7/15/2025 Item #2
City Council
Presentation
Item #2 - RTC # 25-806
Proposed Formation of a Charter Review
Committee to Conduct Comprehensive
Review of the City Charter to Update,
CIT Make Corrections and Better Align the
Charter with State Law and Current Best
1852 Practices and to Draft a Comprehensive
Charter Amendment for Presentation to
THE MISSION GIN the City Council and Possibly the Voters at the November 2026 Election
July 15, 2025
City of
Santa Clara
City Charter in General
• The Santa Clara City Charter operates like the City of Santa Clara's constitution. • By adopting a Charter, the City asserts direct authority over its "municipal affairs." • Key elements include:
-"Council/Manager" form of government
-Qualifications and processes for electing and appointing certain City officials -Allocation of authority/duties among elected/appointed/certain hired officials --Process for the adoption of resolutions and ordinances -Creation of certain Boards and Commissions
-Rules for the City's fiscal management, public works and procurement practices 2 POST MEETING MATERIAL
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City of
Santa Clara
The Center of Wur Possible
Charter History
• First adopted in 1951
• Multiple amendments have been proposed and adopted since • Most amendments have been limited, targeting one maybe two areas • Most common type of proposed changes: terms/qualifications for elected officials
• Last "comprehensive" amendment was adopted in 2000, but the changes were relatively minor
• Attachment 2 summarizes all amendments proposed since 1952 3 3
City of
Santa Clara
Tro Colter of What Posse
Reasons to Consider a
Comprehensive Charter Update Process
• Since 1952 (and even 2000), a lot has changed, both in the laws that apply to cities and in what are considered "best practices" for city operations.
• The City itself has also grown and changed in population and complexity.
In order to make the City Charter consistent with current laws and best practices, improve City efficiency and eliminate ambiguities, City staff is proposing that the City consider engaging in a comprehensive Charter update process for presentation to the City's voters in 2026. 4 2
7/15/2025 Item #2
City of
Santa Clara
The Center of What; Poegible
Examples of Provisions for Possible
Modification
1. For elected officials, clarify the timing and application of the 30-day residency requirements. [Section 600]
2. Update required special notice requirements for City proposed sales of real property to increase the threshold substantially above $500. [Section 714]
3. Clarification regarding what constitutes a "disposition" or "change of use" of City park property requiring a vote of the people. [Section 714.1]
4. Clarify roles and responsibilities of the elected City Clerk. [Section 903]
5. Update/clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Board of Library Trustees. [Section 1013]
5 City of
Santa Clara
Examples of Provisions for Possible
Modification (cont'd)
6. Update budget provisions to include express provision for a two-year budget cycle and to clarify what constitutes a "budget amendment" requiring 5 votes. [Sections 1301 and 1305]
7. Consider increasing threshold for public works or use of City forces requiring City Council approval from $1,000 to a more reasonable amount (or implement by ordinance). [Section 1310]
8. Clarify how/when State laws apply if no City Charter provision or ordinance.
9. Miscellaneous changes to section headings, wording and organization throughout the City Charter to improve clarity, and user friendliness. 3 7/15/2025 Item #2
City of
Santa Clara
The Curiter of Wilure Possible
An Example: Article XI. Civil Service
City of
Santa Clara
The Chula Vista Example
• City Charter adopted in 1949 was amended multiple times, but after a revamp in 1978, always "piecemeal." Over the years, grew to 60 plus pages with many provisions not aligned with state law/best practices.
• Proposed "Charter Project" for a comprehensive update to the City Charter endorsed by the City Council and referred to the (standing) Charter Review Commission (CRC). • Charter divided up and allocated among CRC subcommittees for work with the CAO and corresponding/responsible City departments for review and proposed updates. , Proposed changes brought back to the full CRC and categorized into Level corrections/clarifications, reorganization), Level 2 (updates to align with best practice and state law changes), and Level 3 (desired changes that might be considered material/controversial).
• City Council approved proposal with minor changes and places on the November 2022 ballot.
• Measure approved with 64% of vote. Charter reduced by more than 15 pages; made much more "user friendly." 8
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7/15/2025 Item #2
City of
Santa Clara
The Center of Whur: Posalble
Charter Update Process
• If the City Council desires to proceed, it would authorize staff to take necessary steps to create a Charter Review Committee ("CRC") to implement the project per the formation process selected by Council.
• Formation alternatives include: (1) Councilmember recommendations by district plus Mayor's "at large" recommendation; or (2) a "lottery" process similar to that used to appoint the Measure I Bond COC (preferred by majority of Governance). • Concurrently, staff would develop a comprehensive Charter update "Work Plan." • The CRC candidates and the Work Plan would be brought back for final Council action and direction.
• Key element of process: input from affected City departments. • Timing: To meet 2026 ballot measure submittal requirements, any Charter update process should commence no later than September 2025. 9 9
City of
Santa Clara
Recommendation
• Review, discuss and provide direction on the proposed process for a Comprehensive City Charter Update for
possible presentation to the voters at the November 2026 election, including, if the Council desires to proceed, the process for the formation of a Charter Review Committee 10 10