History of Charter Amendments
The following list includes Charter Amendment ballot measures approved by voters and many Charter Amendment ballot measure that were not approved by voters.
Year Ballot
Letter
Issue(s) Passed Failed Election Date/
Effective Date
1949 Original Charter establishing Council/Manager
form of government
X May 18, 1949
1953/
1954
Research into this amendment is underway X Election Date Pending/ March 31, 1954
1954 “Seven Members”
Research into this amendment is underway
X Nov. 2, 1954/
Jan. 14, 1955
Election Results:
ROV Nov. 2, 1954
1957 1 Changed the number of Councilmembers from
5 to 7
X April 9, 1957/
May 20, 1957
Election Results:
Resolution No. 2340-57
2 Council compensation from $50 to $75 per month X April 9, 1957/ May 20, 1957
Election Results:
Resolution No. 2340-57
3 Four votes needed for the adoption of ordinances,
resolutions and orders for the payment of money.
X April 9, 1957/
May 20, 1957
Election Results:
Resolution No. 2340-57
4 Five votes needed for emergency ordinances X April 9, 1957/ May 20, 1957
Election Results:
Resolution No. 2340-57
5 Ordinances annexing areas to the City shall
become effective on adoption.
X April 9, 1957/
May 20, 1957
Election Results:
Resolution No. 2340-57
6 Appointment of the City Clerk and City Attorney
and for their removal upon motion of the City
Council.
X April 9, 1957/
May 20, 1957
Election Results:
Resolution No. 2340-57
Attachment 2
History of Charter Amendments
Year Ballot
Letter
Issue(s) Passed Failed Election Date/
Effective Date
7 Four votes needed to adopt the annual budget. X April 9, 1957/ May 20, 1957
Election Results:
Resolution No. 2340-57
8 No suit or claim for money or damages shall be
brought against the City until a verified claim for
the same has been presented to the Director of
Finance
X April 9, 1957/
May 20, 1957
Election Results:
Resolution No. 2340-57
9 Created "Departmental Trust Fund" X April 9, 1957/
May 20, 1957
Election Results:
Resolution No. 2340-57
10 Repealed City Court X April 9, 1957/
May 20, 1957
Election Results:
Resolution No. 2340-57
1966 F Increased salary for Councilmembers to $200 per
month and the Mayor to $300 per Month
X Nov. 8, 1966/
Jan. 23, 1967
Election Results:
ROV Nov. 8, 1966
1968 B Amended to provide that the City exercise
proprietary powers and powers granted to
General Law Cities…; require official bonds of
persons controlling public funds…; require bidding
on public works contracts in excess of amount
specified in Government Code and excluding
work: performed by a public utility…
X June 4, 1968/
July 8, 1968
Election Results
ROV June 4, 1968
C Designated each Council seat as a separate
elective office; and holding municipal elections in
same manner as General Law Cities…
X June 4, 1968/
July 8, 1968
Election Results
ROV June 4, 1968
D Require the City Manager to reside in Sunnyvale
and allow removal of the City Manager without a
public hearing.
X June 4, 1968/
July 8, 1968
Election Results
ROV June 4, 1968
Attachment 2
History of Charter Amendments
Year Ballot
Letter
Issue(s) Passed Failed Election Date/
Effective Date
E Provides that the Council deal with employees
under the City Manager’s authority through the
City Manger…
X June 4, 1968/
July 8, 1968
Election Results
ROV June 4, 1968
F Eliminated several Charter officers, added City
Council authority to appoint officers upon City
Manager’s recommendation…
X June 4, 1968/
July 8, 1968
Election Results
ROV June 4, 1968
G Council may appoint Assistant or Deputy City
Attorney, removed Council authority to appoint a
City Clerk…
X June 4, 1968/
July 8, 1968
Election Results
ROV June 4, 1968
H Redefined the Unclassified Service by eliminating
non.-existent positions and
City Clerk and by adding any Assistant or Deputy
City Attorney and deleting time limit for temporary
or special purpose employees…
X June 4, 1968/
July 8, 1968
Election Results
ROV June 4, 1968
I Require only public meetings for boards and
commissions along with other board and
commission related amendments.
X June 4, 1968/
July 8, 1968
Election Results
ROV June 4, 1968
J Require an independent auditor, remove several
sections.
