REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Annual Appointment of Vice Mayor and Chaplain
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
At the beginning of each calendar year, the City Council (Council) appoints a Vice Mayor and Chaplain to serve for approximately one year until a successor Vice Mayor and successor Chaplain can be appointed the following year.
On January 15, 2019, the Council adopted Resolution No. 19-8650 (Attachment 1) establishing, pursuant to Section 705 of the City Charter, a procedure for selection of a Vice Mayor and selection of a Chaplain, by a majority vote of a quorum of the Council. Resolution No. 19-8650 states that the Vice Mayor shall be the Councilmember with the highest seniority in consecutive years on the Council and who has not previously served as Vice Mayor. The most recent outgoing Vice Mayor will serve as Chaplain. The resolution further states that, if two or more Councilmembers have the same seniority in number of years served on the Council, the Vice Mayor will be determined by who received the most votes in the most recent municipal election.
DISCUSSION
The table below identifies the Councilmembers who have served as Vice Mayor since 2012.
|
Vice Mayor |
Calendar Year |
|
Lisa M. Gillmor |
2012 |
|
Patrick Kolstad |
2013 |
|
Gerald “Jerry” Marsalli |
2014 |
|
Debi Davis |
2015 |
|
Teresa O’Neill |
2016 |
|
Dominic Caserta |
2017 |
|
Kathy Watanabe |
2018 |
|
Patricia M. Mahan |
2019 |
|
Karen Hardy |
2020 |
|
Raj Chahal |
2021 |
As Vice Mayor Raj Chahal is the outgoing Vice Mayor, he is eligible to serve as the next Chaplain. In Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor’s letter to the Council (Attachment 2), she recommends that the Council appoint Vice Mayor Chahal to the position of Chaplain until the appointment of a successor Chaplain in January 2023.
Councilmembers Sudhanshu “Suds” Jain, Kevin Park, and Anthony Becker have not yet served as Vice Mayor and have the same seniority in number of consecutive years served on the Council. Consistent with the selection process outlined in Resolution No. 19-8650, the Vice Mayor will be the Councilmember who received the most votes in the Consolidated Municipal Election held on November 3, 2020, with the Statewide Presidential Election.
On December 16, 2020, the Council adopted Resolution No. 20-8942 (Attachment 3), which declares the results of the Consolidated Municipal Election held on November 3, 2020, and includes the County of Santa Clara Certificate of Election Results. Councilmember Sudhanshu “Suds” Jain received 4,335 votes, Councilmember Kevin Park received 3,873 votes, and Councilmember Anthony Becker received 3,452 votes. As Councilmember Jain received the most votes in the Consolidated Municipal Election, he is eligible to serve as the next Vice Mayor.
In Mayor Gillmor’s letter to the Council (Attachment 4), she recommends that the Council appoint Councilmember Jain to the position of Vice Mayor until the appointment of a successor Vice Mayor in January 2023.
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
There is no fiscal impact to the City other than administrative staff time.
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.
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.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Appoint Councilmember Sudhanshu “Suds” Jain as Vice Mayor and appoint Vice Mayor Raj Chahal as Chaplain for approximately one year until the appointment of a successor Vice Mayor and successor Chaplain in January 2023.
Staff
Reviewed by: Genevieve Yip, Management Analyst
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. 19-8650
2. Letter from Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor recommending Vice Mayor Raj Chahal as Chaplain
3. Resolution No. 20-8942
4. Letter from Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor recommending Councilmember Suds Jain as Vice Mayor