HomeMy WebLinkAbout0396.094,
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July 28, 1994
HONORABr~ CITY COUNCIL
Palo Alto. ~~liforni.
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Attention: Policy and services Committee
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Clxn QOVIK)II. BIIB aBDlfC'.l'IOIlI A PLlUI POR OB'l'UIIIIrn COJIIIlIJI2'l'Y
~IOK 2'0 noPOau
KeJJl})ers oE the CQuncil:
The City Council, on september 27, 1993, approved in concept tha
exa~ination of a reduction of the City Council from nine to seven
members and referred the item to the Policy and servic.es Committee
for It discussion of the following: the scope of the examination,
tha timing of the occurrence of the reduction, ana the means by
which tha examination should be conducted.
At its June 7, 1994 meeting, the Policy and Services committee
dis~ussed the council assignment and requested staff's assistance
in d.raftinq a packet. of information which could be so.nt to
co_unity organizations. The orqanizatlons would be asked to
evaluate the proposal and provide feedback through the Policy and
Services Committee as to whether the proposal was of importance to
the community and worth pursuing as a ballot measure.
Staff has preparnd the followinq mat~rials for the Committee's
review:
1. A list of community organizations Which will be sent the
packet Qf into~tion.
2. The cover letter which describes the Committee's interest
in obtaining the organization's views on the proposal to
reduce the size ot the Council.
3. The letter enclosure which lists the pros and cons of the
proposal to reduce the size of the Council. These have been
drawn from a review of the minutes of several meetings at
which council Members have discussed the proposal (Council
Beeting" of 6/4/90, 10/22/90, 4/15/91, 6/7/93, 7/12/93 and
9/27/93 as well as the Policy and procedures COlfllnittee meeting
of 12/18/90 and the Policy and Services committee meeting of
717/93.)
CMR:396:94
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Following approval of the above it ••• , staff will mail the packet
to tl!e COD.unitl' orqani ... tions. Staff p,"opo8ea that the issue be
__ 1.". for dJ.a"""a!.on at the october 4 .... tinq of tho Policy and
Servicas eo-ltt... TIle ag"onda for that evening" 18 ol"ar and would
previa upl. o,.'1pOrtunity for fe_ok from the cDlIIIIunity. Furth."
notifi04tiO!l ot 't;; ...... \t~~g" will occur prior to OOtober 4.
Reapectfully eUbDltt.".,
/"'A/J~7->/, (/1(;(;( 'i k~ __ _
VlCCI RO"QIlf\
AaeLotant tG the City Managar
Attacb_nts
QIR.396.94
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Botrcn Park __
,WI-'_
4188...,.
Palo Nlo. c.t. 94308
CheItnI..a-Mon 11ot:\~
"'->IoI!on AIIn: Celt It _
2eO CIIooIl>.( ......... Palo Nlo. c.t. _
CoIego r""""" _ -8ryan Cor1I!
2150 CoIurnbla_
P&I<> AltO. ("A 94.100
EVO!lI<300 p/I11( NeIo.t>boI1-.ood -0.-.1:1 S<IYom
3a1<Mt>«l
Polo Mo, c.t. 94306
GI ... "IOOd-. ... ~_tIOn
S9Id K. FiIoI<y __ Drtw
Polo Alto. c.t. _
Jonl.,, __ .>IeIgtoboollOOd
-. ~ PtooI:;!ero
8:25 GtrIond D!t.o
Palo N<o. CA ~
MIdtown_·_
clO SUzanne_
P.O. Box 51292
Palo Alto. CA 94303
""" CoIIoo"oIa A_1wo O<mI~j -_ o..tocen;zl, P_
P.O. Box IlO583 Palo Mo. c.t. _
C<lIogo T omooo ~ .. !or
.-~ ~c-y
3451 CO<!: 001< Way
Polo NI!>. c.t. ~
~I«G<_F_
JtJiaSl"~
39:/1 e. 110)"""'" Road
Po«> .... 0. c.t. 9-I3OJ
Grant Avet"t\YJ Cor;domin..!Uill
0",,,,, n.oclatloo
P.ull<M" $&ttetary
4."'5 GIn A .......
Po«> Nlo. c.t. 9430&-i~
I.«ord ........ A_
MoryAnn_
740 No<thomI>ton 0rMI
Polo Alto. CA 9-I3OJ
Midtown WO$I
0ebbI0 MyteIs. ProoIdenI
2824~_
Polo Alto. CA 943G3
CIIaIIeoton _
r~rJ()CXS .""K :flfHon
Aotonceu.1'tMen>
453 T....--Lane
Polo Mo. CA 94306
CoIIO\IO T "'""'" NoV ilxJillOOd
C<I!hy 0Urh0m
2009 DortmoUI>
Polo Alto. c.t. 94300
oo.mtown North NeIolIlboct>OO<l -l.m-oony Bao;f get
3St~
PAlo Mo, CA 94306
GrE<aler ,.,Brenda Community
AsSQClalloo
Don Nlelsoo. PrO$ldoot fI50 M<ar<la 0 __
Pe!<> Mo. CA Il4306
Im<O.tieWay_
AUc :W1hi --41S5ln18n1a1e Way
Polo Mo. CA 94306
LyUon-..