X June 4, 1968/
July 8, 1968
Election Results
ROV June 4, 1968
K Provided authority to adopt by ordinance a claims
against the City process.
X June 4, 1968/
July 8, 1968
Election Results
ROV June 4, 1968
L Add requirement for a franchise to furnish public
utility services or public streets for such public
utility services.
X June 4, 1968/
July 8, 1968
Election Results
ROV June 4, 1968
Attachment 2
History of Charter Amendments
Year Ballot
Letter
Issue(s) Passed Failed Election Date/
Effective Date
M Designate the governing board of the school
district as a City Board of Education.
X June 4, 1968/
July 8, 1968
Election Results
ROV June 4, 1968
1975 A Consolidated City Council and School Board
elections
X Nov. 4, 1975/
Dec. 31, 1975
Election Results:
Resoluti on No.
345-75
B Modify tax rate for the purpose of acquiring open
space lands within the City of Sunnyvale
X Nov. 4, 1975/
Dec. 31, 1975
Election Results:
Resoluti on No.
345-75
C Modify tax rate to establish and operate an
emergency medical treatment system
X Nov. 4, 1975/
Dec. 31, 1975
Election Results:
Resoluti on No.
345-75
D Amend City Councilmembers' term limit, require
references to gender to appear in both masculine
and feminine forms, along with other changes.
X Nov. 4, 1975/
Dec. 31, 1975
Election Results:
Resoluti on No.
345-75
1976 A Amended to rearrange the Sections of Articles VI, VII and VIII, to repeal Article XVII, to conform
existing Sections 701 and 708 to recent court
decisions and laws applicable to charter cities,
and to clarify the wording of existing Sections 816
and 1318?"
X Nov. 2, 1976/
Dec. 21, 1976
Election Results:
Resolution No. 351-76
B Shall Section 702 of the Charter of the City of
Sunnyvale be amended to increase the monthly
salary of Councilmembers from $200 to $300 and
of the Mayor from $300 to $400 and to increase
the reduction in salary for failure to attend a
meeting or study session from $25 to $35?"
X Nov. 2, 1976/
Dec. 21, 1976
Election Results:
Resolution No. 351-76
Attachment 2
History of Charter Amendments
Year Ballot
Letter
Issue(s) Passed Failed Election Date/
Effective Date
C Technical changes regarding Councilmanic
interference
X Nov. 2, 1976/
Dec. 21, 1976
Election Results:
Resolution No. 351-76
D Sections 814, 1107 and 1801 of the Charter of the
City of Sunnyvale amended to provide that the
penalty for committing a misdemeanor shall be
the same as provided under general law, and to
add infraction to Section 814 as a category of
offense for violation of an ordinance?"
X Nov. 2, 1976/
Dec. 21, 1976
Election Results:
Resolution No. 351-76
E Shall Section 1002 of the Charter of the City of
Sunnyvale be amended to remove the limitation
on the number of terms that a board or
commission member may serve?
X Nov. 2, 1976/
Dec. 21, 1976
Election Results:
Resolution No. 351-76
F Shall Section 700 of the Charter of the City of
Sunnyvale be amended to remove the limitation
on the number of successive terms that
Councilmembers may serve?
