City of Sunnyvale  
Meeting Minutes  
Charter Review Committee  
Thursday, May 1, 2025  
5:00 PM  
Online and Redwood Conference Room,  
City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale,  
CA 94086  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chair Larsson called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.  
SALUTE TO THE FLAG  
Chair Larsson led the salute to the United States flag.  
ROLL CALL  
Present: 10 -  
Chair Gustav Larsson  
Vice Chair Kristel Wickham  
Member Galen Kim Davis  
Member Kathryn Filley  
Member David Newswanger  
Member Timothy Oey  
Member Ken Olevson  
Member Martin Pyne  
Member Gail Rubino  
Member Barry Vickrey  
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS  
Steve Scandalis voiced concern with the readability of large documents that contain  
small font sizes.  
Brian shared support for implementing a voter identification requirement.  
CONSENT CALENDAR  
Public Comment opened at 5:11 p.m.  
No speakers.  
Public Comment closed at 5:11 p.m.  
MOTION: Committee Member Oey moved and Committee Member Olevson  
seconded the motion to approve agenda items 1.A through 1.B as submitted.  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 8 -  
Chair Larsson  
Vice Chair Wickham  
Member Filley  
Member Newswanger  
Member Oey  
Member Olevson  
Member Rubino  
Member Vickrey  
No: 0  
Abstain: 2 -  
Member Davis  
Member Pyne  
1.A  
25-0097  
Approve the Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes of  
March 6, 2025  
Approve the Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes of March 6, 2025 as  
submitted.  
1.B  
25-0560  
Approve the Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes of  
April 3, 2025  
Approve the Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes of April 3, 2025 as  
submitted.  
PUBLIC HEARING/GENERAL BUSINESS  
2
25-0019  
Presentation and Discussion of Charter Issues Studied by  
Subcommittee #1: City Council Term and Election; Vacancies;  
Gender Neutral Language; City Council Qualifications  
Members Newswanger, Olevson, Pyne and Vickrey provided the Subcommittee  
Report on potential Charter Amendments A-1: City Council Term and Election; A-3:  
Vacancies; A-8: Gender Neutral Language and C-2: City Council Qualifications.  
Committee Members provided comments or questions:  
- Comment that three amendment topics overlap (e.g. redistricting and voting) and  
the overlap should be discussed during the prioritization process.  
- Comment that the County of Santa Clara (County) held a committee meeting  
related to ranked-choice voting and if a Member could provide an overview of the  
meeting.  
- Comment that the ranked-choice voting issue could be studied via the Study Issue  
process.  
Subcommittee Members provided answers:  
- The County Finance and Government Operations Committee meeting included  
discussion of pros and cons of ranked-choice voting. The Committee voted to move  
the item forward to the County Board of Supervisors for consideration.  
Public Hearing opened at 5:37 p.m.  
Alice shared concerns related to ranked-choice voting.  
Robert voiced concerns related to ranked-choice voting.  
Steve Scandalis communicated support for implementing residency requirements,  
studying alternative voting systems, and revising Section 606(g) (vacancies) for  
there to be no more than one appointee allowed.  
Cindy shared concerns related to ranked-choice voting and election costs.  
Brian voiced concerns related to ranked-choice voting and error rates with the  
ranked-choice voting method.  
Mei-Ling communicated concerns related to ranked-choice voting and requested the  
Committee recommend to City Council that the item be deferred for further study.  
Public Hearing closed at 5:56 p.m.  
3
25-0317  
Presentation and Discussion of Charter Issues Studied by  
Subcommittee #2: Council Compensation; Presiding Officer-  
Mayor; Redistricting; Regular Meetings; Franchises  
Members Davis, Filley and Oey provided the Subcommittee Report on potential  
Charter Amendments A-2: Compensation; A-4: Presiding Officer; A-5: Redistricting,  
A-6: Regular Meetings and C-13: Franchises.  
Committee Members provided comments or questions:  
- Comments in support of the suggestion to create a job description for the role of  
Mayor.  
