APRIL 28, 2025 Minutes CM/ 75/440
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 28, 2025
SPECIAL MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER – The meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor John Marchand at 6:00 pm, held in person at 1016 S. Livermore Avenue.
2. ROLL CALL – Present: Mayor John Marchand, Vice Mayor Evan Branning, Council Members, Steven Dunbar, and Kristie Wang.
Absent: Council Member Ben Barrientos, excused.
3. SPECIAL MEETING ITEM
3.1 Discussion regarding City Council Norms, Values and Principles of Governance and the City Council Meeting Rules of Procedure to identify opportunities to strengthen the Council' s ability to work together effectively and uphold shared values.
Recommendation: Staff recommended the City Council engage in a collaborative discussion regarding the City Council Norms, Values and Principles of Governance and the City Council Meeting Rules of Procedure to identify opportunities to strengthen the Council' s ability to work together effectively and uphold shared values.
Mayor Marchand opened the public comment period.
Donna Cabanne provided a comment.
There were no more speakers, and the comment period was closed.
The City Manager, Marianna A. Burch and the City Attorney, Jason Alcala presented the staff report.
CITY COUNCIL PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION:
Changes Throughout the Documents
1. Correct typographical errors.
2. Replace gender- specific pronouns with gender- neutral pronouns throughout the documents.
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Changes to Values, Norms and Principles of Governance
3. Place Values before Norms.
4. Define Values as “attributes the City Council holds as important,” and define Norms as “expectations that help the City Council achieve our Values.”
5. Establish an expectation that Values, Norms, Principles and Rules will be reviewed every two years.
Changes to Norms
6. Draft language regarding the expectation that Council Members follow the rule of law; Values, Norms, Principles and Rules of Procedure ; and act responsibly both on the City Council and in representing the City . Identify how to respond when a Council Member fails to follow the Values, Norms, Principles and/ or Rules of Procedure.
7. Draft language regarding transparent communication, noting the City Council strives to communicate their reasoning and limitations of their actions under the law.
Changes to Principles of Governance
8. Under “City Attorney Responsibility”, shorten the third sentence to “The City Attorney shall not take any action requested by an individual Council Member.”
9. Under “City- Advisory Body Relations”, specify an expectation that individual City Council Members should not influence Board and Commission Members, are discouraged from attending Board and Commission meetings, and should not engage in direct email or other communication regarding City business.
Changes to Rules
10. Section 6.1. (“Appointment of Vice Mayor…”): Clarify that the Mayor will provide the initial recommendation for the Vice Mayor to the City Council.
11. Section 10.8: Replace the current deadline for City Council Reports with Per time specified by the Clerk."
12. Section 10.8: Add clarification regarding Council Reports out specifying which details are and are not included in the minutes. Include the following:
Items listed in the written City Council Reports are not included in the meeting minutes, even if highlighted during the Council Member’s oral comments. These items are considered part of the official record via the supplemental packet. If a Council Member shares information during the meeting that is not included in their written report, that information wi ll be captured in the meeting minutes."
13. Section 12.4: Define “ quasi- judicial” and “legislative”. Add an expectation for the City Council Members to clearly explain their findings during quasi - judicial review.
14. Clarify when remote public comment will be allowed.
15. Section 19: Eliminate in its entirety and return to the City Council with a Policy on the City Officials’ Use of Social Media and Digital Communication.
Schedule a special workshop to conduct City Council training on the Policy.
Separately, provide same training to all City of Livermore Board and Commission members.
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ADJOURNMENT – at 6:57 pm to a Regular City Council Meeting on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 7:00 pm, Civic Center Meeting Hall, City Council Chambers, 1016 S.
Livermore Avenue.
APPROVED: _______________________________________
JOHN P. MARCHAND, MAYOR
ATTEST:
DEBORAH L. ELAM, CITY CLERK
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