REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Discussion and (1) Adoption of a Resolution Calling a General Municipal Election to be Held in the City of Sunnyvale on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, for the Purpose of Submitting to City Voters an Ordinance Concerning Amendments to the City Charter; Requesting Consolidation with the Statewide General Election and Election Services from Santa Clara County; Directing the City Attorney to Prepare an Impartial Analysis; and Setting Priorities for Ballot Arguments; and (2) Approve Amendments to Council Policy 7.3.4 (Roles and Responsibilities of Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilmembers) Relating to the Role of District Councilmembers
Report
BACKGROUND
On November 28, 2023 (RTC No. 23-1070), a Colleagues Memo was added to the Council Agenda to "request that a meeting be agendized to empanel a Charter Review [Committee] (CRC) to conduct a full review of the Sunnyvale City Charter, with the goal of placing proposed amendments on the November 2024 ballot." Council directed staff to bring the item back for discussion. The Colleagues Memo outlined nine potential Charter amendments for a committee to consider and indicated a desire that the committee have the ability "to review all provisions in the charter and to freely propose amendments."
January 30, 2024 (RTC No. 24-0272), Council directed staff to take the following actions related to Charter amendments:
1. Return with analysis of items from the Colleagues' Memo that may be able to be modified without a Charter Amendment:
- Return within two years with a Council Policy noting that Councilmembers represent the entire City, not individual districts and that "district prerogative" does not exist in Sunnyvale;
2. Pursue Council-Directed Charter Amendments for 2024 and return with proposed ballot measure language for priority items identified by Council:
- A Charter Amendment to use gender neutral language throughout the Charter;
- A Charter Amendment to require 24 regular Council meetings...
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