S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc
CITY OF SANTA CLARA BALLOT MEASURES
PERTAINING TO CHARTER AMENDMENTS
1952 to Present
November 4, 1952 (General Election)
Measure C: Elect Police Chief and City Clerk
( Passed) Yes - 3,538 No - 2,420
"Shall the Charter of the City be amended by adding
a new section thereto to provide that the Chief of
the Police Department and the City Clerk shall be
elected officials instead of appointed officers?
Said amendment also provides an election shall be
held in 1953 to fill said office, and also in April
1955 and every four years thereafter."
June 5, 1956 (Primary Election)
Measure A: Public School System
(Passed) Yes - 4,938 No 1,292
"Shall Article XVI and Sections 1600 and 1601 of
the Charter of the City of Santa Clara be amended
to provide that the organization, government and
administration of the public school system, the
manner and mode of selection, the powers and duties
of the Board of Education and its members shall be
set forth in the Constitution, Education Code and
applicable general laws of the State of
California?"
November 4, 1958 (General Election) Charter Amendments
Measure A: Change of Fiscal Year
(Passed) Yes - 8,780 No - 2,554
"Shall the Charter of the City of Santa Clara be
amended by amending Sections 1300, 1302, 1304 and
1306 thereof and adding Section 1306.5 thereto to
provide that the fiscal year of said City shall
commence on July 1st of each year and end on June
30th of the following year unless otherwise
provided by ordinance; also providing the annual
budget shall be submitted at least 35 days before
S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc the beginning of each fiscal year and as determined
by the Council; and that the annual budget shall be
adopted on or before June 30th of each year and the
tax levy fixed by August 15th of each year and
providing for the adoption of an interim budget
when a change in fiscal years requires the same?"
Measure B: Classified Service
(Passed) Yes - 6,450 No - 4,628
"Shall Section 1101 of the Charter be amended to
provide for the division of the Civil Service of
the City into the Classified and Unclassified
Service and providing how said services shall be
comprised and adding a provision that a department
of the City may by ordinance be divided into
divisions and the heads of such divisions shall be
in the Unclassified Service?"
Measure C: Supervision by City Engineer
(Passed) Yes - 8,936 No - 2,571
"Shall Section 905 of the Charter of the City of
Santa Clara be amended to provide that the City
Engineer shall supervise and be responsible for all
engineering work of the City, and that the head of
the Department of Public Works and Utilities shall
supervise and be responsible for the inspection,
care, maintenance and repair of various public
works and public utilities of said City?"
1965 Section 905.1 position of City Engineer and Section 905.2 Director of Public Works.
February 15, 1967
Prop A Amend Sec. 702 – Each Council Member shall receive $200 p/month and the Mayor an additional $100 p/month (PASSED ELECTION).
Prop A1 Amend Section 702 to keep compensation of Mayor and Council limited according to standards of other general law cities the size of Santa Clara (FAILED ELECTION).
S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc Prop B Amend Section 1320 – set aside a separate utilities fund and establish a sinking fund of $2,500,000 in utilities account (PASSED ELECTION).
Prop C Amend Section 1004 to delete restriction against reimbursement of Board and Commission members for
expenses (PASSED ELECTION). (Ordinance 1157, 2-15-67,
Minutes 4-11-67, p. 166).
June 4, 1968 (Primary Election) Charter Amendments
Measure N: Political Activities
(Failed) Yes - 5,743 No - 12,703
"Shall Section 1106 of the Charter of the City of
Santa Clara entitled 'Political Activities
Prohibited' be repealed?"
Measure O: City Councilmen
(Failed) Yes - 7,134 No - 12,060
"Shall Section 701 of the Charter of the City of
Santa Clara be amended to allow the election of a
person to hold office as a member of the City
Council no matter the number of consecutive terms
he has served, and to provide that no person shall
be eligible for appointment to fill a vacancy in
the Council until two years after any prior service
by him as a member of the City Council?"