- Suggestion that amendment A-2 include language related child-care needs and  
how the City will address these needs.  
Subcommittee Members provided comments or answers:  
- Creating job descriptions for mayor and councilmembers is recommended.  
- Councilmember general benefits were studied; however, child-care was not  
included.  
Public Hearing opened at 6:09 p.m.  
Steve Scandalis communicated support for studying compensation and benefits but  
commented that these roles should not be considered livelihood jobs. They also  
shared support for studying amendments related to redistricting and 24 meetings  
per year.  
Zachary Kaufman shared concerns with an amendment related to 24 meetings per  
year.  
Public Hearing closed at 6:14 p.m.  
4
25-0571  
Presentation and Discussion of Charter Issues Studied by  
Subcommittee #3: Appointive Boards and Commissions  
(eligibility); Contracts on Public Works; City Manager Powers  
and Duties; New Issues; Appointive Boards and Commissions  
Member Rubino provided the Subcommittee Report on potential Charter  
Amendments A-2: Compensation; A-7: Appointive Boards and Commissions; B-1:  
Contracts on Public Works, B-2: City Manager Powers and Duties; C-1: New Issues  
and C-4 Appointive Boards and Commissions  
Public Hearing opened at 6:19 p.m.  
Steve Scandalis voiced support for prioritizing amendment A-7 as low priority,  
amendment B-1 as high priority, amendment B-2 as medium priority and C-4 to be  
dropped.  
Public Hearing closed at 6:23 p.m.  
5
25-0572  
Prioritization of Potential Charter Amendments for  
Recommendation to City Council  
Committee Members provided comments or questions related to amendments listed  
in Category A-Council-Directed Amendments:  
- Comments in support of dropping amendment A-7: Article X (Appointive Boards  
and Commissions).  
- Comment in support of prioritizing amendments A-1: Section 601 (City Council  
Term and Election) and A-5 Section 609 (Redistricting).  
- Comments in support of dropping amendment A-7 and prioritizing amendment A-8:  
General Issue (throughout Charter) as low priority.  
- Comment in support of dropping amendments A-7 and A-8 and prioritizing the  
remaining amendments in Category A.  
- Comments in support of prioritizing amendment A-8.  
Public Hearing opened at 7:06 p.m.  
Steve Scandalis voiced support to drop amendments A-3 Section 606 (Vacancies),  
A-4: Section 607 (Presiding Officer. Mayor.) A-7 and A-8 and prioritizing the  
remaining amendments in Category A.  
Zachary Kaufman communicated support to drop amendments A-7 and A-6: Section  
611 (Regular Meetings).  
Cindy shared support to drop amendments A-7 and A-8 and urged the Committee to  
reconsider the priority level for amendment A-1 from high to low.  
Mei-Ling voiced support to drop amendments A-6 and A-7 and prioritizing  
amendment A-8 for a future election.  
Public Hearing closed at 7:15 p.m.  
MOTION: Committee Member Oey moved and Committee Member Pyne seconded  
the motion to drop amendment A-7: Article X (Appointive Boards and Commissions).  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 10 -  
Chair Larsson  
Vice Chair Wickham  
Member Davis  
Member Filley  
Member Newswanger  
Member Oey  
Member Olevson  
Member Pyne  
Member Rubino  
Member Vickrey  
No: 0  
MOTION: Committee Member Pyne moved and Committee Member Rubino  
seconded the motion to drop amendment A-8: Update language to be gender  
neutral, e.g. using "they" instead of "he/she".  
The motion failed with the following vote:  
Yes: 2 -  
Vice Chair Wickham  
Member Rubino  
No: 8 -  
Chair Larsson  
Member Davis  
Member Filley  
Member Newswanger  
Member Oey  
Member Olevson  
Member Pyne  
Member Vickrey  
MOTION: Committee Member Oey moved and Committee Member Vickrey  
seconded the motion to drop amendment A-6: Section 611 (Regular Meetings).  
