REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Determine the 2026 Seating Arrangements for City Council
Report
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Council Policy 7.3.11 (Attachment 1) provides a process to determine the seating arrangements of Councilmembers at Council meetings. This procedure is conducted as the last item of business at the meeting during which the Vice Mayor is selected. The Mayor will be seated in the center seat, and the Vice Mayor may choose to be seated to either side of the Mayor.
The remaining seats will be selected in order of Council seniority. Section 3.B. of Council Policy 7.3.11 states, “Councilmembers shall select where they wish to sit on the basis of length of continuous time of service on the City Council. The selection process shall be in the order of most senior to least senior. When two or more Councilmembers have equivalent time of service, those Councilmembers are given priority in seat selection by the highest number of votes received in their most recent election.” Therefore, after selection of the seats to be occupied by the Mayor and the Vice Mayor, the following order is to be used to select the remaining seats:
|
Seniority |
Date First Elected |
Councilmember |
Votes Received at Most Recent Election |
Most Recent Election |
|
Most Senior |
11/03/2020 |
Alysa Cisneros |
4,286 |
11/05/2024 |
|
2nd |
11/08/2022 |
Richard Mehlinger |
3,195 |
11/08/2022 |
|
3rd |
11/08/2022 |
Murali Srinivasan |
2,814 |
11/08/2022 |
|
4th |
11/08/2022 |
Linda Sell* |
n/a |
11/08/2022 |
|
5th |
11/05/2024 |
Charlsie Chang |
6,055 |
11/05/2024 |
|
Least Senior |
11/05/2024 |
Eileen Le |
4,031 |
11/05/2024 |
*On August 22, 2022, City Council appointed Linda Sell to District 1 in lieu of holding an election.
Councilmembers will assume their new seats commencing with the next regular Council meeting.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.3.11. Seating Arrangements/City Council (Attachment 1)
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 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.
FISCAL IMPACT
Determining City Council seating arrangements does not have a fiscal impact.
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 City Hall 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.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Determine the seating arrangements for 2026 in accordance with Council Policy 7.3.11.
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 $500 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
___ Contract under $50,000 or non-fiscal
___ Contract between public agencies
_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: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Council Policy 7.3.11 Seating Arrangements/City Council
2. City Council Seats Diagram