REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Report from the City Manager on the Request to Provide Information Regarding State of the City
Report
BACKGROUND
At the Joint City Council & Authorities Concurrent and Stadium Authority Board Meeting held on October 22, 2024, during the Reports of Members, Special Committees, and Councilmember 030 Requests, Councilmember Kevin Park requested to investigate Mayor Lisa Gillmor for Councilmanic interference for unilaterally canceling the 2024 State of the City address without input from the City Council.
City Manager Jovan Grogan stated the City Manager would provide a verbal report on the State of the City at a future City Council meeting.
DISCUSSION
As background, in the City of Santa Clara, the State of the City Address is an annual speech delivered by the Mayor provided to the community. In past years, the State of the City Address has been delivered by the Mayor. The events may also be hosted by the City of Santa Clara or hosted by another organization. Over the past 10 years, the event has not been held at a specific time of year -occurring from February through September annually.
For the planning of events, the City Manager’s Office Communications staff and Mayor and Council staff provide event support in the planning and logistics for the event, developing the outline and suggested speech, and supports the general outreach and promotion for the event. On an annual basis, City staff work in collaboration with the Mayor on the program details and State of the City Address. Over the years, the format of State of City events has been customized and may have a unique approach or a theme. Other neighboring cities also vary in their approach when hosting State of the City.
The table below includes a summary and background on the past State of the City events from 2014 through 2023:
|
Year / Date(s) |
Location |
Background |
|
2014 May 27, 2014 |
No physical location. |
Mayor Jamie Matthews provided the State of the City Address in a video. |
|
2015 Feb. 18, 2015 |
Santa Clara Convention Center |
An event titled Outlook 2015: Focus on Santa Clara was hosted by the former Santa Clara /Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce and Convention-Visitors Bureau. The event included a State of the City Address by Mayor Jamie Matthews. Entry fees were required for attendance. |
|
2016 Jan. 28, Feb, 3 and 22, 2016 |
No physical location. |
Mayor Jamie Matthews provided the State of the City Address in five separate video segments focused on different themes. |
|
2017 March 27, 2017 |
Santa Clara Convention Center |
An event titled Outlook 2017: Focus on Santa Clara was hosted by the former Santa Clara /Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce and Convention-Visitors Bureau. The event included a State of the City Address. Entry fees were required for attendance. Mayor Lisa Gillmor did not attend the 2017 event and Vice Mayor Dominic Caserta delivered the State of the City Address. |
|
2018 June 2, 9, 11, 2018 |
Four events were held at the Teen Center, Community Recreation Center, Don Callejon School and the Santa Clara Senior Center |
The four State of the City events included the State of the City Address from Mayor Lisa Gillmor and former City Manager Deanna Santana also presented a budget overview and major initiatives. The events were livestreamed. |
|
2019 June 20, 21, 22, 2019 |
Four events were held at Central Park Library, Northside Branch Library, Mission Branch Library and the Santa Clara Senior Center. |
The four State of the City events included the State of the City Address from Mayor Lisa Gillmor and former City Manager Deanna Santana presented a budget overview and major initiatives. The events were livestreamed. This was the first year Mayor Lisa Gillmor introduced the concept for the presentation of awards to residents and businesses/organizations. The awards were issued to a Citywide individual, Citywide organization, and District award recipients. |
|
2020 June 17, 18, 19, 2020 |
Due to COVID-19 impacts, for 2020, the State of the City was virtual at three separate virtual town meetings. |
Mayor Lisa Gillmor provided the State of the City Address, the City Manager provided an overview of the City budget, and City Clerk Hosam Haggag served as the moderator during the question & answer session with the community. Members of the public participated virtually due to COVID-19. For 2020, the Mayor and City Council honored COVID-19 Community Heroes. Videos of the awards were shown for all six Council districts and one citywide COVID-19 Pandemic Hero of the Year for providing aid and services to the Santa Clara community during the public health emergency. The City Councilmembers spoke during the virtual meeting about the awardees. |
|
2021 June 30, 2021 |
For 2021, the State of the City was presented to the community as a video. |
In the video, Mayor Lisa Gillmor presented her State of the City Address. During the event, the City Council recognized members of the community from each Council District by presenting COVID-19 Hero of the Year awards, and the Mayor presented the Citywide COVID-19 Hero of the Year award. |
|
2022 September 10, 2022 |
Community Recreation Center |
Mayor Lisa Gillmor presented the State of the City Address. This event included performances from community groups. The awardees were presented with awards at the event and videos were shown of the City Councilmember and the award recipient. |
|
2023 September 27, 2023 |
Mission City Center of Performing Arts |
Mayor Lisa Gillmor presented the State of the City Address. This event included performances from community groups. The Mayor and Council presented Community Awards for Citywide and for Council Districts. The awardees were presented with awards at the event and videos were shown of the City Councilmember and the award recipient. |
As background, below is timeline of the planning for the State of the City event for 2024:
June 2024:
• Staff began discussions regarding State of City planning regarding potential date, location, and overall program internally (staff only).
• Staff communicated with the Mayor to set up a meeting to plan and discuss details for the State of the City.
• Mayor Gillmor selected the Mission City Performing Arts Center selected as a potential location and September 18, 2024, was selected as possible date.
• Staff placed a hold on the City Council calendars.
July 2024:
• Staff followed up with Mayor Gillmor to confirm the program details including the outline for the State of the City address and performers.
• July 24, 2024: Mayor Gillmor informed City staff she was considering a change of venue and potentially an organization to host the State of the City, as it has been done in the past. Mayor stated she was working to find another date and venue to reschedule the event.
August 21-23, 2024
• During individual briefing meetings, the City Manager informs District Councilmembers that the Mayor is considering hosting the State of the City with an outside organization, as it has been done in prior years.
August 28, 2024:
• Staff removed the calendar hold from the Outlook calendars for the City Council for September 18, 2024, at Mission City Performing Arts Center. Note: When an Outlook calendar appointment is removed, the system automatically includes the term “Canceled” when sending the email notification. At the time of the Outlook calendar removal, no information was provided on the rescheduled date. Therefore, staff did not place another hold on the City Council calendars.
Since the removal of the “HOLD” on the calendars, staff has not been informed of an updated date or location for the State of the City.
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(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City other than staff time.
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated by 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 <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
Staff
Reviewed by: Maria Le, Assistant to the City Manager, City Manager’s Office
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
None