November 5, 1968 (General Election)
Measure D: Elected Mayor
(Passed) Yes - 13,484 No - 12,047
"Shall the Charter of the City of Santa Clara be
changed to make the City's Mayor elected from the
City at large, to establish the provisions to
nominate and elect such officer, to establish the
compensation of the elective Mayor at $1,000 per
month, to establish at four years the term of such
Mayor and limit to two the number of successive
terms such a Mayor might serve, to set forth the
political position of the elective Mayor listing
his specific duties and powers, to establish
S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc qualifications for all elective offices of City and
to establish a uniform procedure for filling
vacancies in all elective offices of City?"
November 7, 1972 (General Election)
Measure B: Eligibility for Candidate for City Offices (Passed) Yes - 17,717 No - 12,054
"Shall the Charter of the City of Santa Clara be
changed as follows: to expressly provide that no
person shall be eligible to be a candidate for or
to take or hold any elective office of the City
unless he has resided in the City for the year next
preceding the date of his election or appointment
to such office; by deleting from the Charter
Section 1106 which purports to prohibit certain
political activities by persons holding positions
in the classified service or on an eligible list;
by changing all references in Section 1200 of the
Charter from 'State Employees' Retirement Act' and
'State Employees' Retirement System' to 'Public
Employees' Retirement Law' and 'Public Employees'
Retirement System,' respectively; and by deleting
Articles XV and XVI of the Charter which articles
contain provisions with reference to Police Court
and School Department, respectively?"
S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc Measure C: City Clerk; Powers, Duties
(Failed) Yes - 14,057 No - 14,368
"Shall the Charter of the City of Santa Clara be
changed as follows: by deleting the provision from
Section 903 of the Charter that 'The City Council
may, in its discretion, appoint any other officer
or employee of the City as City Clerk and grant
such person additional compensation for the
performance of such duties.'; by changing the title
of Section 1101 from 'Classified Service' to
'Classified and Unclassified Service', by changing
the numbering and sequence of the offices and
positions listed as comprising the unclassified
service and by deleting the specific reference to
City Clerk and Chief of the Police Department from
such listing."
Measure D: Eligibility of Councilmen and Mayor
(Failed) Yes - 7,525 No - 22,175
"Shall the Charter of the City of Santa Clara be
changed by removing the present restrictions on the
eligibility of Councilmen, including the Mayor, to
serve more than two consecutive elective terms as
such, respectively?"
Measure E: Sale City Owned Property
(Failed) Yes - 8,510 No - 19,948
"Shall the Charter of the City of Santa Clara be
changed as follows: that Section 714 of the
Charter shall provide that City owned property up
to and include $2,500 in value may be sold without
first publishing notice of intention to sell in an
official newspaper once a week for two weeks
preceding the date of such sale; that with respect
to contracts on public works the formal advertised
procurement procedures of Section 1310 of the
Charter would be changed to contracts involving an
expenditure of more than $3,500; that all other
provisions of the Sections 714 and 1310 shall
remain in full force and effect, unchanged?"
S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc Measure F: Terms of Elected Candidates
(Passed) Yes - 15,079 No - 12,031
"Shall the Charter of the City of Santa Clara be
changed to provide generally that all candidates
hereafter elected at any general municipal
elections prescribed in the Charter, shall serve
for a term of four years, commencing forthwith on
completion of the canvass of ballots of such
election, and continuing until their respective
successors shall have been elected and qualified,
with the exception that candidates so elected for
other than an unexpired term in such a municipal
election held in 1973 and 1975 shall serve for a
term commencing on the first Monday in May of such
years following each of such elections and ending
in the fourth year thereafter on completion of the
canvass of ballots of the general municipal
election held in such year, and at the time their
respective successors have been elected and
qualified?"
Measure G: Council Seats Numbered
( Passed) Yes - 17,650 No - 9,229
"Shall the Charter of the City of Santa Clara be
changed by providing for the designation of Council
seats, providing a procedure for the election and
filling of the separate seats, prohibiting a person
from being a candidate for more than one such seat
and restricting certain incumbent members of the
City Council from being a candidate for any
numbered Council seat other than the one which he
holds?"
Measure H: Compensation of Council Members
(Failed) Yes - 11,949 No - 16,725
"Shall Section 700 of the Charter of the City of
Santa Clara be changed to provide that each member
of the City Council shall receive as compensation
the sum of three hundred dollars ($300) per month?"
