HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 14972
City of Palo Alto (ID # 14972)
Office of the City Clerk
City Council CAO Report
Meeting Date: 11/28/2022 Report Type: Action Items
Title: Potential Nomination of a Council Member to Serve on the Board of
Directors of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) for a
Two-Year Term Beginning January 2023
From: Lesley Milton, City Clerk
Recommendation
Staff recommends Council discussion and potential action regarding a nomination to the Board
of Directors of the Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority (VTA).
Background
VTA has adopted an Administrative Code that allocates VTA Board of Directors seats to the
County’s smaller cities by group. Palo Alto is a member of Group 2, which also includes
Mountain View, Los Altos, and Los Altos Hills. Under VTA rules, each group of cities may decide
for itself how to allocate its Board seat. The VTA Code provides that “Appointing authorities are
strongly encouraged, where possible, to: (1) appoint individuals with appropriate experience
and qualifications in transportation; (2) ensure that there is sufficient remaining time in the
elected official's term of office to allow full completion of their term as a Director; and (3)
reappoint representatives to consecutive terms.” (VTA Admin Code 2-14.)
The Group 2 cities have followed a practice of coordinating through a Working Group, which
consists of the member cities’ appointees to the VTA Policy Advisory Committee (PAC). The
Working Group developed a “Procedure for Appointment of Board Member Representation
and Expectations of the Board Member” to provide a structure for selecting Group 2’s VTA
Board Member. The Procedure (attached) provides for the Group 2 cities to rotate the VTA
Board seat. The Board member and an alternate are selected through a two-part process. First,
the council whose turn is up nominates a member at a public meeting of that council. Second,
the Group 2 Working Group either votes to ratify the nomination or reject it, in which case the
opportunity returns (once) to the nominating city for another nomination.
The Procedures include the following comments on qualifications:
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The Group 2 Procedures also include the following provision:
The VTA Board member rotation passed to Palo Alto for the two-year term beginning January
2021. Palo Alto nominated Mayor Burt, who was approved by the Group 2 Working Group and
is currently serving on the VTA Board with a term that concludes at the end of 2022.
Discussion
The Council may wish to make a nomination to the Group 2 Working Group for the two-year
VTA Board term beginning in January 2023.
As the Council is aware, VTA issues are vitally important to Palo Alto and require diligent
engagement and coordination with our neighboring cities. Key concerns include north county
bus service, and the allocation of Measure B sales tax funds for grade separations and other
uses.
Resource Impact:
No impact on resources due to this action is expected.
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ATTACHMENTS:
• VTA By-Laws (PDF)
Resolution No 2018-0L Exhibit A
VTA "North County Cities Group,, (aka Group 2 Cities)
Procedure for Appointment of Board Member Representation and
Expectations of the Board Member
Background: The VTA Board of Directors sets VTA policy. The Board has L8 members and ex-officio members,
all of whom are elected officials appointed to serve on the Board by the jurisdictions they represent. Fifteen
Directors are city council members and three are County Supervisors. Twelve Directors serve as voting
members and there are six Directors who serve as alternates. Group 2 cities (aka North county cities) has onevoting member of the Board and one alternate.
The purpose of this document is to define the procedures for appointing the Group2 cities Board Member and
Alternate and to provide expectation of the appointees as it relates to Group 2.
Membership: The Group 2 Cities Working Group is composed of the VTA policy Advisory Committee (pAC)
members and their alternates who represent the cities of Mountain View, palo Alto, Los Altos, and Los Altos
Hills, as well as the Group 2 VTA board member. PAC and Board Alternates are also encouraged to attend.
Should the PAC position for any of these cities be vacant at the time of election, that city council appoint a
councilmember to participate
Voting Membership: PAC members who represent the Group 2 cities shall be the voting members of the
working group. Should the PAC position for any of these cities be vacant at the time of the election, that city
council appoint a councilmember to participate in the election. Should the pAC member for any city be
unavailable at the time of the election, but the PAC Alternative is available, the Alternate may vote on behalf
of their city
Appointment of VTA Board Member.
VTA Board member's term is a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of4 years. The appointment of the Groups
2 board is made through an election process that takes place every 3 years or when determine by a majority of
the Group, and is guided by a nomination rotation that gives opportunity to the next city in the rotation.
