REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
City Council 2015 Appointments to Intergovernmental and Internal Assignments, Council Subcommittees, and Community Member Appointments
Report
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this Report is for Council to review and possibly approve Councilmember appointments to a variety of intergovernmental agencies as presented in Attachments 1 through 4. Appointees represent the City's interests and influence policies and regulations of other agencies. All Council appointments are made annually in January; at this time, Council also considers ratifying appointments made by outside agencies.
At its November 25, 2014 Study Session, Councilmembers discussed a variety of intergovernmental assignments, including 2014 assignments they expressed interest in keeping, new assignments they are pursuing for 2015, and 2014 assignments that are ending. The Council also discussed options for City representation on the various Standing Subcommittees to Discuss Issues of Mutual Interest with Local School Districts. The Mayor reappointed all 2014 Mayoral appointments for 2015. The changes to Council-appointed assignments, as itemized throughout this report, are based in part on the information shared at the study session.
As noted in Council Policy 7.3.12, City Council Appointments to Intergovernmental Agencies, City Council Subcommittees and Council- or Mayor-Created Advisory Task Forces, staff support will be provided to Councilmembers serving on IGR bodies as directed by the City Manager. Typically, staff support consists of reviewing and advising on upcoming committee agendas for issues pertaining to Sunnyvale and, as needed, assisting Council in presenting those issues.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.3.12, City Council Appointments to Intergovernmental Agencies, City Council Subcommittees, and Council- or Mayor-Created Advisory Task Forces.
2013 Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
N/A.
DISCUSSION
When making IGR appointments, Council considers the City's overall intergovernmental priorities as well as the particular interests and backgrounds of individual Councilmembers. For reference, the 2014 City Council Intergovernmental Appointments list and the Historical List of Council IGR Assignments, noting IGR agencies and committee assignments for the past five years, are posted on the City's website at CouncilAdvocacy.inSunnyvale.com. The historical list includes agency name, committee name, the agency or committee description, the appointing body, and the Councilmembers who have served on the various committees.
2015 Appointments for Consideration by Council
Attachment 1, 2015 Council Intergovernmental Assignments, as discussed by Council during their November 25, 2014 Study Session, lists current intergovernmental assignments, current Council appointees, assignment term limits, Council assignment interests, and assignment meeting information (where available).
Attachment 1 includes three types of appointments, as follows:
Appointments Made by Council: Lists assignments that are at the discretion of the Council and are proposed to be ratified during the January 6, 2015 Council Meeting.
Appointments Made by Mayor: Indicated by [M], "Mayoral Appointment," lists assignments that are to be appointed by Mayor; Mayor Griffith has reappointed all 2014 Mayoral appointments for 2015.
Appointments Made by Outside Agencies: Indicated by [OA], "Outside Agency," plus the agency's name (i.e., CASCC), lists assignments that are proposed to be ratified by Council during the January 6, 2015 Council Meeting.
· Assignments included in this section are those where the Councilmember has, in accordance with City Policy, advised staff in advance.
All Outside Agency [OA] appointments in Attachment 1 must be ratified by Council before the respective appointee(s) are officially approved to serve on those assignments.
Council action in March of 2013 revised the Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials to include a provision that "City Councilmembers, Board and Commission Members, and Council appointees who do not sign the Model of Excellence shall be ineligible for intergovernmental assignments or Council subcommittees."
Since the November 25, 2014 Study Session, the following additional appointments have been identified:
Association of Bay Area Governments, Executive Board: The Cities Association of Santa Clara County appointed Vice Mayor Jim Davis to fill a primary seat on the Executive Board; in 2014 the Vice Mayor held the Alternate position.
Board and Commission Liaison Assignments
Previous Council direction established Council Liaisons to Boards and Commissions (except for the Planning Commission, the Personnel Board, and the Board of Building Code Appeals). The assignments for 2015 are noted in Attachment 2. Because these assignments are on a set biannual rotation, no Council action is required.
Council Subcommittees - Standing Committees
As established by Council Policy 7.3.12, standing committees exist with a set membership unless and until modified by the Council. As identified in Attachment 3, six Standing Council subcommittees are set to continue into 2015 with the noted changes below, unless otherwise directed by Council:
Committee to Review Board and Commission Bylaws Amendments: 2014 committee members were Mayor Jim Griffith (Chair) and Councilmembers David Whittum and Glenn Hendricks; there are no vacancies at this time.
Community Event Grant Distributions Committee: 2014 committee members were Vice Mayor Jim Davis and Councilmembers Tara Martin-Milius and Glenn Hendricks; there are no vacancies at this time.
Committees to Discuss Issues of Mutual Interest with Local School Districts:
· Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD): 2014 committee members were Vice Mayor Jim Davis and Councilmember David Whittum; Councilmember Martin-Milius has expressed an interest in taking Councilmember Whittum's seat on this committee in exchange for her seat on the Fremont Union High School District committee.
· Sunnyvale Elementary School District (SESD): 2014 committee members were Councilmembers Glenn Hendricks and Pat Meyering; Councilmember Martin-Milius has expressed an interest in taking Councilmember Hendricks' seat on this committee and he is in agreement with this request.
· Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD): 2014 committee members were Vice Mayor Jim Davis and Councilmember Tara Martin-Milius; Councilmember Whittum has expressed an interest in taking Councilmember Martin-Milius' seat on this committee in exchange for his seat on the Fremont Union High School District committee.
· Cupertino Union School District (CUSD): 2014 committee members were Councilmembers Mayor Jim Griffith and Councilmember Gustav Larsson; there are no vacancies at this time.
Council Subcommittees - Ad-Hoc Committees
As established by Council Policy 7.3.12, the Mayor may create ad hoc committees of the Council to assist in particular matters as they arise. Members of the committee shall be appointed by the Mayor. As identified in Attachment 3, two Ad-Hoc subcommittees are set to continue into 2015 unless otherwise directed by the Mayor:
Lawrence Station Area Plan Citizen Advisory Committee: 2014 committee members were Mayor Jim Griffith and Councilmembers David Whittum and Gustav Larsson; there are no vacancies at this time.
Performance Evaluations Tools and Recruitment Process for the City Attorney and City Manager: 2014 committee members were Mayor Jim Griffith, Vice Mayor Jim Davis and Councilmember Tara Martin-Milius; there are no vacancies at this time.
Community Member Advisory Task Forces
There are currently no Community Member Advisory Task Forces.
Community Member Appointments
As established by Council Policy 7.3.12 the City Council may, on occasion, appoint a non-Councilmember to represent the City's interest on an intergovernmental body. As listed in Attachment 4, the current appointments expire in June of 2016; no Council action is required at this time. Staff will return in 2016 with an opportunity for Council to make appointments for the new term.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Determine appointments to external assignments and ratify appointments by outside agencies.
2. Determine membership of the 2015 Council Subcommittees.
3. Other action as directed by Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternatives 1 and 2: 1) Determine appointments to external assignments and ratify appointments by outside agencies; and 2) Determine membership of the 2015 Council Subcommittees.
Staff
Prepared by: Yvette Blackford, Senior Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Robert A. Walker, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2015 Council Intergovernmental Assignments
2. 2015 Boards and Commissions - Council Liaison Rotation
3. 2015 Council Subcommittees and Council-or Mayor-Created Advisory Task Forces
4. 2015 Community Member Appointments