REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Appointment to Fill Vacancy in the At-Large City Council Seat No. 3 to a Term Ending January 3, 2023
Report
BACKGROUND
Mason Fong, who was elected to City Council At-Large Seat No. 3 on November 6, 2018, and served a term to expire January 3, 2023, submitted a letter of resignation from the Council, effective November 14, 2021. Sunnyvale Charter (Charter) Section 606 governs the process of filling a vacancy on the Council, and Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) Chapter 2.30 provides additional requirements that apply when the Council chooses to fill the vacancy by appointment.
The Council met on November 22, 2021, to discuss the options for filling the vacancy. On December 14, 2021, it unanimously declared At-Large Seat No. 3 vacant, declared its intention to fill the vacancy by appointment, and approved the public application and appointment process. The Council interviewed eligible candidates at public meetings on January 31 and February 2, 2022, and is scheduled to make the appointment on Tuesday, February 8, 2022. The Charter requires the Council to make an appointment or call a special election to fill the vacancy within 60 days of declaring the seat vacant, or no later than February 12, 2022.
The vacancy in the At-Large Seat No. 3 will be resolved through the next general municipal election, when the City will complete its transition to district-based Council elections. After the November 8, 2022 Election, At-Large Seat Nos. 1, 2 and 3 will cease to exist when candidates are sworn in to represent Council Districts 1, 3 and 5. The councilmember appointed to fill this vacancy will therefore serve only until the January 3, 2023 Council meeting when the new district council members are sworn in.
EXISTING POLICY
Sunnyvale Charter Section 603 (Qualifications) (Attachment 4)
Sunnyvale Charter Section 606 (Vacancies) (Attachment 5)
Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 2.30 (Appointment Process to Fill Vacancies on the City Council) (A...
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