The motion failed with the following vote:  
Yes: 5 -  
Chair Larsson  
Member Oey  
Member Olevson  
Member Rubino  
Member Vickrey  
No: 5 -  
Vice Chair Wickham  
Member Davis  
Member Filley  
Member Newswanger  
Member Pyne  
Committee Members provided comments or questions related to amendments listed  
in Category B-City Staff Amendments:  
- Comments in support of prioritizing amendments in Category B.  
Public Hearing reopened at 7:42 p.m.  
Steve Scandalis shared support for prioritizing amendments in Category B.  
Public Hearing closed at 7:43 p.m.  
Committee Members provided comments or questions related to amendments listed  
in Category C-CRC Amendments:  
- Comment in support of dropping most amendments in Category C except for  
amendments C-6: Section 1104 (Pay Plan), C-7: Article XII (Retirement), and C-9:  
Sections 1313 and 1315 (Petty Cash Funds; registering Warrants).  
- Comment in support of prioritizing amendment C-3: Section 708 (Publishing of  
Legal Notices).  
- Comment in support of combining similar amendments and recommending to  
Council that the combined amendments be presented at a future election.  
- Comments in support of dropping amendment C-1: New Issues and combining  
amendments C-5: Section 1100 (Merit Principle), C-6, C-7, C-9 and C-11: Section  
1320 (Revenue Bonds) with amendment A-8 General Issue (throughout Charter).  
- Comment in support of C-1, C-2 Section 603 (City Council Qualifications), C-4:  
Article X (Appointive Boards and Commissions), C-8: Section 1302 (Budget,  
Submission to City Council), C-10: Section 1318 (Independent Audit), C-12: Section  
1405 (Campaign Disclosure), and C-13: Article XVI (franchises).  
- Concerns shared with combining amendments C-5 and C-9 with amendment A-8  
because the suggestions are substantive provision changes and non-substantive  
language changes.  
Vice Chair Wickham left the meeting at 7:50 p.m.  
Public Hearing reopened at 7:53 p.m.  
Steve Scandalis communicated support to drop amendments C-1, C-8, C-10 and  
C-11 and prioritize amendments C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6, C-7, and C-12.  
Zachary Kaufman voiced support to drop amendment C-8.  
Cindy shared support to drop amendment C-2 and suggested that the Committee  
review the City of San José’s provision related to residency if the Committee  
prioritizes amendment C-2.  
Public Hearing closed at 7:58 p.m.  
MOTION: Committee Member Pyne moved and Committee Member Oey seconded  
the motion to drop amendments:  
C-1: CRC discussed studying potential new provisions including (a) a diversity  
statement, (b) native land acknowledgment, and (c) emergency provisions;  
C-4: Article X (Appointive Boards and Commissions);  
C-8: Section 1302 (Budget. Submission to City Council.);  
C-10: Section 1318 (Independent Audit);  
C-12: Section 1405 (Campaign Disclosure); and  
C-13: Article XVI (Franchises)  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 9 -  
Chair Larsson  
Member Davis  
Member Filley  
Member Newswanger  
Member Oey  
Member Olevson  
Member Pyne  
Member Rubino  
Member Vickrey  
No: 0  
Absent: 1 - Vice Chair Wickham  
MOTION: Committee Member Pyne moved and Committee Member Oey seconded  
the motion to drop amendment C-2: Section 603 (City Council Qualifications).  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 9 -  
Chair Larsson  
Member Davis  
Member Filley  
Member Newswanger  
Member Oey  
Member Olevson  
Member Pyne  
Member Rubino  
Member Vickrey  
No: 0  
Absent: 1 - Vice Chair Wickham  
MOTION: Committee Member Oey moved and Committee Member Vickrey  
seconded the motion to drop amendment C-11: Section 1320 (Revenue Bonds).  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 9 -  
Chair Larsson  
Member Davis  
Member Filley  
Member Newswanger  
Member Oey  
Member Olevson  
Member Pyne  
Member Rubino  
Member Vickrey  
No: 0  
Absent: 1 - Vice Chair Wickham  
MOTION: Committee Member Pyne moved and Committee Member Oey seconded  
the motion to combine amendments:  
C-6: Section 1104 (Pay Plan);  
C-7: Article XII (Retirement); and  
A-8: General Issue (throughout Charter).  
