City of Santa Clara
Minutes
Special Council Meeting
5:00 PM Hybrid Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers/Virtual
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
11/16/2022
The City of Santa Clara will be conducting City Council meetings in a hybrid manner (in-person and continues to have methods for the public to participate remotely). Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(e) and City of Santa Clara Resolution No. 22-9150 Councilmembers may teleconference from remote locations and the City continues to provide methods for the public to participate remotely:
• Via Zoom:
o https://santaclaraca.zoom.us/j/99706759306
Meeting ID: 997-0675-9306 or
o Phone: 1(669) 900-6833
• Via the City’s eComment
As always, the public may view the meetings on SantaClaraCA.gov, Santa Clara City Television (Comcast cable channel 15 or AT&T U-verse channel 99), or the livestream on the City’s YouTube channel or Facebook page.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, pursuant to the provisions of California Government Code §54956 (“The Brown Act”) and Section 708 of the Santa Clara City Charter, the Mayor calls for a Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Santa Clara, to commence and convene on November 16, 2022, at 5:00 pm for a Special Meeting in the City Hall Council Chambers located in the East Wing of
City Hall at 1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara, California, to consider the following matter(s) and to potentially take action with respect to them.
5:00 PM COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
Call to Order
Mayor Gillmor called the Special Meeting to Order at 5:04 p.m.
11/16/2022
Special Council Meeting
Meeting Minutes
Pledge of Allegiance and Statement of Values
Council recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Councilmember Chahal recited the Statement of Values.
Roll Call
Councilmember Kathy Watanabe, Councilmember Raj Chahal, Councilmember Karen Hardy, Councilmember Kevin Park, Vice Mayor Suds Jain, Councilmember Anthony Becker, and Mayor Lisa M.
Gillmor
Present: 7 -
GENERAL BUSINESS
11/16/2022
Special Council Meeting
Meeting Minutes
1. 22-1407 Consideration of October 10, 2022, Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury Report, “Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Santa Clara City Council,” and Direction to Staff for Timely Preparation and Council Approval of Formal Comment to Report.
Recommendation:
1. Council to comment on Council-related findings and
recommendations as follows: Findings 1a, 1b, 1c, 2, 3d (in part), 4, 5 (in part), 6, and 7 and Recommendations 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 2, 3a (in part), 3b (in part), 3c (in part), 4a, 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, and 7c.
2. Direct staff to prepare draft comment on operation-related findings as follows: Findings 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d (in part), and 5 (in part) and Recommendations 3a (in part), 3b (in part), and 3c (in part).
3. Direct City Attorney’s Office to prepare draft comment for timely Council approval consistent with 1 and 2 above.
Interim City Attorney Ngo provided an overview of this agenda item and stated that the Grand Jury report had twelve findings and 19 recommendations that require a formal City response within 90 days or by the January 9, 2023. He further noted that Council is not approving a formal response to the Grand Jury report, that staff provided clarifications on some of the statements in the Grand Jury report for Council consideration, and that staff's recommendation is to bring back a draft response a later Council meeting date for consideration that will include: 1) staff prepared language on those operational issues among the findings in the Grand Jury report; and 2) language based on feedback received from the Council.
Interim City Attorney Ngo stated that staff will return to Council with a draft response on the December 6, 2022 Regular Meeting, at a Special Meeting tentatively scheduled for December 8, 2022, or on any Special Meeting scheduled prior to January 9, 2023.
Interim City Attorney Ngo stated that he will go through each group set within the Grand Jury report and obtain a response from the Council on each finding and recommendation. He stated that if the Council disagrees with a finding, in whole or in part, the City will need to obtain the reasoning on why the Council disagrees with it. He also noted that for the recommendation, he will also need Council consensus on which of the four options have or will be implemented.
Interim City Attorney Ngo proceeded with the discussion of the Grand Jury findings and Council held extensive discussion on each of the Grand Jury's findings and recommendations. Interim City Attorney Ngo obtained Council consensus on how to respond to each finding and recommendation on the Grand Jury report and stated the draft Response will return to Council for final approval.
11/16/2022
Special Council Meeting
Meeting Minutes
Public Comment(s):
(2) Public Speaker
Deborah
Benjamin Cooley
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m.
A motion was made by Councilmember Becker, seconded by
Councilmember Park, to adjourn the meeting.
Aye: Councilmember Watanabe, Councilmember Chahal, Councilmember Hardy, Councilmember Park, Vice Mayor Jain, Councilmember Becker, and Mayor Gillmor
7 -
The next regular scheduled meeting is on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 in the City Hall Council Chambers.