REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Written Petition submitted by Haoning Richter requesting time during a Council Meeting to make a presentation regarding the Chamber of Commerce, Convention Center, and Convention & Visitors Bureau
Report
BACKGROUND
Council Policy and Procedure 30 - 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 has received a Written Petition for Council consideration from
Haoning Richter dated October 29, 2018 (Attachment 2) requesting to allow him to make a presentation regarding Chamber of Commerce, Convention Center, and Convention & Visitors Bureau. The City Council policy is silent on perceived or actual conflicts of interest and it is worth raising two issues that should concern the City Council:
* First, Mr. Richter states in his letter that he is a current applicant for the City Council approved Assistant to the City Manager position created for the purpose of management oversight of the Santa Clara Convention Center. At the time of the submittal of this Written Petition, the current recruitment is open, interviews have not been conducted, and the City Manager has not made an appointment. Granting a Written Petition according to the City Council Policy, e.g., within the next two City Council meetings, would afford Mr. Richter a City Council and public forum for speaking to this matter during the recruitment peri...
Click here for full text