City Council Staff Report Page 1 of 3 September 22, 2026 Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 3.3
DATE: September 22, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Joan Malloy, City Manager
SUBJECT: Waive Further Reading and Adopt 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
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the ordinance introduced on September 8, 2026, to establish a common annual schedule for selecting commission chairs and vice chairs. The five affected commissions would elect officers at their first regular meeting in January, or at the first regular meeting thereafter if they do not meet in January. The new cycle would begin in 2027. If adopted on September 22, 2026, the ordinance would take effect on October 22, 2026.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
This item supports Goal B: Governance and Organizational Effectiveness, as identified in the September 8 staff report, by establishing consistent commission procedures and aligning officer selection with calendar-year appointments.
BACKGROUND
On September 8, 2026, the City Council voted 5–0 to waive full reading and introduce the ordinance. The Council also adopted the companion resolution establishing the same officer-selection schedule for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Sales Tax and Utility Users’ Tax Oversight Committee. That resolution has already been adopted and does not require a second reading.
The ordinance follows the City’s transition to calendar-year appointments. Existing Municipal Code provisions require officer elections to be held in different months, and some commission bylaws set conflicting dates.
Agenda Item No. 3.3
City Council Staff Report Page 2 of 3 September 22, 2026
DISCUSSION
The ordinance amends 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 (the “Code”). It applies to the Park and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Human Relations Commission, Senior Citizens Commission, and Arts & Culture Commission. Staff proposes adoption of the ordinance as introduced.
Officers would assume office upon election and serve until successors are elected, unless removed or replaced sooner. An officer vacancy would be filled at the next regular meeting at which the election can be properly noticed.
The transition provisions carry the affected 2026 officers into the first officer election after January 1, 2027. If adopted as scheduled, the Arts & Culture Commission would not hold a separate officer election in December 2026. Staff liaisons would coordinate the required agenda items and conforming bylaw updates.
During the September 8 discussion, Councilmember Wang requested updates to outdated Youth Commission policies. The City Manager stated that staff would align those policies with the Youth Commission’s school-year schedule and procedures. That followup is separate from this ordinance, which does not change the Youth Commission’s schedule.
Adoption on September 22 would make the ordinance effective October 22, 2026. The annual January election cycle would begin in 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT
No additional appropriation is requested. Staff would complete agenda preparation, implementation, and bylaw coordination within existing resources.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council waive further reading and adopt the 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.
Prepared by: Thai Nam Pham, City Clerk
Submitted by: Thai Nam Pham, City Clerk
Agenda Item No. 3.3
City Council Staff Report Page 2 of 3 September 22, 2026 Agenda Item No. 3.3
City Council Staff Report Page 3 of 3 September 22, 2026 Attachments
1. Proposed ordinance, including Exhibit A, Municipal Code Amendments