April 5, 1977 Election Primary
Proposition A: Change Election Date
S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc (Passed) YES - 4,614 NO - 4,084
“Shall the Charter of the City of Santa Clara be
amended by changing the date of holding the City’s
general municipal elections?”
Proposition B: City Council Compensation
(Failed) YES - 1,084 NO - 7,712
“Shall Section 702 of the Charter of the City of
Santa Clara be amended to provide a $400 per month
compensation for each member of the City Council
other than the Mayor, for a $1,667 per month
compensation for the Mayor?”
Proposition C: City
Council Medical/Dental Benefits
(Failed) YES - 1,395 NO - 7,292
“Shall the Charter of the City of Santa Clara be
changed to provide the same medical and dental
benefits for each member of the City Council
including the Mayor as is provided from time to
time to the holders of the City elective offices of
City Clerk and/or Chief of Police?”
Proposition D: City Property Disposition Under $5,000 Value (Failed) YES - 1,416 NO - 6,983
“Shall Section 714 of the Charter of the City of
Santa Clara be revised as proposed to provide
alternate procedures for the City Council to
exercise the City Council’s power to lease, sell,
or convey City property?”
Proposition 1: Neighborhood Senior Citizen Housing
(Advisory Vote Only)
(Passed) YES - 4,787 NO - 3,660
“Shall it be recommended that the City of Santa
Clara shall comply with the Housing and Development
Act of 1974 and allow to be completed by 1979
within the boundaries of the City of Santa Clara
195 senior citizen housing units where these units
will be developed within any geographical area of
the City of Santa Clara with an attempt to
encourage the distribution of these housing units
throughout the City’s neighborhoods?”
Proposition 2: High Rise Housing
S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc (Advisory Vote Only
(Failed) YES - 3,820 NO - 4,816
“Shall it be recommended that the City of Santa
Clara approve the concept of a federally funded
retirement facility with rent supplements in the
University Redevelopment Project, which facility
would be constructed at no cost to the City, would
be a nine- story high- rise of approximately the
height of the existing Bank of America Building in
the Project Area, and which would include
approximately 176 apartment units, a dining room,
leisure time areas, the area of the ground floor
for commercial use and adjacent parking, the
construction of which facility would help satisfy
the commitments of the City of Santa Clara to
provide housing for lower and middle income
elderly?”
November 6, 1979 (Special Statewide Election)
Proposition D: Amend Election Date
(Passed) Yes - 7,500 No - 495
"Shall the City of Santa Clara's general municipal
elections be held on the same dates as the regular
election of the Santa Clara Unified School
District?"
November 4, 1980 (General Election) Charter Amendment
Measure N: Utility Tax Transfer
(Passed) Yes - 16,205 No - 10,047
"Shall Section 1320 of the Charter of the City of
Santa Clara be amended to delete therefrom the
authority of the City to transfer to its General
Fund the balance of any monies remaining in excess
of the Charter prescribed sinking fund for
replacement of utilities property?"
November 3, 1981 (Special Election)
Measure E: Revenue Bonds
S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc (Passed) Yes - 4,792 No - 4,070
"Shall the Charter of the City of Santa Clara be
changed to provide that the City may issue revenue
bonds, payable solely from the revenues of the
electrical works without tax liability, to finance
the production, transmission, distribution and non-
nuclear generation of electric energy without
requiring an election?"
Measure F: Council Salaries
(Failed) Yes - 2,459 No - 6,327
"Shall the Charter of the City of Santa Clara be
amended to provide a $400 per month compensation
for each member of the City Council other than the
Mayor, and for a $1500 per month compensation for
the Mayor?"
November 4, 1986 (General Election)
Measure K: Charter Amendment-Council Compensation
(Failed) Yes - 8,239 No - 12,863
"Amends Section 702 of the Santa Clara Charter to
provide $1,000 per month compensation for each
member of the City Council other than Mayor, and
$1,800 per month compensation for the Mayor."
Measure L: Charter Amendment-Council Compensation
(Failed) Yes - 6,122 No - 14,287
"Amends Section 702 of the Santa Clara Charter, as
indicated in the text of the amendment, to provide
each member of the City Council with compensation
comparable to the maximum compensation authorized
by state law for the respective council counterpart
in the general law city."
