Skip to main content
Legislative Public Meetings

File #: 25-0912   
Type: Report to Council Status: Public Hearing/General Business
Meeting Body: City Council
On agenda: 11/18/2025
Title: Review, Discussion, and Potential Action to Amend Policies Within the Council Policy Manual Chapter 7 - Planning and Management
Attachments: 1. Attachment 1-Council Policy Amendment Table.pdf, 2. Attachment 2-Council Policy 7.3.13 Support for Councilmembers; Staff-Council Communications-clean.pdf, 3. Attachment 3-Council Policy 7.3.13 Support for Councilmembers; Staff-Council Communications-redline.pdf, 4. Attachment 4-Council Policy 7.3.20 Council Recognition of Individuals Organizations and or Events-clean.pdf, 5. Attachment 5-Council Policy 7.3.20 Council Recognition of Individuals Organizations and or Events-redline.pdf, 6. Attachment 6-Council Policy 7.3.21 Recognition of Elected and Appointed Officials and Visiting Dignitaries-clean.pdf, 7. Attachment 7-Council Policy 7.3.21 Recognition of Elected and Appointed Officials and Visiting Dignitaries-redline.pdf, 8. Attachment 8-Council Policy 7.4.1 Provision of Staff Administrative Support to Councilmembers-clean.pdf, 9. Attachment 9-Council Policy 7.4.1 Provision of Staff Administrative Support to Councilmembers-redline.pdf, 10. Attachment 10-Council Policy 7.4.4 Council Travel and Conferences-clean.pdf, 11. Attachment 11-Council Policy 7.4.4 Council Travel and Conferences-redline.pdf, 12. Attachment 12-Council Policy 7.4.12 Council Appointments to Intergovernmental Agencies-clean.pdf, 13. Attachment 13-Council Policy 7.4.12 Council Appointments to Intergovernmental Agencies-redline.pdf, 14. Attachment 14-Proposed Deleted Council Policies-redline .pdf, 15. Attachment 15-Council Policy 7.1.5 Grants Donations Contributions and Sponsorships-clean.pdf, 16. Attachment 16-Council Policy 7.1.5 Grants Donations Contributions and Sponsorships-redline.pdf, 17. Attachment 17-Council Policy 7.2.19 Boards and Commissions-clean.pdf, 18. Attachment 18-Council Policy 7.2.19 Boards and Commissions-redline.pdf, 19. Attachment 19-Council Policy 7.3.19 Council Meetings-clean.pdf, 20. Attachment 20-Council Policy 7.3.19 Council Meetings-redline.pdf, 21. DRAFT Presentation to Council RTC No 25-0912 - 20251118
REPORT TO COUNCIL

SUBJECT
Title
Review, Discussion, and Potential Action to Amend Policies Within the Council Policy Manual Chapter 7 - Planning and Management

Report
BACKGROUND
As operational needs warrant, staff periodically reviews Council Policies and recommend updates. When proposed edits are minor clarifications and do not alter the original intent of the policy but instead serve to clarify Council's intent or to memorialize existing practice rather than introduce new procedures these clarifications are typically approved by the City Manager and shared with Council but processed without formal Council action.

However, when proposed edits represent a substantive change in Council's original intent or introduce a new policy direction, such revisions are brought forward for formal Council consideration.

While many of the changes proposed in this report primarily clarify existing policy and memorialize current Council practices, staff is presenting them to Council due to the volume of proposed updates.

EXISTING POLICY
Council Strategic Goal - Responsive Government
Council Policy 7.3.1, Legislative Management - Goals and Policies
* Goal 7.3B Assure that City policy is established, documented and enacted according to established procedures and legal principles.
* Policy 7.3B.2 Maintain official records of City action and policy in a retrievable manner, according to legal convention.

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.

DISCUSSION
Over the years, the City of Sunnyvale has accumulated many Council policies, many of which overlap, contradict, or become outdated. Regularly reviewing, updating, and consolidating policies creates a more user-friendly, accessi...

Click here for full text