Member Olevson left the meeting at 8:14 p.m.  
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Committee Member Vickrey offered a friendly  
amendment to replace the motion with drop amendments C-6 and C-7. Committee  
Members Pyne and Oey accepted the friendly amendment.  
MOTION AS AMENDED: Committee Member Pyne moved and Committee Member  
Oey seconded to drop amendments:  
C-6: Section 1104 (Pay Plan); and  
C-7: Article XII (Retirement).  
The motion as amended carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 8 -  
Chair Larsson  
Member Davis  
Member Filley  
Member Newswanger  
Member Oey  
Member Pyne  
Member Rubino  
Member Vickrey  
No: 0  
Absent: 2 -  
Vice Chair Wickham  
Member Olevson  
Member Olevson returned at 8:19 p.m.  
Public Hearing reopened at 8:21 p.m.  
Steve Scandalis shared support for prioritizing amendments A-2, A-6, B-1, B-2 in the  
top five and prioritizing amendments A-3, A-4, C-3, C-5, C-9 in the bottom five.  
Zachary Kaufman support for prioritizing amendment A-6 last.  
Public Hearing closed at 8:27 p.m.  
Committee Members provided comments or questions related to prioritizing  
remaining amendments:  
- Comments in support of prioritizing amendments A-1, A-2 and A-5 high.  
- Comment in support of prioritizing amendments A-1 and B-2 low and amendments  
A-2, A-4, and B-1 high.  
- Comment in support of prioritizing amendments A-1 and B-2 high and amendments  
A-4 and A-1 low.  
- Comment in support of prioritizing amendment A-2 high.  
MOTION: Committee Member Vickrey moved and Committee Member Pyne  
seconded the motion to revise the title for amendment A-8 to “Revise language to  
be gender neutral.”  
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Committee Member Oey offered a friendly amendment  
to revise the title to “Remove gender-specific language.” Committee Members  
Vickrey and Pyne accepted the friendly amendment.  
The motion as amended carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 9 -  
Chair Larsson  
Member Davis  
Member Filley  
Member Newswanger  
Member Oey  
Member Olevson  
Member Pyne  
Member Rubino  
Member Vickrey  
No: 0  
Absent: 1 - Vice Chair Wickham  
The Committee prioritized the following potential amendments (Individual Committee  
Member  
Rankings included in Exhibit A):  
A-1: Section 601(City Council Term and Election)  
A-2: Section 605 (Compensation)  
A-3: Section 606 (Vacancies)  
A-4: Section 607 (Presiding Officer. Mayor)  
A-5: Section 609 (Redistricting)  
A-6: Section 611 (Regular Meetings)  
A-8: Remove gender specific language  
B-1: Section 1309 (Contracts on Public Works)  
B-2: Section 802 (City Manager Powers and Duties)  
C-3: Section 708 (Publishing of Legal Notices)  
C-5: Section 1100 (Merit Principle)  
C-9: Sections 1313 and 1315 (Petty Cash Funds; Registering Warrants)  
Member Olevson left the meeting at 9 p.m.  
MOTION: Committee Member Pyne moved and Committee Member Oey seconded  
the motion to accept the Committee’s prioritized amendments for recommendation to  
the City Council and advise the City Council of the Committee’s interest in a general  
Charter cleanup.  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 8 -  
Chair Larsson  
Member Davis  
Member Filley  
Member Newswanger  
Member Oey  
Member Pyne  
Member Rubino  
Member Vickrey  
No: 0  
Absent: 2 -  
Vice Chair Wickham  
Member Olevson  
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS  
-Committee Member Comments  
None.  
-Staff Comments  
Deputy City Manager Connie Verceles announced that the Special Charter Review  
Committee Meeting of May 13 will be canceled.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Larsson adjourned the meeting at 9:24 p.m.