REPORT TO GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Review of Council Governance Session Report and Referrals of September 5, 2019
Report
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clara City Council held a Council Session on Governance on Thursday, September 5, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Santa Clara Central Park Library. This session was scheduled based on direction received at the City Council’s previous session on Governance on Thursday, December 13, 2018. The purpose of the session was to discuss ongoing questions or concerns regarding governance.
Jan Perkins, Vice President with Management Partners, facilitated both workshops. The City Council reviewed their experience with districts and discussed Council principles, norms and protocols that were developed as a result of the December 2018 governance session, as well as from Council feedback.
DISCUSSION
Facilitator Jan Perkins provided a summary of the Council Session on Governance (Attachment 1) that includes comments, questions, and any referrals from the meeting. Staff have reviewed the summary and created a matrix of all referrals from the session (Attachment 2). Based on the referral matrix, four items were referred to the Governance and Ethics Committee for review - three to be discussed at the meeting on October 24, 2019, and one to be discussed at a following meeting:
1. Discussion and Action on proposed framework for the January 30-31, 2020 Priority Setting Session
2. Review of current Council Referral Policy (Council Policy 030)
3. Review the Code of Ethics and Values and Training
4. Next Steps regarding Council Sessions on Governance and any additional meetings (to be discussed at a future Governance and Ethics Committee meeting)
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is an information report only and no action is being taken by the City Council and no environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) is required.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City other than staff time.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Manager and Mayor and Council Offices.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Governance and Ethics Committee 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.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the Governance and Ethics Committee review this report on the meeting report and list of referrals and forward to the City Council for consideration and action.
Staff
Reviewed by: Nadine Nader, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Summary of September 5, 2019 Council Session on Governance
2. City Council Referrals from September 5, 2019 Council Session on Governance