REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Designating a Voting Delegate and Alternates for the 2021 League of California Cities Annual Business Meeting
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
The League of California Cities (Cal Cities) Annual Conference will be held in Sacramento on September 22-24, 2021. The Cal Cities Annual Business Meeting is scheduled on September 24, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.
During the conference, Cal Cities will hold its Annual Business Meeting where the membership will consider and act on Annual Conference resolutions that establish Cal Cities policy. Annual Conference resolutions guide Cal Cities and member cites improve the quality, responsiveness, and vitality of local government in California.
The City of Santa Clara (City) is a full voting member of Cal Cities. Each member city has a right to cast one vote on matters pertaining to Cal Cities policy. In order to vote at the Annual Business Meeting, the City Council (Council) must designate a voting delegate and up to two alternate voting delegates, one of whom may vote if the designated voting delegate is unable to serve in that capacity. Article V, Section 3 of the Bylaws for the League of California Cities (Attachment 1) provides that each city is entitled to one vote in matters affecting municipal or Cal Cities policy. Further, the voting delegate and alternate(s) must be registered to attend the conference, or they may register for the Annual Business Meeting only. Standard City practice is for the Mayor to serve as the Voting Delegate and for the two Councilmembers with the highest seniority to serve as the alternate voting delegates.
DISCUSSION
Cal Cities is requesting that the City designate a voting delegate and up to two alternates who will be present at the Annual Business Meeting by August 31, 2021, and that the 2021 Annual Conference Voting Delegate/Alternate Form (Attachment 2) be returned by September 15, 2021.
Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor, Councilmember Kathy Watanabe, and Councilmember Kevin Park are registered to attend the 2021 Cal Cities Annual Conference. As Councilmember Kathy Watanabe has the highest seniority in consecutive years served on the Council, she will be designated as the first alternate voting delegate. Councilmember Kevin Park will be designated as the second alternate voting delegate.
Staff recommends that the Council designate Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor to serve as the voting delegate, Councilmember Kathy Watanabe to serve as the first alternate voting delegate, and Councilmember Kevin Park to serve as the second alternate voting delegate.
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 governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Cal Cities Annual Conference expenses for Council attendance are included in the FY 2021/22 Adopted Biennial Operating Budget. This conference falls outside of the travel expenditure reduction controls for the Administration. It is valuable for City representatives to participate and represent the City given the pandemic and other legislative activity that is in the City’s interest.
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>.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Designate Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor to serve as the voting delegate, Councilmember Kathy Watanabe as the first alternate voting delegate, and Councilmember Kevin Park as the second alternate voting delegate, to represent the City of Santa Clara at the 2021 League of California Cities Annual Business Meeting.
Staff
Reviewed by: Genevieve Yip, Staff Analyst I
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Bylaws for the League of California Cities
2. 2021 Cal Cities Annual Conference Voting Delegate/Alternate Form