COUNCIL POLICY MANUAL
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7.0 Long-term Advocacy Positions – Planning and
Management
A. E
lections
(1) In cooperation with County Registrar of Voters, contain costs of elections as long as the elections process is not adversely affected (i.e., purge voter rolls, limit costs for candidate statements, prevent abuse of vote by mail ballot process). Lead Dept.
OCM
(2) In cooperation with County Registrar of Voters, support practices which would increase voter turnout in local elections (e.g., vote by mail ballots, more information to voters for judicial elections). Lead Dept. OCM
(3) Support efforts to simplify and to expedite the counting of vote by mail ballots.
Lead Dept. OCM
(4) Support efforts to achieve the goals of the Political Reform Act of 1974 (reporting conflict of interest statements to the Fair Political Practices Commission) in a more cost-effective way. Lead Dept. OCM
(5) Support efforts to achieve the goals of the Levine Act while providing clear and understandable rules that do not unreasonably limit officials’ ability to participate in governance of the City. Lead Dept. OCM
(6) Support Instant Runoff Voting if/when it is determined to be economically and technologically feasible for the county. Lead Dept. OCM B. Fiscal Management
(1) Oppose all changes that affect the timing of payments to local governments.
Lead Dept. FIN
(3) Oppose any legislation that reduces or erodes local revenues or local control.
Lead Dept. FIN
(4) Support positive reform of the state or federal fiscal structure and procedures.
Lead Dept. FIN
(5) Ensure local governments’ revenue sources are protected and predictable.
Lead Dept. FIN
C. Intergovernmental Relations
(1) Support balanced representation of the City of Sunnyvale on any regional/sub regional government body or entity which is created, and cooperative analysis and negotiation among neighboring and overlapping jurisdictions, prior to promulgating laws, regulations, permits and fees that will have an impact on City business, residents, property owners and/or businesses in Sunnyvale. Lead Dept.
OCM
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(2) Advocate for local control of transportation, housing, land use, and water issues affecting Sunnyvale, except for government functions where regional control may be more appropriate for services delivered on a regional basis. Lead Dept.
OCM
(3) To ensure that local governments are consulted and their issues considered, support collaborative efforts and continued relations with, and funding from, other agencies, the State or the Federal Government, for matters where mutual concerns exist (i.e. immigration enforcement, terrorism prevention, safety of public utility systems, local/state/national disasters or emergencies, and homeland security directives), which could have an impact on the delivery of City services. Lead Dept. OCM
(4) Support cooperative analysis and negotiation among neighboring and overlapping jurisdictions prior to promulgating laws, regulations, permits and fees that impact residents, property owners and businesses in locations receiving service from multiple agencies. Lead Dept. OCM
(5) Support legislation that reflects and reinforces Sunnyvale's Statement of Values as adopted by the City Council. Lead Dept. OCM
(6) Advocate for the civil and human rights of all Sunnyvale community members while honoring diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, ability, and background.
Lead Dept. OCM
D. Human Resources
(1) California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) - support efforts that maintain or increase local contracting agency control for the use of assets in individual employer accounts and oppose any actions that would divert assets from individual employer accounts, including opposing any benefit enhancements for participants that are mandated by the State. Lead Dept. HRD
(2) Oppose any form of mandatory enrollment in Social Security for employees covered under another retirement program. (RTC 22-0061, January 25, 2022) Lead Dept. HRD
(3) Support legislation regarding workers’ compensation reform that reduces or does not increase costs to the City, and which continues to provide reasonable and necessary medical treatment to the injured employee. Lead Dept. HRD E. Digital Infrastructure & Connectivity
(1) Support efforts that protect the confidentiality of residence addresses and other sensitive information of elected and appointed officials. Lead Dept. OCA
(2) Advocate for strong state and federal internet privacy, cybersecurity, and data protection laws that safeguard the personal information of Sunnyvale residents Attachment 4
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and businesses, and protect City systems and infrastructure from cyber threats.
Lead Dept. ITD
(3) Support efforts that encourage the deployment of reliable, affordable, high-speed internet access in a competitive and technologically neutral manner. Oppose legislation that preempts municipal authority or limits local governments’ ability to install, operate, or partner in municipally owned communications infrastructure and services. Lead Dept. ITD
(4) Advocate for equitable access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet services for all Sunnyvale residents. Support state and federal legislation that ensures internet accessibility standards keep pace with evolving technology.
