Discussion and Direction Regarding
Potential Amendments to the City
Charter
Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
City Council
Jan. 23, 2024
DRAFT PRESENTATION
2City of Sunnyvale – Potential Charter Amendments – January 2024 • On Nov. 28, 2023, City Council requested this agenda item. • Memo. proposed a Charter Review Committee to review the Cha
rter and propose amendments.
• Memo. identified nine potential amendments:
1. Fill Council vacancies at next Nov. General Election
2. Require 24 Council meetings/year instead of 2/month
3. Review Board/Commission size and citizenship requirement
4. Examine Mayor’s role, consider a full-time Mayor
Continued on next slide
City Council Colleagues Memorandum
DRAFT PRESENTATION
3City of Sunnyvale – Potential Charter Amendments – January 2024 Continued:
5. Evaluate Council salary and compensation
6. Update Charter with gender neutral language
7. Consider an alternate voting system
8. Evaluate role of district Councilmembers
9. Define rules for Redistricting Commissions
City Council Colleagues Memorandum (continued)
DRAFT PRESENTATION
4City of Sunnyvale – Potential Charter Amendments – January 2024 Recent Charter Review Committee Efforts
Year(s) Scope of Review Timeline
(inception-
election)
Num. of
Mtgs.
Committee
Selection
Process
Election
Date
Election
Outcome
2020 1 item from Council -
district elections*
18 months 5 Open
applications
Mar 2020 1 measure
passed
2017-
2018
1 item from Council –
filling vacancies
12-18 months 8 Open
applications
Nov 2018 1 measure
passed
2010-
2011
2 items from Council –
directly elected Mayor,
Council compensation
12-18 months 8 Open
applications
Nov 2011 1 of 2
measures
passed
2006-
2007
10 items
-7 from Council, some
from Committee
18 months 12 Appointed by
Council
Nov 2007 9 of 10
measures
passed
DRAFT PRESENTATION
5City of Sunnyvale – Potential Charter Amendments – January 2024 • Sunnyvale Charter may be amended by the majority of
S
unnyvale Voters.
• Charter amendment may be formulated by:
A Charter Review Commission (Election Code 9255)
Council action
•Charter Review Committee advisory to Council
•Council Subcommittee
•Council direction to staff
A petition from 15% of voters
Options for Structuring Charter Review
DRAFT PRESENTATION
6City of Sunnyvale – Potential Charter Amendments – January 2024 • ~ $118,000 for each ballot measure
Budget includes funds for up to 2 measures (note that Council may consider measures beyond Charter amendments)
• Potential outside counsel, depending on scope
• Potential public information costs
• Ranked-c hoice voting - ~$87,000 annually + implementation Fiscal Impacts
DRAFT PRESENTATION
7City of Sunnyvale – Potential Charter Amendments – January 2024 • Council-a ppointed Charter Review Committee with broad scope for a future election
• Council-a ppointed Charter Review Committee with limited scope for 2024 election
• Council-dir
ected Charter amendments for 2024 (with or
without Subcommittee)
• Staff evaluation of desired policy changes not requiring Charter a
mendments
Alternatives for Timing, Process, and Scope of Charter Review
DRAFT PRESENTATION
8City of Sunnyvale – Potential Charter Amendments – January 2024 Recommendation – Alternative 1, Alternative 2 or 3, & Alternative 5
1. Direct Staff to return with analysis of items from the Colleagues’ Memo that may be able to be modified without a Charter Amendment.
2. Pursue Council-Directed Charter Amendments for 2024 by directing Staff to return with proposed ballot measure language for priority items identified by Council.
OR
3. Pursue Council-Directed Charter Amendments for 2024 by appointing a Council Subcommittee to work on designated items identified in the Colleagues’ Memo and return with proposed ballot measure language for those items.
5. Direct Staff to return to Council in early 2025 with options for a more thorough charter review process similar to the one undertaken in 2007, allowing for more opportunity for public participation and adequate time to prepare several potential changes for voter consideration in November 2026.
DRAFT PRESENTATION
Thank you
Questions?
DRAFT PRESENTATION