TO: City Council FROM: Mayor Sam Liccardo
Vice Mayor Chappie Jones
Councilmember Sergio Jimenez
Councilmember David Cohen
Councilmember Pam Foley
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: January 11, 2022
Approved Date: 01/07/2022
SUBJECT: Charter Review Commission Report and Recommendations
RECOMMENDATION
1. Accept the final report of the San José Charter Review Commission.
2. Direct the City Clerk, City Attorney, and appropriate city staff to return for council’s consideration the documentation necessary to order an election for the purpose of moving the San José Mayoral Election from Gubernatorial to Presidential years. Further, schedule all public hearings, agenda items, or special sessions necessary to ensure the question of moving the Mayoral Election is submitted to the voters of the City of San José at the June 7, 2022 established election date.
3. Direct the City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney to schedule and facilitate a special study session for the remaining Charter Review Commission recommendations for the purpose of:
a. prioritizing any additional ballot questions for the November 8, 2022 election, b. providing council direction on which remaining recommendations from the commission to move forward for further evaluation for implementation.
BACKGROUND
We would like to begin by thanking the Charter Review Commission for the thoughtful work and incredible effort in bringing these recommendations forward to the Council. This Commission has spent countless hours in this process and it’s important that we respect their work by providing the time and space for meaningful discussions to be held among the council without the time constraints we often face at City Council meetings.
The recommendation to adjust the Mayoral Election from the Gubernatorial cycle to the Presidential has the most urgent timeline, therefore we have provided direction to the City Clerk and City Attorney to bring the appropriate item(s) back to Council for consideration. We have recommended a separate study session(s) because the remaining recommendations require COUNCIL AGENDA: 01/11/22
FILE#:
ITEM:
21-2647
3.4 HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
January 11, 2022
Subject: Charter Review Commission Report and Recommendations
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prioritizing by the feasibility of the implementation of the changes, as well as their time- sensitivity for voter approval.
It’s not very often that an opportunity to make systemic changes to our city presents itself and it is in the best interest of our residents to ensure we do not make these decisions in haste. We have an obligation to hear additional testimony from subject matter experts on these various topics, just as the Commission did in their expansive work, so that the council can understand the immediate and long-term impacts to city operations and the quality of life of our residents. We look forward to a collaborative and productive deliberation with our colleagues.
The signers of this memorandum have not had, and will not have, any private conversation with any other member of the City Council, or that member’s staff, concerning any action discussed in the memorandum, and that each signer’s staff members have not had, and have been instructed not to have, any such conversation with any other member of the City Council or that member's staff.