Lead Dept. ITD
(5) Support efforts that encourage fair competition and innovation among broadband and communications service providers to improve service quality, affordability, and consumer choice. Lead Dept. ITD
(6) Support efforts that encourage responsible, transparent, secure, and ethical use of artificial intelligence while protecting privacy, public trust, and local government flexibility to implement innovative technologies. Lead Dept. ITD
(7) Advocate for legislation that establishes clear governance standards for the use of artificial intelligence systems within telecommunications networks and public-facing digital infrastructure. Lead Dept. ITD
(8) Retain and exercise local authority to regulate the time, place, manner, and placement of wireless communications facilities (WCFs) in the public right-of- way and on public property, including the application of objective aesthetic criteria that protect the community's visual character, to the extent permitted by state and federal law. Support efforts to preserve such authority against state or federal preemption. Lead Dept. DPW
(9) Maintain, exercise, and support efforts to preserve local authority over the management and use of public rights-of-way and public property for communications and telecommunications purposes, and to set fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory terms for such use to the extent permitted by state and federal law. Lead Dept. DPW
(10) Establish and maintain fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory terms, conditions, and fees for the use of Sunnyvale's public rights-of-way and public property by telecommunications providers, wireless carriers, and other communications service providers, consistent with applicable state and federal law. Oppose legislation that would limit or preempt the City’s authority to set such terms and fees. Lead Dept. DPW
(11) Advocate for legislation that protects and preserves local government revenue derived from communications infrastructure and services. Support alternative Attachment 4
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revenue sources to offset any reductions in franchise fees, utility users taxes, sales taxes, or other communications-related revenues resulting from changes in technology, internet commerce, or state or federal law. Lead Dept. FIN
F. Miscellaneous
(1) Support efforts to revise the California Constitution to enhance accountability, efficiency, and responsiveness of local governments. Lead Dept. OCM
(2) Support existing provisions of the Brown Act regarding closed sessions. Lead Dept. OCA
(3) Review all proposed changes to current attorney-client privilege statutes. Lead Dept. OCA
(4) Support home-rule authority of charter cities and oppose any efforts to reduce local control over the City and/or its Sphere of Influence. Support strengthening “home rule” provisions in the State Constitution. Lead Dept. CDD
(5) Support efforts to amend the California Constitution to require a simple majority vote for adoption of any ballot measures. Lead Dept. OCM
(6) Support efforts to provide adequate funding to the California court system to improve court access and case management. (Adopted w/ modification, RTC 15- 0008 (January 6, 2015) Lead Dept. OCA
(7) Support legislation to modernize the Ralph M. Brown Act as it pertains to teleconferencing during public meetings. Urge the Legislature provide more flexibility for cities and intergovernmental boards to improve and enhance, should the agency choose to do so, remote access for public officials (Councilmembers and board or commission members) in public meetings.
Support legislation that allows for broader access and transparency without adding unfunded mandates on local public agencies. ( Adopted w/ modification, RTC 21-0576 (July 27, 2021) Lead Dept. OCM
(8) Advocate for Sunnyvale’s communities of interest during the county, state, special district and other local public agencies, and congressional redistricting process to support efforts that encourage one Legislative representative for each elective office that represents the residents of Sunnyvale. Advocate for Sunnyvale’s communities of interest during the county redistricting process to support efforts that encourage county representatives from at least two supervisorial districts. ( Adopted w/modification, RTC 21-0723 (August 10, 2021)) Lead Dept. OCM
(9) Urge the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to draw supervisorial districts as a numerical representation of the City of San Jose’s population so that the number of County supervisors representing San Jose does not exceed three Attachment 4
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County supervisors. (Adopted, RTC 21-0854 (August 31, 2021)) Lead Dept.
OCM
(11) Advocate for Sunnyvale’s communities of interest in any school district (re)districting process and trustee area boundary map development to ensure fair and equal representation. Lead Dept. LRS
(12) Advocate for secure, reliable, and timely postal service for Sunnyvale residents. (Adopted, RTC 24-0456 (March 26, 2024) Lead Dept. OCM
(13) Support reforms to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related statutes that allow small businesses a reasonable opportunity to cure ADA violations prior to the initiation of certain enforcement actions, while maintaining strong protections for individuals with disabilities and ensuring meaningful accessibility compliance. (Adopted, RTC 26-0431 (April 21, 2026)) Lead Dept. OCM
(14) Support legislation to modernize public participation in State government by requiring public call-in or remote participation for State legislative committee sessions, with appropriate safeguards to verify participation and prevent abuse, while preserving meaningful public access and orderly proceedings. (Adopted, RTC 26-0431 (April 21, 2026)) Lead Dept. OCM
(Adopted: RTC #09-046 (February 24, 2009); Revised: RTC #11-022 (February 8, 2011); Revised: RTC #12-09 (February 7, 2012); Clerical/clarity update, LAP Consolidation (RTC #12-09, May 24, 2013); Adopted w/ modification, RTC #15-0008 (January 6, 2015); Adopted w/ modification, RTC 21-0576 (July 27, 2021); Adopted w/modification, RTC 21- 0723 (August 10, 2021); (Adopted: RTC 21-0854 (August 31, 2021); (Adopted: RTC 21- 0842 (August 31, 2021); (Adopted: RTC 22-0061, January 25, 2022); Adopted: RTC: 23- 0158 (January 24, 2023); Revised: RTC 24-0456 (March 26, 2024); Revised: RTC 24-0615 (May 21, 2024); Revised RTC 25-0101 (January 28, 2025); Revised RTC 25-0517 (May 6, 2025); Revised RTC 26-0098 (February 10, 2026); Revised RTC 26-0431 (April 21, 2026); Amended: RTC 26-0628 (8/11/2026))
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