1 City of
Santa Clara
City Council Meeting
Item No. 6
Action on a Resolution (1) Calling and Giving Notice of a Special Municipal Election to be Held on November 3, 2026 in Conjunction with the City’s General Municipal Election for a Vote on Two Ballot Measures that, if Passed, Would Amend the City Charter as Follows: (a) Implement a Comprehensive Update of the City Charter; and (b) Update the City’s Public Works Procurement Rules as Currently Set Forth in Charter Section 1310 (Contracts on public works); (2) Requesting the Consolidation of Such Election with the Statewide General Election to be Held in Santa Clara County on November 3, 2026; (3) Directing the Office of the City Attorney to Prepare the Impartial Analyses for the Two Measures; and (4) Setting the Priorities and Schedule for Ballot Arguments; and Authorizing Other Necessary and Appropriate Actions July 14, 2026
Agenda
• Recap of How We Got Here
• Summary of Requested/Required Actions
• CRC Member Testimony
• Council questions, public comment, deliberations and
action
2 1
2 Item 6
2 Charter Project -- How We Got Here•Concept First Presented to Governance and Ethics[May 1, 2025]•Formally Initiated with Appointment of CRC and Adoption of Charter Project Bylaws[September 16, 2025]•Project Implementation by CRC[October 1, 2025 – June 9, 2026]•City Council Consideration and Direction[June 9, June 15, July 7, 2026]3 CRC Recommendation•Proceed with the Comprehensive Update for Consideration by Voters at the November 2026 Election.•Include all Level One and Level Two Changes, and such Level Three Changes Council feels comfortable will be supported by the community.•Provide for a public information program to include (1) annotated “clean” and underline/strikeout versions of the updated Charter, and FAQs on the City’s website; (2) information mailers to be distributed to voters (similar to Measure I); and (3) public forums (with CRC support) to share information and respond to questions/concerns.4 3 4
3 Presentations to Council and Direction•June 9thStudy Session--Charter Update Drafts (June 5th) CRC Final Report and Recommendation--Detailed report on project origins, process and results/recommendation--Public testimony, initial Council questions •June 15thSpecial Meeting--Detailed report on projects results/recommendation--Public testimony, Council questions, deliberations and initial direction--Bring back comprehensive update for action (Level One and Two Changes) and public works update for further discussion as a possible stand-alone measure•July 7thRegular Meeting--Presentation of Supplemental Information--Public testimony, Council questions, deliberations and direction--Bring for City Council final action two measures: (1) comprehensive update (clarified/updated/revenue bond discussions); and (2) public works procurement 5 Actions Before You Tonight•Comprehensive Charter Amendment. Do you want to proceed with a ballot measure on the November 2026 ballot that amends the City Charter with a comprehensive Charter update on the terms presented (or other terms)?•Public Works Charter Amendment. Do you want to proceed with a ballot measure on the November 2026 ballot that amends the Charter with an update to the City’s public works procurement provisions on the terms presented (or other terms)?6 5 6
4 Ballot Questions•Comprehensive Charter Update MeasureProposed Ballot Question:COMPREHENSIVE CHARTER AMENDMENT. Shall the measure proposing a comprehensive update to the City Charter to eliminate outdated provisions, clarify ambiguous terms, reorganize and reformat to improve usability, and update provisions to align with current/best practices, including new and updated provisions for defining and filling vacancies in elected/appointed positions, modernizing elected and appointed officials roles and duties, requirements for approval of laws, budget implementation, financing options, legal notice, and other similar enhancements to City operations and procedures, be adopted? 7 Ballot Questions (cont’d)•Public Works Update MeasureProposed Ballot Question:PUBLIC WORKS CHARTER AMENDMENT. Shall the measure proposing to amend the City Charter to update rules for the construction of public works to allow for competitive “best value” contracting to improve project quality, expedite needed project completion, and minimize risks, retaining City Council authority to approve major contracts, require formal bidding and award contracts to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, all as set forth in a City ordinance presented and approved at a public meeting, be adopted? 8 7 8
5 Related Actions•What to Include in the BallotComprehensive Measure: recommended to be referenced but not attached, with original Charter, Underline/Strikeout Version, and Clean Versions of Proposed Updates, including Annotations, and FAQs, a Matrix of Charter History and City Code References, to be Provided on the City’s WebsitePublic Works Measure: recommended to be presented showing existing language and proposed replacement language (Exhibit B to the Resolution)•Any changes proposed to Charter Amendment content?Should the comprehensive measure include the updated revenue bond financing language expanding authority to non-electric utilities infrastructure?Note: Comprehensive amendment proposed to be approved in substantial form, with any corrections brought back for Council ratification; Level Three changes removed, and Public Works Section retained largely “as is” 9 Related Actions (cont’d)•City Attorney to prepare the Impartial Analyses--Would solicit input from other departments•Ballot Argument Preparers/Schedule--Proposed that two (no more than three) Councilmembers draft/sign the “in favor” argument and any required rebuttals, along with two or more CRC members they select (collectively no more than five per Elections Code Section 9283)--Schedule filing deadlines as calculated by City Clerk under Elections Code from date of Council action to “call the election” on the measures tonight.•Direct Staff to Prepare a Voter Communications Program Council approval in August/September to include:--Original, underline/strikeout and clean “annotated” version of the Charter on the City website, FAQs, information mailers, and public forums, with CRC support•Direct staff to Prepare a “Matrix” of Charter History (Section by Section) with references to implementing City Code Sections10 9 10
6 CRC Membership Testimony•Thirteen Members Chosen by Lottery (Six) and Mayor/Council Nomination (Seven), representing All Six City Council Districts, with some veterans and some new to City government•Collectively hundreds of volunteer hours contributed reviewing materials, providing ideas/input and actively attending 11 CRC meetings and 31 Ad Hoc Committee Meetings•Unanimous recommendation of the updated language presented, including support for (and willingness to contribute to) a robust voter information program•A number of them here tonight to speak to the recommendation and/or their experience with the project.11 Next Steps•Closing Remarks•Council questions•Public testimony•Council deliberation and action12 11 12
7 RecommendationApprove a Resolution (1)Calling and Giving Notice of a Special Municipal Election to be Held on November 3, 2026 in Conjunction with the City’s General Municipal Election for a Vote on Two Ballot Measures that, if Passed, Would Amend the City Charter as Follows: (a) Implement a Comprehensive Update of the City Charter; and (b) Update the City’s Public Works Procurement Rules as Currently Set Forth in Charter Section 1310 (Contracts on public works); (2)Requesting the Consolidation of the Such Election with the Statewide General Election to be Held in Santa Clara County on November 3, 2026; (3)Directing the Office of the City Attorney to Prepare the Impartial Analyses for the Two Measures; and (4)Setting the Priorities and Schedule for Ballot Arguments; and (5)Authorizing Other Necessary and Appropriate Actions13 Action for Each Measure•Approve Measure; yes/no on what terms•Ballot Question Language•Include the full text or a reference to City Clerk/Website Link for full documentation•Who drafts/signs the ballot Arguments14 13 14
8 City of
Santa Clara
City Council Meeting
Final Action on the Charter Project
July 14, 2026
ENDING SLIDE
15