June 7, 1994 (Special Municipal Election)
S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc Measure B: Chief of Police Appointment.
(Failed) Yes - 4,370 No - 10,079
Amends the Charter of the City of Santa Clara to
provide for the appointment of the Chief of Police
by the City Manager rather than selection of the
Chief of Police by the current election process.
March 7, 2000 (Special Municipal Election)
Measure H: Charter Amendment – Obsolete Language
(Passed) Yes - 16,047 No - 2,880
Amends the Charter by eliminating obsolete,
unnecessary and unclear language, making the
Charter gender neutral, making the Charter
consistent with current legal requirements, and
making minor revisions to make the Charter
consistent with modern city charters.
Measure I: Charter Amendment – Chief of Police Requirements (Passed) Yes – 16,558 No – 2,244
Amends the 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.
Measure J: Charter Amendment – Council and Mayor Compensation (Passed) Yes – 10,791 No – 7,924
Amends the Charter to provide for an increase in
City Council Member compensation to $600 per month
with annual increases for the Mayor and City
Council members equal to the consumer price index,
but not to exceed 5% in any year.
Measure K: Charter Amendment – Disposal of City-owned Real Property
(Failed) Yes – 6,819 No – 11,907
Amends the Charter to permit the disposal of City-
owned real property of $50,000 or less in value
without publishing in an official newspaper a
notice of intention to sell real property.
Measure L: Charter Amendment – Award of Public Works Contracts
S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc of up to $50,000 in value
(Failed) Yes – 7,332 No – 11,269
Amends the Charter to permit the award of public
works contracts of up to $50,000 in value, with an
annual increase consistent with the consumer price
index, without publishing in an official newspaper
a notice of intent to award a public works
contract, provided that the City Council first
establishes by ordinance a competitive bid
procedure for such contracts.
November 7, 2006 (General Municipal Election)
Measure B: Binding arbitration for certain personnel of the Police and Fire Departments
Shall a section be added to the City Charter which
would require binding arbitration before a three
person arbitration panel of all unresolved disputes
between the City and certain personnel of the
Police and Fire Departments on all matters relating
to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of
City employment, including the interpretation and
application of any existing labor agreements?
(Failed) Yes – 9,853 No – 12,612
November 8, 2016 (Special Municipal Election)
Measure O: Setting of Salaries for Mayor and City Council.
Shall Section 702 of the Santa Clara City Charter
be amended to set the salaries of the Mayor at
$2500 per month and City Council at $2000 per
month, and to create a Salary Setting Commission to
review and adjust those salaries every two years?
(Passed) Yes – 25,640 No – 10,393
Measure P: Mayor and City Council Term Limits. Shall Sections 701 and 704.1 of the Santa Clara City Charter be
amended to limit the Mayor and members of the City
Council to no more than two full terms for each
office, and to define a partial term in excess of
two years as a full term?
(Passed) Yes – 29,495 No – 6,908
Measure Q: Filling Vacancies in City Elected Offices. Shall Section 703 of the Santa Clara City Charter be
S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc amended to provide that vacancies in any elective
office of the City be filled by a four-fifths (4/5)
vote of the City Council and to require that
persons appointed to fill vacancies occurring in
the first half of a term of office shall hold
office until the next general municipal election?
(Passed) Yes – 28,156 No – 6,855
Measure R: Protection of Parkland and Open Space. Shall Section 714.1 of the Santa Clara City Charter be
added to provide that no City owned land used for
park or recreational purposes, including the
Ulistac Natural Area and the Santa Clara Soccer
Park, shall be sold or disposed of by the City
without being authorized by a two -thirds (2/3)
majority vote and that development upon such
property shall be subject to referendum?
(Passed) Yes – 33,552 No – 3,890
June 5, 2018 (Special Municipal Election)
Measure A: DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTIONS/VOTING METHOD:
Shall the City Charter be amended to establish two
districts starting in 2020 to be represented by
three Council Members each; and , when available,
use ranked choice voting to allow voters to select
candidates in order of choice to determine the
winners of elections of all city elected officers?
( Failed) Yes – 9,169 No – 10,023
November 6, 2018 (Municipal Election)
Measure N: ADVISORY VOTE: BY DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTIONS Shall the City of Santa Clara engage the voters in
a public process to draft a Charter Amendment
ballot measure to elect its Council Members, other
than the Mayor, by district?