X
Nov. 2, 1976/
Dec. 21, 1976
Election Results:
Resolution No. 351-76
1982 H Changed requirements for membership to Boards
and Commissions
X Nov. 2, 1982/
Dec. 23, 1982
Election Results:
Resolution No. 297-82
I Changed Mayor Pro Tem to Vice Mayor X Nov. 2, 1982/
Dec. 23, 1982
Election Results:
Resolution No. 297-82
J Amended contract provisions for Public Works
and repealed Water Revenue Fund
X Nov. 2, 1982/
Dec. 23, 1982
Election Results:
Resolution No. 297-82
K Council Salary Increase X Nov. 2, 1982/
Dec. 23, 1982
Election Results:
Resolution No. 297-82
Attachment 2
History of Charter Amendments
Year Ballot
Letter
Issue(s) Passed Failed Election Date/
Effective Date
L Added Heritage Preservation Commission X Nov. 2, 1982/ Dec. 23, 1982
Election Results:
Resolution No. 297-82
M Modified Tax Limit Consistent with Prop. 13 X Nov. 2, 1982/ Dec. 23, 1982
Election Results:
Resolution No. 297-82
N Added section regarding Campaign Disclosure X Nov. 2, 1982/ Dec. 23, 1982
Election Results:
Resolution No. 297-82
O Handgun Control X Nov. 2, 1982/
Dec. 23, 1982
Election Results:
Resolution No. 297-82
1985 A Increased pay for City Councilmembers to
$600/month and Mayor to $800/month, with
annual cost of living increases commensurate
with State Law for General Law cities
X March 5, 1985/
March 15, 1985
Election Results:
Resolution No. 123-85
1987 F Amended Mayor's term to serve for two years X Nov. 3, 1987/ Dec. 21, 1987
Election Results:
Resolution No. 207-87
1988 H Amended terms of Planning Commissioners,
Personnel Board and Board of Building Code
Appeals to serve two consecutive terms
X Nov. 8, 1988/
May 1, 1989
Election Results:
Resolution No. 222-88
1991
H Shall the current city of Sunnyvale Charter
language providing that the city council selects
the Mayor by resolution requiring the affirmative
votes of at least four members of the City Council,
be retained, as recommended by the Charter
Review Committee?
X Nov. 5, 1991/
Jan. 17, 1992
Election Results:
Resolution No. 202-91
Attachment 2
History of Charter Amendments
Year Ballot
Letter
Issue(s) Passed Failed Election Date/
Effective Date
I Shall section 601 of the Charter of the City of
Sunnyvale be amended to require an individual
who has served in elective office for two
successive four-year terms to wait at least four
years before being eligible to serve again in
elective office?
X Nov. 5, 1991/
Jan. 17, 1992
Election Results:
Resolution No. 202-91
J Shall section 603 of the Charter of the City of
Sunnyvale be amended to
provide that Councilmembers are entitled to four
personal leave days per year, that the Council
has the authority to excuse absences from
meetings and that for an absence from a Council
meeting for other than for personal leave, or due
to official duty or one which is excused by the
Council, the penalty is 20% of the month's salary,
which at the time of this amendment is equivalent
to a penalty of $160.00?
X Nov. 5, 1991/
Jan. 17, 1992
Election Results:
Resolution No. 202-91
K Shall section 604 of the Charter of the City of
Sunnyvale be amended to
provide that vacancies on the City Council shall
be officially declared as such within thirty days of
the commencement of the vacancy, that
vacancies created by the involuntary removal of a
Councilmember may be filled by appointment,
and that no election shall be held the day before,
day of, or day after a state holiday?
X Nov. 5, 1991/
Jan. 17, 1992
Election Results:
Resolution No. 202-91
L Shall the Charter of the city of Sunnyvale be
revised to provide that,
commencing June 1992, the Mayor of Sunnyvale
shall be elected by a vote of the people instead of
appointed by the City Council for a separate four
year term with a two successive term limitation,
and, further, that if a Councilmember or the Mayor
does not attend all official meetings held during a
given month, that his/her salary for the month
shall be reduced by $150.00 for each absence
unless, as currently set forth in the City Charter,
the absence is due to official duty?
X Nov. 5, 1991/
Jan. 17, 1992
Election Results:
Resolution No. 202-91
Attachment 2
History of Charter Amendments
Year Ballot
Letter
Issue(s) Passed Failed Election Date/
Effective Date
M Shall Sections 601 and 1400 of the Charter of the
City of Sunnyvale be amended to provide that in
order to be elected to the office of Mayor, an
individual would have to receive a majority of all
votes cast rather than a plurality, and that in the
event no individual received a majority of all votes
cast, a runoff election would be held between the
two individuals who received the highest number
of votes?"
X Nov. 5, 1991/
Jan. 17, 1992
Election Results:
Resolution No. 202-91
1993 M Shall section 1007 of the Charter of the City of Sunnyvale concerning Personnel Board eligibility
requirements be amended so that former city
employees are precluded from serving on the
Personnel Board?"
X Nov. 2, 1993/
Dec. 23, 1993
Election Results:
Resolution No. 201-93
N Shall an initiative ordinance be adopted which
establishes a Mobilehome Park Rental Board,
sets base rents for all mobilehome park spaces
and enacts a mobilehome rent regulation
program?