Election Time Frame: No earlier than November and no later than December of every 3,d year, or as needed
by a majority of the Group
City Rotation: Nominations may rotate in the prescribed order rotation.so as to give each city an opportunity
to have a representative serve at the VTA Board level or unless voted on by pAC members to amend rotation..
The order shall be:
Mountain View
Palo Alto
Los Altos Hills
Los Altos and so on.
Resolution No 2018-01 Exhibit A
Qualification and Consideration of the Nominees: Nominees must be incumbent city
councilmembers who will not face a term limit (1) before the end of the VTA Board term under
consideration.
ln order to satisfy the enabling legislation's requirement that "the appointing powers shall
appoint individuals who have expertise, experience, or knowledge to transportation issues,,,
each nominee must meet at least 2 of the following criteria:
1,. At least one years' service on the VTA Board with in the last 4 years
2. At least one year's service on a policy advisory body that reports directly to the VTA
(Policy Advisory Committee, Policy Advisory Board, the Citizens Advisory Committee and
has 80% attendance.
3. Any other transportation policy credential deemed relevant by the majority of the Group
2 Cites as meeting the intent of the experience requirement with in the last 4 years.4. Demonstrate working knowledge of VTA.
A VTA Board member may not serve simultaneously on the PAC in any capacity, but an
Alternate member may simultaneously serve on the pAC.
Re-election: By November 1 of the election year, the current Board member shall notify the
working group of weather they intend to seek additional time or to extend current term, not
to exceed 4 years. lf the member is eligible to complete the upcoming board term, than that
person may be considered. lf the sitting Board member is not eligible or does not wish to
seek additional time, then the nominees shall be provided as described below.
Board Member Nomination Process: The City Council of the PAC member whose turn it is to nominate
("nominating city") may nominate up to two of its qualified councilmembers for the VTA Board.
The nominees can be put forth simultaneously or serially ( in the event that the first nominee is not
elected). A nominating city with no qualified councilmember may not make a nomination. The nomination
city also has the option of declining to nominate any of its councilmembers. ln the case of no eligible
candidates or the nomination city declines to make nomination, the option to nominate shall pass to the
next city in the rotation. The nomination city shall notify the group of whether it intends to nominate a
candidate by November L of the election year. The choice of who to nominate will be at the discretion of
the nominating city.
Nominees must be affirmed by a majority of the City's Council. Each city will have the opportunity to put
forth two nominees for consideration. lf neither succeeds, then the nomination process shall pass to the
next city in order.
1 Term limit refers to the statutory limit on the number of years of consecutive terms an official may serve in their elected capacity.
Resolution No 20L8-01 Exhibit A
Alternate Board Member Nomination Process: Alternate Board members may be put forth by any cityprovided the person meets the qualifications noted below and the Alternate Board member does not comefrom the same city as the Board Member.
The group shall give consideration selecting someone from the city next in the rotation. lt is desirable that inaddition to the qualifications below that the alternate to be eligible to become the Board Member at a futureelection.
Meeting of the Working Group for Purpose of Election: A meeting of the Group 2 membership shall be
convened for the purpose of electing/reelection the VTA Board member and Atternate.
Quorum: Representatives from at least three of the Group 2 cities must be present in order for an election toproceed.
Presentations: Nominees will be given equal opportunities to present argument for their election during themeeting and before the election is held. The length of time per nominee will be three minutes.
Election Process: Election to the Board shall be accomplished by a show of hands of the voting members. Each
city will have one vote. A majority vote constitutes a successful election.
The group will first vote on any member seeking to extend term, no longer than a combine 4 years. lf re-
election is successful, than the group shall move on to selecting an Alternative. lf unsuccessful, the group shall
consider the nominees from the nominating city. Voting shall continue on each proposed nominee until a
Board member and Alternate are selected.
Vacancies: Should the Board member resign or cease to be a city councilmember, that seat shall be declared
vacant. The seat shall remain with the current city and be filled by a selection of the current city council. Thatperson will serve the remaining of the existing term.
Expectations of the WA Board Member
The VTA Board member shall keep the VTA Group 2 Cities Working Group apprised of items coming before the
VTA Board, facilitate communications with the Group, and help build consensus with respect to policy matters
the Group determines to be relevant to the Member Agency or VTA. The VTA Board member is the
Chairperson of Group 2 Cities.
Amendments
This document may be amended by a majority of the VTA Group 2 Cities Working Group. A meeting of the
North County Board and PAC shall be convened as necessary in order to evaluate the fairness of the selection
process and the quality of the Board members.
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