City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes
Charter Review Committee
5:00 PM Online and Redwood Conference Room,
City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale,
CA 94086
Thursday, August 7, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Larsson called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Chair Larsson led the salute to the United States flag.
ROLL CALL
Chair Gustav Larsson
Vice Chair Kristel Wickham
Member Kathryn Filley
Member David Newswanger
Member Timothy Oey
Member Ken Olevson
Member Martin Pyne
Member Gail Rubino
Present: 8 -
Member Galen Kim Davis
Member Barry Vickrey
Absent: 2 -
Members Davis and Vickrey’s absences are excused.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Steve Scandalis presented historical information related to Sunnyvale mayors and councilmembers between 1913 and 2025.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comment opened at 5:10 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 5:10 p.m.
MOTION: Committee Member Olevson moved and Committee Member
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August 7, 2025Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes
Newswanger seconded the motion to approve agenda item 1.A as submitted.
The motion carried with the following vote:
Yes: Chair Larsson
Vice Chair Wickham
Member Filley
Member Newswanger
Member Olevson
Member Pyne
Member Rubino
7 -
No: 0
Absent: Member Davis
Member Vickrey
2 -
Abstain: Member Oey1 -
1.A 25-0777
Approve the Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes of June 30, 2025
Approve the Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes of June 30, 2025 as submitted.
PUBLIC HEARING/GENERAL BUSINESS
2 25-0778 Approval of Subcommittee #1 Recommendation Regarding Charter Section 611 (Regular Meetings)
Committee Member Pyne provided the Subcommittee report on Charter Section 611 (Regular Meetings). The Subcommittee recommends that no revisions be made to the language in Charter Section 611.
Public Hearing opened at 5:15 p.m.
Steve Scandalis shared support for the Subcommittee recommendation.
Public Hearing closed at 5:17 p.m.
MOTION: Committee Member Pyne moved and Committee Member Olevson seconded the motion to approve the Subcommittee recommendation: do not revise the current language of Charter Section 611.
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August 7, 2025Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes
The motion carried with the following vote:
Yes: Chair Larsson
Vice Chair Wickham
Member Filley
Member Newswanger
Member Oey
Member Olevson
Member Pyne
Member Rubino
8 -
No: 0
Absent: Member Davis
Member Vickrey
2 -
3 25-0796
Discussion of Possible Charter Amendments: Compensation (Section 605), Vacancies (Section 606), City Manager
Authority to Settle Claims Over $50,000 (Article 8), and Alternative Project Delivery Methods for Public Works
Contracts (Section 1309) Including Possible Direction
Regarding Community Engagement
Deputy City Manager Connie Verceles provided the staff report.
Committee Members Pyne, Olevson and Newswanger provided the Subcommittee report on Charter Section 606 (Vacancies).
Committee Members provided comments or questions:
- Question related to statewide special elections and possible impacts on city elections.
- Comment related to revising the Charter language to include “next statewide general municipal election”.
Staff provided comments and answers:
- Comment that further information is needed to determine the possible impact on city elections.
Public Hearing opened at 5:50 p.m.
Steve Scandalis requested that the Committee consider council vacancy history when revising the Charter language and communicated support for revising Section
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August 7, 2025Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes
606 for there to be no more than one appointee allowed and appointments to be 10 months or less.
Public Hearing closed at 5:53 p.m.
Committee Member Oey provided the Subcommittee report on Charter Section 605 (Compensation).
Committee Members provided comments or questions:
- Comment in support of utilizing a current index and the Subcommittee’s recommendation of using the area median income to determine a percentage for compensation.
- Comment related to pegging the compensation to a percentage or level of the median area income. For example, there are established income levels for affordable housing .
- Comment in support of utilizing an index for compensation and phasing in an increase if the change is substantial.
Public Hearing reopened at 6:10 p.m.
Zachary Kaufman requested that the Committee consider implementing an index of council compensation of neighboring cities to determine Sunnyvale’s compensation.
Steve Scandalis shared support of utilizing an index and commented that the roles should not be considered a livelihood or career role.
Mei-Ling communicated support for disclosing the cost of benefits when presenting a compensation amendment to voters.
Public Hearing closed at 6:17 p.m.
Charter Issues: Article 8 (City Manager) and Section 1309 (Contracts on Public Works)
Public Hearing reopened at 6:24 p.m.
Steve Scandalis shared support for increasing the City Manager’s threshold for approving claims and settlements and amending Charter Section 1309.
Public Hearing closed at 6:27 p.m.
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August 7, 2025Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
-Committee Member Comments
Chair Larsson polled members on their availability for a Charter Review Committee (CRC) meeting on August 28 and September 4. The next CRC meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on September 4.
-Staff Comments
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Larsson adjourned the meeting at 6:31 p.m.
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