X Nov. 2, 1993/
Dec. 23, 1993
Election Results:
Resolution No. 201-93
1995 A Amended Sections 302,304 and 1003 containing
outdated material to be deleted in their entirety
and Sections 303,1007, 1013 & 1015 to delete
only outdated material
X Nov. 7, 1995/
Nov. 30, 1995
Election Results:
Resolution No. 216-95
B Amended to delete outdated material, to clarify
when election results are certified and to transfer
qualification for office language from Section 601
to 602
X Nov. 7, 1995/
Nov. 30, 1995
Election Results:
Resolution No. 216-95
C Amended to delete outdated material, to clarify
when the selection of mayor and vice mayor shall
occur and to change the method of appointment
and removal of the mayor from a resolution to a
motion process
X Nov. 7, 1995/
Nov. 30, 1995
Election Results:
Resolution No. 216-95
D Amended term of Mayor from two-year term to
one year
X Nov. 7, 1995/
Nov. 30, 1995
Election Results:
Resolution No. 216-95
Attachment 2
History of Charter Amendments
Year Ballot
Letter
Issue(s) Passed Failed Election Date/
Effective Date
E Amended to streamline public notice, resolution
and ordinance procedures and bring them into
conformance with State law
X Nov. 7, 1995/
Nov. 30, 1995
Election Results:
Resolution No. 216-95
F Amended to provide for employment contracts for
the City Manager and City
Attorney, to eliminate the ordinance requirement
for departmental reorganization and to transfer
the responsibility for legal business from the
City Council to the City Attorney
X Nov. 7, 1995/
Nov. 30, 1995
Election Results:
Resolution No. 216-95
G Amended to specify which boards and
commissions are established by charter, and to
authorize the creation of additional boards and
commissions by resolution as well as by
ordinance, and to include only the subject of
board and commission appointments and
qualifications, transferring the provisions
concerning term lengths to new Section 1003
X Nov. 7, 1995/
Nov. 30, 1995
Election Results:
Resolution No. 216-95
H Amended to clarify procedures related to the
processing of franchises?
X Nov. 7, 1995/
Nov. 30, 1995
Election Results:
Resolution No. 216-95
2005 F Amended to standardize term limits for all city
boards and commissions to two consecutive four-
year terms and eliminate the two-year waiting
period before a board or commission member
may apply to serve on another board or
commission?
X Nov. 8, 2005/
Dec. 14, 2005
Election Results:
Resolution No. 197-05
G Shall the Charter of the City of Sunnyvale be
amended to conform with state law by eliminating
the requirement that the City Manager shall reside
in the City of Sunnyvale?
X Nov. 8, 2005/
Dec. 14, 2005
Election Results:
Resolution No. 197-05
H Amended to include the term "heritage resource"
in its list of topics reviewed by the Sunnyvale
Heritage Preservation Commission, consistent
with existing policy.
X Nov. 8, 2005/
Dec. 14, 2005
Election Results:
Resolution No. 197-05
Attachment 2
History of Charter Amendments
Year Ballot
Letter
Issue(s) Passed Failed Election Date/
Effective Date
2007 C Section 602 amended to limit a Councilmember to
serving eight years in any twelve-year period, not
including appointment to an unexpired term of
less than two years?
X Nov. 6, 2007/
Nov. 28, 2007
Election Results:
Resolution No. 307-07
D Sections 1002 and 1003 amended to clarify that a
board or commission member can serve two
terms on the same board or commission without a
break, can serve on a different board or
commission prior to expiration of his/her term with
Council approval, and to clarify members of all
boards and commissions may serve two
successive terms?
X Nov. 6, 2007/
Nov. 28, 2007
Election Results:
Resolution No. 307-07
E Section 1007 amended to add a provision that if
the two employee-nominated members of the
Personnel Board are not nominated and elected
within six months of a vacancy then the City
Council may fill the vacancies by direct
appointment and delete the prohibition against
officers in any local, state or national partisan
political organization from serving on the
Personnel Board?
X Nov. 6, 2007/
Nov. 28, 2007
Election Results:
Resolution No. 307-07
F Sections 802, 1012 and 1014 amended to add
new language that provides for budget review and
recommendations by all boards and commissions
and to delete the budget review provisions limited
to only the Library Board and Parks and
Recreation Commission?
