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 January 15, 2019, the Council adopted Resolution No. 19-8650 (Attachment 1) establishing, pursuant to Section 705 of the City Charter. The Resolution 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) 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.
The City Charter Section 705 states the Vice Mayor shall perform the duties of the Mayor during his/her absence or disability. The Vice Mayor shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the City Council.
DISCUSSION
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 |
|
Gerald “Jerry” Marsalli |
2014 |
|
Debi Davis |
2015 |
|
Teresa O’Neill |
2016 |
|
Dominic Caserta |
2017 |
|
Kathy Watanabe |
2018 |
|
Patricia M. Mahan |
2019 |
|
Karen Hardy |
2020 |
|
Raj Chahal |
2021 |
|
Sudhanshu “Suds” Jain |
2022 |
|
Kevin Park |
2023 |
As Vice Mayor Kevin Park is the outgoing Vice Mayor, he is eligible to serve as the next Chaplain. Consistent with the selection process outlined in Resolution No. 19-8650, Vice Mayor Kevin Park would be appointed to the position of Chaplain until the appointment of a successor Chaplain in January 2025.
Councilmember Anthony Becker is the only sitting Councilmember who has not yet served as Vice Mayor. Consistent with the selection process outlined in Resolution No. 19-8650, Councilmember Anthony Becker is to be considered for appointment to the position of Vice Mayor for 2024 and until a successor Vice Mayor is selected in January 2025.
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 administrative staff time.
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated with the City Attorney’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 Anthony Becker as Vice Mayor for approximately one year until the appointment of a successor Vice Mayor; and
2. Appoint Vice Mayor Kevin Park as Chaplain for approximately one year until the appointment of a successor Chaplain in January 2025.
Staff
Reviewed by: Maria Le, Assistant to the City Manager
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. 19-8650