REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Consider Options and Provide Direction to: (1) Amend Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 2.30 (Appointment Process to Fill Vacancies on the City Council) to Remove Ranked Choice Voting Provisions and add Impasse Language; and (2) Council Policy 7.3.15 (Appointment of Interim Councilmembers) to Remove Ranked Choice Voting Provisions
Report
BACKGROUND
On November 6, 2018, City of Sunnyvale voters approved an amendment to Sunnyvale Charter Section 606 that addresses vacancies in City Council seats and allows the City Council to fill certain vacancies by appointment until the next general election or special municipal election consolidated with a statewide election. Section 606(e) requires the City Council to adopt an ordinance establishing a public process for appointment. On April 23, 2019, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 3144-19, adding Chapter 2.30 (Appointment Process to Fill Vacancies on the City Council) to the Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC). SMC Section 2.30.030(f) provides for individual candidate votes when Council considers four or fewer candidates for appointment and a ranked choice voting process when Council considers five or more candidates for appointment.
The ranked choice voting provisions in SMC Section 2.30.030(f) are consistent with Council Policy 7.3.15 (Appointment of Interim Councilmembers), which was originally adopted by the City Council on August 31, 2010, to address appointing an interim Councilmember to serve on a temporary basis when a Councilmember is called to active military service. If the Council opts to change the voting provisions in SMC Chapter 2.30, it may wish to align the voting provisions in Council Policy 7.3.15 for consistency.
In November 2021, Mason Fong resigned from City Council At-Large Seat No. 3. The City Council followed the provisions of Sunnyvale Charter Section 606 (Vacancies) and SMC Chapter 2.30 (Appointment Process to Fill Vacancies on the City Council) to choose an ap...
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