REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Annual Appointment of Vice Mayor and Chaplain
Report
BACKGROUND
At the beginning of each calendar year, the City Council appoints a member of the City Council into the positions of Vice Mayor and Chaplain to serve for approximately one year until a successor Vice Mayor and successor Chaplain are appointed the following year.
On June 9, 1998, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 6442, which established, pursuant to Section 705 of the City Charter, a procedure for selection of Vice Mayor and selection of Chaplain of the City Council. On January 15, 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 19-8650 to repeal and replace Resolution No. 6442, establishing, pursuant to Section 705 of the City Charter, a procedure for selection of Vice Mayor and selection of Chaplain of the City Council (Attachment 1).
Resolution 19-8650 includes the following procedure for selection of a Vice Mayor and selection of a Chaplain:
1) In January of each year, the City Council shall select a Vice Mayor and a Chaplain by majority vote of a quorum of the City Council.
2) The Vice Mayor and Chaplain shall commence service immediately upon selection and shall serve for approximately one (1) year until the next Vice Mayor and Chaplain are appointed, provided that such service shall be at the pleasure of the City Council. by a majority vote of a quorum of the City Council.
3) The Vice Mayor shall be the Councilmember with the highest seniority in consecutive years on the City Council and who has not previously served as Vice Mayor.
4) The most recent outgoing Vice Mayor will serve as Chaplain.
5) If two or more Councilmembers have the same seniority in number of consecutive years served on the City Council, the Vice Mayor selected will be the Councilmember who received the most votes in the most recent applicable council election.
6) No Councilmember shall serve more than once as Vice Mayor unless all Councilmembers, expressly including those joining the Council from a later election, have had an opportunity to serve in that position.
7) A Councilmember may choose to not serve as Vice Mayor or exchange such service opportunity. Councilmembers may exchange places in the Vice Mayor rotation (i.e., allow another member to take his/her position in the rotation) if a majority of a Council quorum votes to approve the request.
8) The Chaplain will be selected in January of each year by majority vote of a quorum of the City Council. The Chaplain will be the most recent outgoing Vice Mayor.
DISCUSSION
Appointment of Vice Mayor
The City Charter Section 705 provides that the City Council will designate one of its members as Vice Mayor to perform the duties of the Mayor during the Mayor’s absence or disability.
The table below lists the City Councilmembers who have served as Vice Mayor since 2019.
|
Vice Mayor |
Calendar Year |
|
Patricia M. Mahan |
2019 |
|
Karen Hardy |
2020 |
|
Raj Chahal |
2021 |
|
Sudhanshu “Suds” Jain |
2022 |
|
Kevin Park |
2023 |
|
Anthony Becker |
2024 |
|
Kelly Cox |
2025 |
Resolution No. 19-8650 states the following:
• No Councilmember shall serve more than once as Vice Mayor unless all City
Councilmembers, expressly including those joining the Council from a later election year, have had an opportunity to serve in that position.
• If two or more Councilmembers have the same seniority in number of consecutive years served on the City Council, the Vice Mayor selected will be the Councilmember who received the most votes in the most recent applicable council election.
Based on the current City Council, Councilmember Albert Gonzalez is the only Councilmember who has not served in the position of Vice Mayor.
Based on the process outlined in Resolution 19-8650, City Councilmember Albert Gonzalez would be considered for the position of Vice Mayor until the appointment of a successor Vice Mayor in January 2027.
Appointment of Chaplain
As outlined in Resolution No. 19-8650, the selection process states the Chaplain will be selected in January of each year by majority vote of a quorum of the City Council. The Chaplain will be the most recent outgoing Vice Mayor.
The table below lists the City Councilmembers who have served as Chaplain since 2019.
|
ChaplainCalendar Year |
|
|
Kathy Watanabe |
2019 |
|
Patricia Mahan |
2020 |
|
Karen Hardy |
2021 |
|
Raj Chahal |
2022 |
|
Suds Jain |
2023 |
|
Kevin Park |
2024 |
|
Karen Hardy |
2025 |
Resolution No. 19-8650 states the following:
• The Chaplain will be selected in January of each year by majority vote of a quorum of the City Council. The Chaplain will be the most recent outgoing Vice Mayor.
Based on the process outlined in Resolution 19-8650, City Councilmember Kelly G. Cox would be considered for the position of Chaplain until the appointment of a successor Chaplain in January 2027.
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.
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and the City Manager’s Office.
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 or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Appoint Councilmember Albert Gonzalez as Vice Mayor for approximately one year until the appointment of a successor Vice Mayor in January 2027; and
2. Appoint the Councilmember Kelly G. Cox to serve as Chaplain for approximately one year until the appointment of a successor Chaplain in January 2027.
Staff
Reviewed by: Aimee Escobar, Management Analyst, City Manager’s Office
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. 19-8650