City Council Staff Report Page 1 of 4 September 8, 2026 Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 3.2
DATE: September 8, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Joan Malloy, City Manager
SUBJECT: Waive Full Reading and Introduce by Title Only an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Union City Amending Sections 2.21.030,
2.21.040, 2.23.020, 2.23.030, 2.24.030, 2.25.030, 2.25.040, and
2.26.020 of the Union City Municipal Code to Standardize the Annual Selection of Commission Chairs and Vice Chairs; Adopt a Resolution Establishing a Uniform Selection Process for Chairs and Vice Chairs for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Sales Tax and Utility Users' Tax Oversight Committee
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Union City Municipal Code (“UCMC”) currently requires the City's five codified commissions to select their Chair and Vice Chair in different months. The Park and Recreation Commission and Planning Commission elect officers in August or at the next regular meeting; the Senior Citizens Commission elects officers in August; the Human Relations Commission elects officers in January; and the Arts & Culture Commission elects officers in December. Some commission bylaws also use dates that differ from the Municipal Code.
In February 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-029 to standardize new appointments to City boards, commissions, and committees so that terms begin January 1 and expire December 31 of the final year. Staff has prepared an ordinance that would provide for uniform officer elections at the first meeting after January 1 of each calendar year. Additionally, staff has prepared a resolution to establish uniform elections for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Sales Tax and Utility Users' Tax Oversight Committee. Aligning annual officer elections with the first regular meeting in January, or the first regular meeting thereafter, would align leadership selection with calendar-year terms and establish a consistent administrative process.
Staff recommends that the City Council waive full reading and introduce, by title only, the proposed ordinance standardizing the annual election of chairs and vice chairs of commissions. Staff also recommends adoption of a resolution applying the same schedule to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Sales Tax and Utility Users' Tax Oversight Committee, which are not governed by the commission chapters of Agenda Item No. 3.2
City Council Staff Report Page 2 of 4 September 8, 2026 the Municipal Code. The proposed changes would begin with the January 2027 organizational meetings.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
This item aligns with Goal B: Governance and Organizational Effectiveness of the Strategic Plan by establishing consistent governance procedures, reducing administrative ambiguity, and aligning advisory body leadership with the City's calendaryear appointment cycle.
BACKGROUND
UCMC Chapter 2.20 establishes general requirements for City boards, commissions, committees, and organizations. UCMC Chapters 2.21, 2.23, 2.24, 2.25, and 2.26 establish the Park and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Human Relations Commission, Senior Citizens Commission, and Arts & Culture Commission, respectively.
Each commission chapter contains provisions for selecting a Chair and Vice Chair, but the timing varies.
Resolution No. 2025-029, adopted February 25, 2025, standardized the start and expiration dates for new appointments to City boards, commissions, and committees.
New appointments made after the adoption of that resolution generally begin on January 1 and expire on December 31 of the final year of the term. Existing commissioner terms were not altered.
Individual commissions have also adopted commission-specific bylaws and operating rules. Where a bylaw conflicts with the Municipal Code, the Municipal Code controls.
Following the adoption of the ordinance, each affected commission will be asked to amend its bylaws to ensure its internal rules align with the same January schedule.
Agenda Item No. 3.2
City Council Staff Report Page 2 of 4 September 8, 2026 Agenda Item No. 3.2
City Council Staff Report Page 3 of 4 September 8, 2026
DISCUSSION
Current and proposed selection schedule
Table 1. Current and Proposed Annual Chair and Vice Chair Selection Schedule for Union City Commissions
Commission Current Municipal
Code Proposed Schedule
Park and Recreation August or the next
regular meeting
First regular meeting in January, or first
regular meeting thereafter
Planning August or the next
regular meeting
First regular meeting in January, or first
regular meeting thereafter
Human Relations January First regular meeting in January, or first regular meeting thereafter
Senior Citizens August First regular meeting in January, or first regular meeting thereafter
Arts & Culture December First regular meeting in January, or first regular meeting thereafter
The ordinance would amend the affected sections to establish a single uniform rule. Each commission would elect a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members at its first regular meeting in January, or, if it does not meet in January, at its first regular meeting thereafter.
Officers would assume office immediately and continue until successors are elected, unless removed or replaced sooner by the commission. A midterm officer vacancy would be filled at the next regular meeting at which the election can be properly noticed.
The companion resolution would apply the same rule to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Sales Tax and Utility Users' Tax Oversight Committee. A narrowly tailored resolution is recommended because other advisory bodies use different governance structures. For example, Resolution No. 6133-23 designates the two City Councilmembers serving on the Economic Development Advisory Team as its Chair and Vice Chair. The resolution for the Climate Action Plan Update Task Force does not establish an annual officer-selection process. The Disaster Council has officers designated by office under the Municipal Code. The proposed resolution would not alter those structures or apply to City Council committees or temporary task forces.
Transition to January 2027
Until the ordinance takes effect, the Park and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, and Senior Citizens Commission remain subject to the officer-election provisions currently in effect. The Park and Recreation Commission's election is scheduled for September 9, 2026, because it did not hold a regular meeting in August. If the proposed ordinance is adopted, officers selected under the current 2026 schedule Agenda Item No. 3.2
City Council Staff Report Page 4 of 4 September 8, 2026 would serve a one-time shortened transitional term ending when the officer elected for that position at the first regular meeting in January 2027, or the first regular meeting thereafter, assumes office. The Human Relations Commission is already on a January cycle. Because the ordinance would take effect before December, the Arts & Culture Commission would not hold a separate election in December 2026, and its current officers would remain in place until the January 2027 organizational meeting.
The proposed ordinance is scheduled for introduction on September 8, 2026. If adopted at the September 22, 2026, regular meeting, it would take effect on October 22, 2026, which provides sufficient time for staff liaisons to agendize the January 2027 officer elections and coordinate conforming bylaw amendments.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adoption of the proposed ordinance and resolution will have no direct fiscal impact on the City's budget. Staff will complete implementation, agenda preparation, and bylaw coordination within existing resources.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Waive full reading and introduce by title only an ordinance amending Union City Municipal Code sections 2.21.030, 2.21.040, 2.23.020, 2.23.030, 2.24.030,
2.25.030, 2.25.040, and 2.26.020 to standardize the annual selection of commission chairs and vice chairs beginning in January 2027; and
2. Adopt a resolution establishing the same January officer-selection schedule for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Sales Tax and Utility Users' Tax Oversight Committee.
Prepared by: Thai Nam Pham, City Clerk
Submitted by: Thai Nam Pham, City Clerk
Attachments
1. Draft Ordinance, including Exhibit A, Municipal Code Amendments
2. Draft Resolution