HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2305-14073.City Council Referral to Discuss and Recommend Council Procedures and Protocols on:
Annual Organization of City Council and other City Council referrals related to the City
Council Procedures and Protocols Supplemental Memo added
Policy & Services Committee
Staff Report
Report Type: SUPPLEMENTAL MEMO
Lead Department: City Manager
Meeting Date: May 9, 2023
Report #:2305-1407
TITLE
Supplemental Memo for Referral: Discussion of City Council Procedures and Protocols
BACKGROUND
This is additional information that will be helpful for the Policy and Services Committee
discussion on the City Council referral related to the Procedures and Protocols Section 1
”Annual Organization of the Council” topic. The Palo Alto Municipal Code section 2.04.060 provides
for selection of Mayor annually, by vote of the Council:
The Council shall elect one of its members as mayor and one as vice-mayor at the first regular
Council meeting in January each year. The election of mayor and vice-mayor shall be by a vote of
a majority of the members of the Council. The mayor shall be seated and assume the duties of
presiding officer immediately following the election of mayor and before the election of the
vice-mayor.
This procedure is also contained in Article III, Section 8 of the Palo Alto Charter:
The Council shall, at its first meeting in January, elect one of its number as its presiding officer,
who shall have the title of mayor, and one of its number to be vice-mayor, who shall serve for
one year after their election, and until their successors are elected and qualified.
Attachment A contains information on how cities in Santa Clara County and San Mateo County select
their mayors.
ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION
While the Municipal Code can be amended by an ordinance adopted by Council, amendment of the
Charter requires a vote of the people. To implement a system of rotation based on years of service and
votes received in the last Council Member election, the Council would need to propose a ballot measure
to be placed before the voters at a general election (November of even numbered years).
Staff recommends that the Committee recommend to Council to either:
(1) maintain the status quo, or
(2) set it aside until early 2024, when ballot measures for the 2024 general election might be considered.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Survey of Other Cities Selection of Mayor Processes
APPROVED BY:
Ed Shikada
1
Atachment A: Survey of Other Ci�es Selec�on of Mayor Processes
Santa Clara County ci�es:
City Term Chosen by Local Procedure
Campbell 1 year Council
Members
Per Campbell City Clerk.
Cuper�no 1 year Council
Members
Cuper�no Rules and Regula�ons for Candidates
Gilroy 4 years Municipal
Elec�on
City website: Elec�ons & Voter Informa�on
Gilroy Charter; Ar�cle IV Sec�on 402
Gilroy Charter; Ar�cle IV Sec�on 401
Los Altos 1 year Council
Members
Must have served on Council at least 23 months to be
eligible. If there is at least one who has not yet served
as mayor but has 23 months, they are eligible before
one who has already served.
Los Altos Norms and Procedures Sec�on 2.2
Los Altos Hills Response pending
Los Gatos 1 year Council
Members
Town Council Code Chapter 2 Sec�on 2.20.035
Milpitas Municipal
Elec�on
City Council Handbook Chapter II Sec�on B
Monte Sereno Council
Members
Morgan Hill 2 years Municipal
Elec�on
Morgan Hill Muni Code 1.16.020
Mountain View 1 year Council
Members
About the Council
City Charter Art. V Sec 505
Palo Alto 1 year Council
Members
City Charter Article III Section 8
Palo Alto Muni Code 2.04.060
San Jose 4 years* Municipal
Elec�on
City Charter Ar�cle IV
Santa Clara 4 years Municipal
Elec�on
City Charter Title 2 Chapter 2.10.010
Saratoga 1 year Council
Members
Resolu�on 10-002
Sunnyvale 4 years Municipal
Elec�on
City Charter Ar�cle IV Sec�on 604
2
San Mateo County ci�es:
City Term Chosen by Local Procedure
Atherton 1 year Council
Members
Atherton Municipal Code 2.04.030
Belmont 1 year Council
Members
Belmont Elec�on- Mayor Term
Resolu�on 2022-027
Brisbane 1 year Council
Members
City of Brisbane- Elec�on Informa�on
Resolu�on 2016-06
Burlingame 1 year Council
Members
City Council Mee�ng Decorum
Resolu�on 117-1999
Town of Colma 1 year Council
Members
Town of Colma 1.02.030
Daly City 1 year Council
Members
Daily City Code of Ordinances 2.04.015
East Palo Alto 1 year Council
Members
City of East Palo Alto- 2.04.030
Foster City 1 year Council
Members
Foster City Municipal Code 2.08.180
Half Moon Bay 4 years Municipal
Elec�on
Half Moon Bay Municipal Code 1.24.090
Hillsboro 1 year Council
Members
CIty of Hillsborough 2.04.030
Menlo Park 1 year Council
Members
City of Menlo Park Municipal Code 2.04.120
Millbrae 1 year Council
Members
City Council Protocol - Sec�on 8- Mayor and VIce
Mayor
Pacifica 1 year Council
Members
City of Pacifica- City Council Informa�on
Portola Valley Response pending
Redwood City 2 years Council
Members
Redwood City City Charter Sec�on 14
San Bruno 3 years Municipal
Elec�on
City of San Bruno Municipal Code 2.32.101 (C)
San Carlos 1 year Council
Members
City of San Carlos- Code of Conduct & Ethics Policy
City of San Carlos- Elec�ons
San Mateo 1 year Council
Members
City of San Mateo City Charter 2.02
South San
Francisco
1 year Council
Members
City of South San Francisco- City Council
Woodside 1 year Council
Members
Commitee Handbook; Page 12