ensconced in the building at E. Santa Clara and Fourth streets by the end of the month. By the time the last department moves, employees will have packed and unpacked more than 19,500 boxes.

The San Jose Redevelopment Agency was scheduled to occupy the 14th floor as of Aug. 8. The agency's new phone number is 408.535.8500.

City employees in charge of building permits and plan checks are set to move onto the first three floors on Aug. 15, followed by planning and public works on Aug. 22. All three departments can be reached at 408.535.3555.

The Recycle Plus Call Center sets up shop on the fourth floor on Aug. 22. The call center's new phone number is 408.535.3515.

The official opening of the new city hall is set for Oct. 15, when the city has a community celebration with children's activities and performances by cultural groups.

The new city hall is located at 200 E. Santa Clara St. The on-site, underground parking garage is accessible from Sixth Street and includes 300 spaces for members of the general public conducting business at city hall.

For more information, contact the customer service call center at 408.535.3500 or visit www.sanjose ca.gov/newcityhall/.