REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Written Petition (Council Policy 030) Submitted by Mary Grizzle on behalf of the Members of Reclaiming our Downtown are Requesting to Place an Agenda Item at a Future Council Meeting to Discuss and Vote on the Current Downtown Urban Planning Firm WRT to Study the following 4 Financial Benefits of Moving City Hall to a Location within the 8 Blocks of the Original Downtown (Lafayette Benton Monroe Homestead):
1. The financial benefits and construction savings of moving city hall to an 8+ story mixed-use (offices) building;
2. An updated and complete analysis of the advantages of selling the acreage used by city hall on its current location on Warburton;
3. The substantial increase in private investment after a city hall has been brought back to Downtown as evidenced by several other American cities studied by Reclaiming our Downtown;
4. Financial benefit of a “completed Downtown” to the tax revenue of Santa Clara
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
Council Policy 030 - Adding an Item on the Agenda (Attachment 1) sets forth the procedure for written petitions. Any member of the public may submit a written request raising any issue or item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Council. Per the policy, the written request will be submitted on the agenda, in the form substantially provided by the requestor, without any staff analysis, including fiscal review, legal review and policy review. If a simple majority of the City Council supports further study of the request, then a full staff analysis shall be prepared within thirty (30) days, unless otherwise directed by the City Council.
DISCUSSION
The City Clerk’s Office received a Written Petition on April 7, 2022 submitted by Mary Grizzle on behalf of the member of Reclaiming our Downtown (Attachment 2) requesting to place an agenda item on a future council meeting to discuss the following as stated in the request: An up or down Vote on a study on the following 4 financial benefits of moving City Hall to a location within the 8 blocks of the original Downtown (Lafeyette Benton Monroe Homestead). We would like the current Downtown Urban Planning firm WRT to study: 1. The financial benefits and construction savings of moving city hall to an 8+ story mixed-use (offices) building; 2. An updated and complete analysis of the advantages of selling the acreage used by city hall on its current location on Warburton; 3. The substantial increase in private investment after a city hall has been brought back to Downtown as evidenced by several other American cities studied by Reclaiming our Downtown; 4. Financial benefit of a “completed Downtown” to the tax revenue of Santa Clara.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with considering the request to be placed on a future agenda except for staff time.
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 administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes to the environment.
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 report to council 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. Set a future Council meeting date to take action on the Written Petition received.
2. Take no action.
3. Any other City Council Action, as determined by the City Council.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff makes no recommendation.
Staff
Reviewed by: Nora Pimentel, Assistant City Clerk
Approved by: Office of the City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Policy and Procedure 030 - Adding an Item on the Agenda
2. Written Petition submitted by Mary Grizzle dated April 7, 2022