REPORT TO CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Presentation on Prior Ballot Measures and Other Historical Information Related to the Positions of Police Chief and City Clerk
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this item is to provide the Charter Review Committee ("Committee") with an overview of how the positions of Police Chief and City Clerk are chosen and function within the City of Santa Clara. Information provided includes summaries of key applicable City Charter and Municipal Code provisions, prior ballot initiatives, as well as historical information related to the separation of duties between the elected City Clerk and appointed Assistant City Clerk that occurred in 2018 is also provided.
DISCUSSION
Elected Positions
Pursuant to Section 600 of the City Charter, since 1952 the positions of Police Chief and City Clerk have been elected positions within the City of Santa Clara.
Qualifications
Both Positions
Similar to requirements imposed on Mayor and Councilmember, to qualify for election and to hold office, both the Police Chief and the City Clerk must be "residents" and "qualified registered elector[s] of the City." [See Charter Section 600]
Additional Requirements for the Police Chief
In March 2000, Santa Clara voters passed Measure I to amend the City Charter to require
that candidates for the elected office of Chief of Police meet the minimum eligibility and
qualification requirements imposed by State law upon candidates for the Office of Sheriff.
Those requirements are as follows:
Gov Code ?24004.3.
(a) No person is eligible to become a candidate for the Office of Sheriff in any county unless, at the time of the final filing date for election, he or she meets one of the following criteria:
(1) An active or inactive advanced certificate issued by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
(2) One year of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience within th...
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