Fremont City Council Meeting: 03/03/26 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: City Council
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Council Referrals & Appointments
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5655) DOC ID: 5655
Updated: 2/27/2026 4:53 AM by Dina Lewis Page 1
COUNCILMEMBERS DESRIE CAMPBELL AND KATHY KIMBERLIN REFERRAL - Amend Direction on Council-Drafted Charter Process to Make Fremont a Charter City to Produce Additional Analysis and Transparency for Council Consideration Contact Persons:
Name: Desrie Campbell Kathy Kimberlin
Title: Councilmember Councilmember
Div/Dept: City Council City Council
Phone: 510-284-4008 510-284-4095
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Desrie Campbell and Kathy Kimberlin Joint Referral: Amend direction regarding Fremont’s charter city workplan to include additional transparency and accountability.
Background: On February 17, 2026 the City Council directed staff to immediately commence a Council-drafted charter process to place a proposed Fremont City Charter on the November 3, 2026 ballot; and directed staff to return to Council on March 3, 2026 with (1) an implementing resolution establishing a 7-member Mayor-appointed City Charter Advisory Committee (advisory only) and (2) a detailed City Charter Workplan.
Direction: This referral proposes to amend the City Council charter direction provided on February 17, 2026. This direction reaffirms the Council’s interest in changing from a General Law system to a City Charter form of Governance.
The proposed amendments would ensure more transparency for the public, allow public participation, and increased accountability for a good product. This revised timeline should include the 2028 election, but the analysis should also address the possibility and estimated cost of a 2027 special election.
The authors of this referral request that this item be taken out of order on the agenda to allow for City Council consideration and discussion of this new referral in advance of discussion of the “City Charter and Workplan” agenda item.
This referral directs staff to develop a revised charter workplan for the City Council’s review and approval. This revised plan should include the following:
• Hire a Council-approved outside facilitator to guide the council in consideration of the pros and cons of different systems and to facilitate the advisory committee discussions, develop strategic steps, and work product. • Recommend a process to select a qualified ad hoc special advisory committee, using the existing Commission application process and notification. This ad hoc special advisory committee will dissolve upon receipt of final work product. • Identify opportunities and a schedule for public outreach and intake of public comment.
• Include a process provided by the ad hoc special advisory committee, to educate staff and the public regarding proposed governance systems to help set expectations of what changes under a city charter.
• Identify the internal city staff who will be assigned to the project.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5655) Meeting of March 3, 2026 Updated: 2/27/2026 4:53 AM by Dina Lewis Page 2
• Identify how current Council projects and priorities will be impacted, by reallocating resources to the city charter project.
RECOMMENDATION: This referral directs staff to return to Council with a revised workplan addressing the elements described above no later than March 17, 2026.