(Passed) Yes – 21,902 No – 9,208
S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc March 3, 2020 (Special Municipal Election)
Measure C: DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTIONS:
Shall the City Charter be amended to elect City
Council Members by district, excepting the Mayor,
as follows: for the 2020 election to establish six
districts for the election of one Council Member to
represent each district; and, beginning in 2022 to
establish three districts for the election of two
Council members to represent each district; and to
require an independent redistricting committee?
(Failed) Yes – 9,731 No – 15,458
June 7, 2022 (Special Election)
Measure D: DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTIONS:
Shall the City Charter be amended to elect city
council members by district, excepting the mayor,
to establish six districts for the election of one
council member to represent each district; and to
establish a 30 -day residency requirement for all
elected officials?
( Passed) Yes – 14,172 No – 3,835
November 8, 2022 (Municipal Election)
Measure G: CITY OF SANTA CLARA NO TAX INCREASE/SERVICES PROTECTION MEASURE:
To protect essential services without raising
taxes, such as 9-1-1 response; police patrols, fire
protection; street/storm drain repair, and
maintaining reliable local utility service; shall
Section 1320 of the Charter continuing the annual
budget transfer of funds from City utilities to the
general fund at 5% of gross receipts until ended by
voters, generating approximately $30,000,000
annually, with independent audits, all funds local,
be reaffirmed/adopted?
(Passed) Yes – 24,643 No – 4,629
S\City Clerk\BALLOT MEASURES\Ballot Measures History of Charter Amendments.doc March 5, 2024 (Special Election)
Measure A: PROPOSES TO AMEND THE CITY CHARTER TO CHANGE THE
POSITIOON OF CITY CLERK FROM A POSITION ELECTED
EVERY FOUR YEARS TO A POSITION APPOINTED BY THE
CITY MANAGER, SIMILAR TO OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT
HEADS
Shall an amendment to the City Charter providing
that the City Clerk position be appointed by the
City Manager be adopted?
(Failed) Yes – 6,580 No – 13,735
March 5, 2024 (Special Election)
Measure B: PROPOSES TO AMEND THE CITY CHARTER TO CHANGE THE
POSITIOON OF CHIEF OF POLICE FROM A POSITION
ELECTED EVERY FOUR YEARS TO A POSITION APPOINTED
BY THE CITY MANAGER, SIMILAR TO OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENT HEADS
Shall an amendment to the City Charter providing
that the Chief of Police position be appointed by
the City Manager be adopted?
(Failed) Yes – 5,680 No – 14,887
City of Santa Clara
Agenda Report
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
santaclaraca.gov
@SantaClaraCity
25-300 Agenda Date: 3/3/2025
REPORT TO GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Discuss and Provide direction to Staff on a potential Council Policy that provides Guidance on the scheduled start times for City Council meetings
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this item is for the Governance and Ethics Committee to discuss and provide direction to staff on a potential Council Policy that provides guidance for the start time for City Council meetings.
DISCUSSION
Section 707 of the City Charter requires two regular City Council meetings a month but does not specify the date or times for such meetings. Instead, it provides that the times for such meetings be set by Council ordinance or resolution. Currently, the dates for regular Council meetings are set by Council resolution adopted prior to the start of each calendar year.
Regular meeting start times have traditionally been set at 7:00 p.m. and the City strives to have closed sessions and study sessions occur on the same day as regular meetings between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Occasionally, it is necessary to schedule a closed session and/or study session on a date that does not coincide with a regular meeting and, in such cases, a date and time are set by staff after reviewing calendars and polling availability of City Councilmembers.
City staff in the City Clerk’s Office poll City Councilmembers availability by contacting each member via phone, email or text. Staff seeks information on the Councilmembers’ availability and desired adjustment to the proposed days and time for special meetings, closed sessions, and other non- regular City Council or Stadium Authority meetings.
Occasionally, it is not possible to find a time when all members of the City Council are available for a City Council meeting, study session, closed session or special meeting. In such cases, albeit rare, it can be necessary for staff to schedule a meeting at a time when one or more City Councilmembers have stated that they cannot attend, but a quorum of the members can attend.
