REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Clarification on Sunnyvale’s Representation on the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Board of Directors (Information Only)
Report
BACKGROUND
With the recent resignation of the Santa Clara Mayor, there have been questions about the rotational schedule for representation for Sunnyvale on the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors. Specifically, Councilmembers have asked about the Director and Alternate Director rotation status, which was approved by the three cities represented by the Northeast City grouping - Milpitas, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale. This report presents details on the City’s current grouping, status and the rotational schedule for representation on the Board.
In August 2011, the VTA notified affected member agencies, including the City, of the need to select representatives, based on city groupings, on the VTA Board of Directors for a two-year term beginning in January 2012. This was to be the first appointment under new city groupings, which were adopted by the VTA Board and member cities in 2009. Pursuant to the 2009 city groupings, which remain unchanged, Sunnyvale is in a northeast city grouping with Santa Clara and Milpitas. This city grouping has two director positions and one alternate director position.
DISCUSSION
Pursuant to the VTA Board Secretary, the legislation that created the VTA is very clear that the cities in each city grouping are the entities responsible for selecting the directors and alternate directors for each city grouping.
On October 18, 2011, Council considered RTC 11-236, Consideration of Alternatives for Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Board of Directors Representation. The report indicated that the Mayor would represent Sunnyvale’s position in discussions with Council representatives from Santa Clara and Milpitas. Council action on the report provided direction on a preferred alternative for representation on the VTA Board and allowed the Mayor more discretion to negotiate in the event that preference was not chosen.
The resulting rotational schedule was outlined in a letter to the VTA Chairperson, dated February 6, 2012, and signed by the three mayors (see Attachment 1):
|
2012 - 2013 |
2014 - 2015 |
2016 - 2017 |
2018 - 2019 |
|
Santa Clara Milpitas Sunnyvale (Alt.) |
Sunnyvale Milpitas Santa Clara (Alt.) |
Sunnyvale Santa Clara Milpitas (Alt.) |
Santa Clara Milpitas Sunnyvale (Alt.) |
Each rotation represents a two (calendar) year term and establishes the role each city’s representative will have - whether a director or an alternate director. Currently, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale hold the Director positions and Milpitas holds the Alternate Director position.
In January (RTC 16-0004, January 5, 2016) the Council ratified the appointment of Councilmember Whittum as the Sunnyvale representative; Attachment 1 shows this appointment would be in the role as a director. However, the VTA website lists Sunnyvale’s representative as an alternate director. Staff is currently working with VTA to understand why Sunnyvale’s representative is listed as an alternate director and to assure that the City’s representation on the Board is consistent with the rotational schedule for appointments agreed to by the cities in February 2012. We believe that this is an inadvertent error and will provide a verbal update if more information is obtained before the March 15 City Council meeting.
Staff has been informed by VTA that representatives of our three cities have been in discussions over the last few weeks about reconfiguring the rotational schedule in a manner that alters the director and alternate designations of each city for the remainder of the schedule. The existing agreement, and the established concept supporting the schedule, allows for the equal distribution of the director and alternate designation between the three cities. Altering that schedule has the potential to create an imbalance between the years assigned to each city as director and alternate. Staff believes that any changes made to the VTA rotational schedule approved by the mayors of our three cities in 2012 would require the approval of the Council.
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.
Staff
Prepared by: Yvette Blackford, Senior Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Kent Steffens, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENT
1. Letter to the Valley Transportation Authority Chairperson, dated February 6, 2012