REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
City Council Session on Governance
Report
BACKGROUND
On December 13, 2018, the City Council will convene to discuss governance and its implications in a council-district system.
As background, historically Councilmembers have been elected by an at-large election system. Based on a court-order issued to the City of Santa Clara in July 2018, the City moved from an at-large Councilmember election system to a district-based Councilmember election system. On November 6, 2018, Councilmembers Chahal and Hardy were elected to the Santa Clara City Council through district-based elections for Districts 2 and 3, respectively. As a result, the currently seated Council is comprised of four at-large elected Councilmembers and two elected by district. The Mayor continues to be elected at-large. The implications for changed governance need to be surfaced and reviewed by the City Council to ensure that values and goals supporting the City Council's duties are completed with intentional governance.
In addition, on November 6, 2018, Santa Clara residents were asked to vote on the Advisory Ballot Measure (Measure N):
"Shall the City of Santa Clara engage the voters in a public process to draft a Charter Amendment ballot measure to elect its Council Members, other than the Mayor, by district?"
The measure passed with 70.4% voter approval and may have additional implications on the current governance system. Staff will be developing a workplan in early 2019.
Lastly, the City is also engaged in an appeal to the CVRA lawsuit, which may have additional impacts. The combination of all these factors requires focused discussion on City Council governance in the context of a changed structure for how the City elects City Councilmembers.
PURPOSE OF SESSION
Dedicating time to discuss how to govern with intention through this transition and the potential implications for such a transition is important so that the Council can establish a set of value...
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