REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Review the City’s 2024 Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials
Report
DISCUSSION
This report represents Council’s opportunity to review and reaffirm the City’s 2024 Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials (hereafter referred to as “the Code”).
The Code contains a section on ethical standards and a section on conduct which describes the way officials should treat one another, City staff, constituents, and others with whom they may come in contact with while representing the City.
No substantive changes to the Code as approved on January 9, 2024 are proposed by staff.
The City’s boards and commissions that meet on a regular basis completed their annual review of the Code during the months of October 2023 through January 2024. The Personnel Board, which meets only on an as-needed basis, will review the Code at a future meeting yet to be scheduled.
Board and Commissions reviewed the Code prior to Council’s January 9, 2024 addition of the following language to the Code:
The purpose of the “oral communications” section of the meeting is to provide an opportunity for members of the public who attend the meeting in person to address the members of the body on items within the body’s subject matter jurisdiction that are not on the agenda. Remote comments (via call in or internet platform) must be allowed during oral communications if a member of the body is participating in the meeting remotely under provisions of the Brown Act, Government Code Section 54953(f). Otherwise, the chair may, but is not required to, take remote public comments during oral communications and may determine it would be impractical to include remote public comment during oral communications for the purpose of timeliness of the meeting or conducting an orderly meeting.
No suggestions from Boards and Commissions were made to revise the prior version of the Code that did not include the January 9 addition.
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.
EXISTING POLICY
2024 Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
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
Review and reaffirm the 2024 Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials with no changes from the January 9, 2024 Code as set forth in Attachment 1 of the report.
Staff
Prepared by: David Carnahan, City Clerk
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rion, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2024 Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials
2. Excerpt of Arts Commission Minutes
3. Excerpt of Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Minutes
4. Excerpt of Board of Library Trustees Minutes
5. Excerpt of Heritage Preservation Commission Minutes
6. Excerpt of Housing and Human Services Commission Minutes
7. Excerpt of Human Relations Commission Minutes
8. Excerpt of Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes
9. Excerpt of Planning Commission Minutes
10. Excerpt of Sustainability Commission Minutes