REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Written Petition (Council Petition 030) Submitted by Councilmember Jain Requesting to Place an Agenda Item at a Future Meeting to Consider Hiring an Ethics Consultant for Upcoming Elections
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
Council Policy 030 - Adding an Item on the Agenda (Attachment 1) sets forth the procedure for written petitions. Members of the City Council shall use the Council Item Request Form to submit a written request for inclusion of an item on a future City Council agenda. 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 Councilmember Jain dated September 12, 2021 (Attachment 2).
As we all know a lot of money was spent by outside PACs in the last election. Unlike earlier elections, Santa Clara did not hire an ethics consultant for this last election.
It would be great to have an ethics consultant who can review candidate complaints and hold meetings to train candidates how to run their campaigns ethically for upcoming elections.
The ethics consultant can advise as to how candidate forums should be run and where they can be hosted.
I really like the idea of a "Last Word" forum.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact other than administrative staff time.
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 pri...
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