X Nov. 6, 2007/
Nov. 28, 2007
Election Results:
Resolution No. 307-07
G Shall Charter Section 603 be amended to allow
the City Council to permit, by resolution,
additional excused leave beyond the four
personal leave days currently permitted, and to
determine whether any additional excused leave
days will be paid or unpaid leave?
X Nov. 6, 2007/
Nov. 28, 2007
Election Results:
Resolution No. 307-07
H Sections 605 and 606 amended to select the
mayor and vice mayor at the first regular meeting
in January and to change the term of the mayor
from one year to two years?
X Nov. 6, 2007/
Nov. 28, 2007
Election Results:
Resolution No. 307-07
Attachment 2
History of Charter Amendments
Year Ballot
Letter
Issue(s) Passed Failed Election Date/
Effective Date
I Section 800 amended to add language that
strongly encourages the City Manager to reside in
the City of Sunnyvale and to remove the City
Manager residency requirement that is in conflict
with the State Constitution?
X Nov. 6, 2007/
Nov. 28, 2007
Election Results:
Resolution No. 307-07
J Sections 1302 and 1305 amended to add
language that requires the annual submission of a
ten-year balanced budget that includes level of
service information, historical financial trend data,
and charts for ease of understanding the budget
and provides that approved appropriations for
capital improvement projects will not lapse at the
end of the fiscal year, unless completed, closed
out or Council takes action to modify?
X Nov. 6, 2007/
Nov. 28, 2007
Election Results:
Resolution No. 307-07
K Sections 601, 610, 612, 613, 703 and 708
amended to delete outdated material, to provide
for certification of election results at the first
meeting in January, to reflect current practice of
study sessions and closed sessions in locations
other than Council Chambers, to certify election
returns, to provide for sanctions for disorderly
conduct, to clarify the City Clerk reports to the
City Manager, and to allow for publication on the
Internet?
X Nov. 6, 2007/
Nov. 28, 2007
Election Results:
Resolution No. 307-07
L Sections 803, 804, 806, 903, 908 and 1309
amended to delete outdated material, clarify that
a City Manager pro tem is appointed for an
absence of more than two weeks, that the City
Manager and City Attorney can be removed
without cause, that the City Manager appoints the
City Clerk, require City Attorney approval for
outside counsel, and specify that the lowest
bidder for public works contracts must be
responsive and responsible?
X Nov. 6, 2007/
Nov. 28, 2007
Election Results:
Resolution No. 307-07
2011 A Amendment to change the current Council-
appointed Mayor to a directly-elected Mayor for a
4-year term, to provide an 8-year lifetime term
limit for a directly-elected Mayor, and to provide
that service as Mayor is not counted toward
Council term limits and a person can serve a
combined total of 16 years as Mayor and Council
member in a twenty-year period?
X Nov. 8, 2011/
Feb. 15, 2012
Resolution No. 515-12
Attachment 2
History of Charter Amendments
Year Ballot
Letter
Issue(s) Passed Failed Election Date/
Effective Date
B Section 603 amended to delete the current
automatic 5% annual increase in
Council compensation, to set the 2012 Council
compensation at $2,088.64 per month and Mayor
compensation at $2,784.86 per month, and to
provide for annual cost of living adjustments tied
to the Consumer Price Index not to exceed 5% or
result in a decrease?
X Nov. 8, 2011/
Feb. 15, 2012
Resolution No. 515-12
2013 A Changed the City's general municipal elections
from odd-numbered years to even-numbered
years with the next general municipal election
scheduled for 2016.
X Nov. 5, 2013/
Dec. 16, 2013
Election Results:
Resolution No. 621-13
2018 L Section 604 amended to allow the City Council to decide whether to fill a City Council vacancy by
calling a special election, or by making an
appointment, with the person appointed to fill the
vacancy holding the office until a successor is
elected at the next regularly scheduled municipal
or statewide election that can be consolidated?
X Nov. 6, 2018/
Dec. 21, 2018
Election Results:
Resolution No. 918-18
2020
B Article VI amended to establish "by-district"
elections for six Council members required to be
residents of a district and elected only by the
voters of that district, and one Mayor directly
elected by all City voters; changed term limits to
permit service on the Council for three
consecutive terms but only two as Council
member or Mayor; and made other conforming
amendments.
X March 3, 2020/
May 7, 2020
Election Results:
Resolution No. 984-20
Attachment 2