REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Annual Appointment of Vice Mayor and Chaplain
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
On January 15, 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 19-8650 (Resolution) establishing, pursuant to Section 705 of the City Charter, a procedure for selection of a Vice Mayor and selection of a Chaplain of the City Council by a majority vote of a quorum of the City Council. The Resolution is attached as Attachment 1.
Per the Resolution, the selection is scheduled to take place at a City Council meeting in the beginning of each year. The Resolution states that the Vice Mayor shall be the Councilmember with the highest seniority in consecutive years on the Council and who has not previously served as Vice Mayor. The resolution further states that, if two or more Councilmembers have the same seniority in number of years served on the City Council, the Vice Mayor selected will be the Councilmember who received the most votes in the most recent council election. The Councilmember serving as Chaplain will be the most recent outgoing Vice Mayor.
DISCUSSION
As Vice Mayor Karen Hardy is the most recent outgoing Vice Mayor, she is eligible to serve as Chaplain. In Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor’s letter to the City Council (Attachment 2), she recommends that the City Council appoint Vice Mayor Hardy to the position of Chaplain until the appointment of a successor Chaplain in January 2022.
The table below identifies the Councilmembers who have served as Vice Mayor since 2012.
|
Vice Mayor |
Calendar Year |
|
Lisa M. Gillmor |
2012 |
|
Patrick Kolstad |
2013 |
|
Jerry Marsalli |
2014 |
|
Debi Davis |
2015 |
|
Teresa O’Neill |
2016 |
|
Dominic Caserta |
2017 |
|
Kathy Watanabe |
2018 |
|
Patricia M. Mahan |
2019 |
|
Karen Hardy |
2020 |
As Councilmember Raj Chahal has the highest seniority in number of consecutive years served on the City Council and has not previously served as Vice Mayor, he is eligible to serve as Vice Mayor.
In Mayor Gillmor’s letter to the City Council (Attachment 3), she recommends that the City Council appoint Councilmember Chahal to the position of Vice Mayor until the appointment of a successor Vice Mayor in January 2022.
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 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City other than staff time.
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>.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Appoint Councilmember Raj Chahal as Vice Mayor and appoint Vice Mayor Karen Hardy as Chaplain for approximately one year until the appointment of a successor Vice Mayor and successor Chaplain in January 2022.
Staff
Reviewed by: Genevieve Yip, Staff Analyst I
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. 19-8650
2. Letter from Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor recommending Vice Mayor Karen Hardy as Chaplain
3. Letter from Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor recommending Councilmember Raj Chahal as Vice Mayor