REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Appointments Related to a Charter Review Committee and Direction to Study Charter Amendment Alternatives Related to the Positions of Police Chief and City Clerk for Possible Placement on a March 2024 ballot.
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
At its meeting on June 6, 2023, the City Council took action to establish a 7-member Charter Review Committee (“Committee”) for the purposes of studying whether to propose an amendment to the City Charter that would change the positions of Police Chief and City Clerk from elected to appointed positions.
In doing so, the City Council also requested that the Committee consider and make a recommendation as to the appropriate appointing authority should they propose a charter change.
The City Council approved a selection process whereby each Council member was to nominate one representative from their District with one at-large member nominated by the Mayor. Names of nominees were to be submitted to the City Clerk by July 7th for purposes of validating residency with formal Council action to be taken at the July 18, 2023 City Council meeting. To allow additional time to nominate members, the deadline was extended to noon on July 12, 2023.
The purpose of this item is to present the names of proposed nominees (Attachment 1) for City Council consideration and to seek direction from the City Council as to any additional scope of work for the Committee
DISCUSSION
The nominees are as follows:
At-Large: Joyce Davis
District 1: Satish Chandra
District 2: Chiragkumar Patel
District 3: Christine Koltermann
District 4: Daniel Huynh*
District 5: Jeff Houston
District 6: Clysta Seney
*Nomination documentation received after the deadline.
Each nominee met the requirement of being a registered voter and resident of the City of Santa Clara. Each submitted proof of residency and voter registration verification was done through the Registrar of Voters Office.
Next Steps
Should the City Council decide to proceed with calling for a March 2024 election, the appropriate paperwork must be submitted to the Registrar of Voters no later than November 27, 2024. In order to meet this timeline, staff has prepared a tentative schedule for the Committee which is enclosed as Attachment 2. This schedule will allow for an initial meeting of the Committee to select a Chair and Vice Chair, Review the Scope of Work as defined by the City Council and finalize the dates/times of the proposed meetings. This meeting would be followed by two public hearings to take public comment, followed by two public meetings for the Committee to draft and finalize their recommendations. Staff would then prepare a report to Council to transmit the recommendations of the Committee and present to the City Council at the November 7 Council meeting. This schedule would then allow the City Council to consider whether to call for a March election at its November 14, 2023 meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA guidelines section 15478(b)(4) in that it is a fiscal activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potential significant impact on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action to appoint Committee members other than the related staff time. However, on July 18, 2023, the City Council will consider a written petition submitted by Councilmember Jain to establish a budget to support the work of the Charter Review Committee as well as other ballot measure costs which could have a fiscal impact of up to $430,455. That item will be brought forward as RTC 23-913.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Clerk’s office and the City Attorney.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Appoint nominees to serve as members on the Santa Clara Charter Review Committee for the purpose of studying whether to propose an amendment to the City Charter that would change the positions of Police Chief and City Clerk from elected to appointed positions.
2. Other action or direction to the Charter Review Committee as deemed appropriate by the City Council
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative : Staff makes no recommendation
Staff
Reviewed by: Cynthia Bojorquez, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Jōvan Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Nomination Forms
2. Proposed Committee Schedule