REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution and Approve Updates to Council Policy 7.2.19 (Boards and Commissions) Increasing the Size of the Human Relations Commission from Five to Seven Members
Report
BACKGROUND
On November 14, 2023, the City Council held a joint study session with Board and Commission (B/C) Chairs and Vice Chairs. The purpose of the study session was to convene an annual discussion regarding B/C effectiveness, and to invite input from B/C members to the City Council.
The input during this annual round of discussion was substantial. The November meeting resulted in over a dozen suggested improvements or modifications for consideration. Seven items were policy-based and were referred to the Council Subcommittee on Boards and Commissions (Subcommittee) for consideration.
On February 14, 2024, the Subcommittee discussed the seven policy items as well as additional items introduced by the Subcommittee. At that meeting, the Subcommittee proposed increasing the size of the Human Relations Commission from five members to seven members. The Subcommittee requested staff follow up after its February meeting and met again on June 26, 2024 to further refine its recommendations to the full Council.
On September 24, 2024, the City Council considered the recommendations from the Subcommittee and provided direction on several of the Subcommittee recommendations. This included directing staff to return with required policy documentation to increase the size of the Human Relations Commission from five to seven members in time for the May 2025 recruitment cycle.
This report implements Council’s direction to increase the size of the Human Relations Commission.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.2.19 (Boards and Commissions)
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a "project" with the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
DISCUSSION
Because the Human Relations Commission was created by a resolution of the City Council (Resolution No. 1159-22) that set the Commission size at five members, a resolution (Attachment 1) is required to increase the number of members to seven. Corresponding updates to Council Policy 7.2.19 (Boards and Commissions) are included in Attachment 2 as redlines and Attachment 3 as a clean copy.
The existing membership requirements for the Human Relations Commission are divided into two categories:
• Category One (minimum of four members) shall be Sunnyvale residents.
• Category Two (maximum of one member) shall include a representative of a nonprofit service agency that serves Sunnyvale residents. Such members need not be Sunnyvale residents.
The attached updates to the Council Policy increase the Category One membership to a minimum of five members and the Category Two membership to a maximum of two members.
Should Council take the actions associated with this report to increase the size of the Human Relations Commission to seven members, staff will return in May/June 2025 as part of the annual Board and Commission recruitment process for the City Council to fill the two new seats on the Human Relations Commission. The new terms will be staggered to ensure no more than two Human Relations Commission (HRC) terms expire in any given year and to maintain an over-all balance in the number of Board/Commission (B/C) terms expiring each year.
Current rotation:
|
Terms Expiring: |
June 2026 |
June 2027 |
June 2028 |
June 2029 |
|
All B/C's |
15 |
15 |
16 |
14 |
|
HRC |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
New rotation:
|
Terms Expiring: |
June 2026 |
June 2027 |
June 2028 |
June 2029 |
|
All B/C's |
16 |
15 |
16 |
15 |
|
HRC |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Increasing the number of members for the Human Relations Commission can be absorbed within existing staff support.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adding more members to the Human Relations Commission is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact and does not require a budget modification.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the NOVA Workforce Services reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution and approve updates to Council Policy 7.2.19 (Boards and Commissions) increasing the size of the Human Relations Commission from five to seven members.
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $250 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
_X_ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff
Prepared by: David Carnahan, City Clerk
Reviewed by: Jaqui Guzmán, Deputy City Manager
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Resolution to Increase the Size of the Human Relations Commission from Five to Seven Members
2. Draft Updates to Council Policy 7.2.19 on Boards and Commissions-redlines
3. Draft Updates to Council Policy 7.2.19 on Boards and Commissions-clean