At the March 3, 2025 Governance and Ethics Committee meeting, staff requests the Committee discuss and provide feedback and direction on a potential Council Policy to address the scheduling and start times of legislative meetings which include City Council meetings, closed sessions, special meetings and study sessions.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
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25-300 Agenda Date: 3/3/2025
Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact other than City administrative staff time.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office, City Clerk’s Office, and City Manager’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Discuss and Provide direction to Staff on a potential Council Policy that Provides Guidance on the scheduled Start times for City Council meetings, if any, for consideration by the City Council.
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
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City of Santa Clara
Agenda Report
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
santaclaraca.gov
@SantaClaraCity
25-205 Agenda Date: 3/3/2025
REPORT TO GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Review and Action on the 2025 Governance and Ethics Committee Workplan
BACKGROUND
The Governance and Ethics Committee was established by City Council action on February 5, 2019.
The Governance and Ethics Committee focuses on the refinement and establishment of policies and procedures regarding City Council operations, general good government practices, and implementation of the City’s Code of Ethics & Values program. In addition, the Committee also reviews naming recommendations for City facilities and buildings and reviews and recommends amendments, if any, to City Council Policies.
DISCUSSION
On an annual basis, the Governance and Ethics Committee establishes a workplan with items prioritized for the calendar year. Additional items may be recommended by the Committee or staff, which staff will bring forward as appropriate. To prepare and plan for the Committee workload, staff has developed a proposed Governance and Ethics Committee workplan for the 2025 calendar year. 2025 Workplan
City Council Policy and Procedures Manual
As background, the City Council Policy manual sets forth policies and procedures by which the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Standing and Ad Hoc Committees, shall conduct City Council business and activities. The Council Policy manual establishes standard policies to guide several of the various functions of the City Council and procedures by which such functions are to be performed.
Currently, the City Council Policy manual includes 53 separate Council policies, some which are currently active and some which have been rescinded. The current process requires the development of any new policies to be added as an additional separate policy to the current 53 policies.
As a workplan priority for 2025, staff recommends developing a comprehensive City Council Policy and Procedures manual to modernize and provide an efficient and useful tool for the City Council and the public to gather information on City Council policies and procedures. The comprehensive manual would incorporate the existing 53 separate Council policies and provide an opportunity to review and update outdated policies and procedures. In addition, the City Council Policy and Procedures manual would be reviewed periodically by the City Council for approval and be amended by Resolution as needed.
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25-205 Agenda Date: 3/3/2025
Staff endeavors to begin work to develop a comprehensive City Council Policies and Procedures manual and targets the completion of the first draft in December 2025.
The following agenda items include items requested by the Committee and recommended by staff for the 2025 workplan. It is also important to note, some agenda items may require continuance and will return to the Committee for further discussion and approval. The Committee and staff may amend the workplan and bring forth other pertinent agenda items as needed.
Proposed 2025 Workplan Items
Committee Meeting Date: Agenda Item(s):
March 3, 2025 1) Informational Report on Ethics
Documents 2) Comprehensive City
Charter Update Proposal 3) Review and
Action on 2025 Workplan
June 2, 2025 1) Informational Report on Commissions,
Boards and Committees Recruitment and
Selection Process and Annual Workplan
Process 2) Review and Approval on
Amendments for Council Policy 043
("Official Travel by Elected Officials") and
Council Policy 006 ("Guidelines for
Commissioners Attendance at
Conferences and Training Events")
September 8, 2025 1) Review of additional Text Messaging Retention applications (in addition to
Smarsh presented in 2024) 2) Review and
Approval on Amendments to Council Policy
050 ("Gifts to Elected Officials and
Appointed Officials")
December 1, 2025 1) Review of a Policy Limiting Resolution Matters Outside Jurisdiction of the City 2)
Review of the City Council Policies and
Procedure manual (1st draft)
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City other than staff time.
COORDINATION
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25-205 Agenda Date: 3/3/2025
This report was coordinated by the City Manager’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the 2025 Governance and Ethics Committee Workplan with any additional amendments.
Reviewed by: Maria Le, Assistant to the City Manager, City Manager’s Office Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
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