Joan GoItosman. P_
Il66 L)<Ioo "' ...... 0135
Palo AIIo. c.t. 943()1
PalO AIt" C<lndomInIum -Freel EY9Ify
101 AI ... Street
Polo Alto. c.t. 1H301
/1
PoioAllo_~
AIIOCW'on
Jon Torry
825 t&nI Glen 0tMI PoIo-.CA _
CroocenI Park ...... soclot!on
MatporeI Feuor
131Q l!nMorolIy Av .....
Polo AIIo, CA 94301
W09l Bays/1ofo A_onts -Mauroen MomIcl<, Chairman
3125SWcktonPiace
Polo AIID, CA Il4303
...... s.n_
c/o~_
In_ Polo AIIo. CA _
Pa!oMOH_ -I<lyotaI GarnaQo, -P.O. Ba>< 193 Polo _, CA 94302
v ........ NoIo;tix><hood -Oewtt DUf'tlS!l''I 300_ ..
Palo Mo, CA 94306
Orogoo Groon C<>o:fo 0 ... """, --Emma Tredo. P_
2~ W. 6aysho<e Rood
POlo Nt .. CA 94003
Polo Verde f4eiI1obo<1lOOd """"_Pocker
768 Slone Uno
Polo Mo. CA 94303
Chambor cI Comrno<co
Dawn Miler
325 FOt8SI A_ ..
Palo AIIo, CA 94301
o P arlc' C8ntnrII Col I M f • ciiII Condon1/nUY1_
_f1_,~
125 CoIIO/nII A ... , ().2CO
PeioMO,CA _
Walnut G«wao 'Ioii~
A"
LWoI~._
~ Ely F'o&C<O
P6lo Alto, CA IH.m
Midtown R.sid ...... ___
c/o Pa--A1 GIG«)
3144 Da\"d A"""""
Palo Mo. CA 04303
Compi ...... _ Ro., ~
~
Sandra faIdns, eo.<:toftIr
3483ar-flood
Polo -. CA 94303
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, ~ity_~~E<llQJ\Jto
O[f'lO!of II.' M'!P "nd City COl/lll'l
Auqust 4, .1994
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Dear 2~'
I am writing to enlist the help of your ol;'ganization in
evaluatinq An issue whioh is of concern to tho palo Alto C1ty
. Council. At various times over the past few yaara J when we have
been reviewing-our procedures, the question has. been raised. as to
whether the size of our CouncIl is too larqe. very few citill)s in
Califonlia have as many as nine council membe~6, and none of the
cities with councils ot nine or more me~oers have n population ~8
SIlD.l1 4rJ palo Alto's. SOMe menw&rs of onr Council have l3uqg-eated
that the City charter should be emended t.o reduce the siz6 of the
Council to seven mambers.
When this issue haa been discussed. at Council ~eetinqs, very
tew _8IIbars of the pUblic hava ex-p.ressec1 opinions on it. This has
led us to believe that, perhaps, the issue is of concern only to
the Council and is. of no interest to Qur-constit:.uent.s.
We. WOl.llc1 appreciate hearing whether tJ18 mem.bers of your
orvanization believe this issue should be put before the voters at
the next qeneral auuicipal election in Noveaber 1995. We have.
coapiled lists of the pros and cons associated with reducinq the
size of the council and enclose~ them with this letter. The pros
and cons vere drawn from the discussions 'Which have occurred at
Council aeeting's in recent years. We hope they will sti.ulate yo~
ae.ber8 to discuss the merits of the proposal and the;1 provide us
with your analysis and recommend.ations. The enclosure also
deaoribell 8ugqestions tor how the transition to a seven-me1lber
Council could occur.
PO Box lo:al
PaIoAlIo,CA 9-l10.1
4JS.,m.Mi7
.,J L5.3lS.363l Fa\ ~:,
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The council'. Policy and Services committee intends to place the
IlUbject ,or council she re<luction on ,the "",ando, ot its Tu •• day,
october 4, 1994 ae.tin",. I hope that l'our organization can find an
opportunity to discuss this iaBue'before then and would share your
viw. with ua at the meeting'. Any written COllUllents should be
lul:IIIIltted to the City Clerk'. Office no later than Wednesday
..,rni..", hpteaber 28,
Enelosul'e
Sincerely,
JOE HIJBER
Chair, Policy and servicea Committee
Palo Alto City council
:.P.6i.Icy AND SERVICES COIlMIT'l'EE MEETING
,,'l'\litsday; october 4, 1994
,>:71001>11
'~:,,_~il Conferonce 'Room
,,'''Clvic cent .....
250 UaRilton Avenue
>""~Q Alto
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SHOULD nil! PAlO AlTO CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED
TO IU!DUCE THE SIZE OF THE COUNCIL
FROM HIKE MEMBERS TO SEVEN MEMBERS?
~ '" "'" ... .-Oat ¢owNII ~ ~ tit ......... aI ~ In~! ',...,... A rPMw 01 1M CounoiII'TNtMM of
Iht ~ ... 00CWT1Id'" ~tMfIIr9t ~ WIt pt(IOd't'om ISIiIOoto .... pn.Mnt ktwi",,",UM blowing prot and oont
Pollbl'l~~~ ThMt ......... IM)' .... ~h~IIpm,(.'4~Oo"I ..... __ llIdck*iiJiIil"'~
~~ ' ....... ' .. , • ., ...... ~ kpAlo"' .......
PRO
_,.,. _ Polo Mo has \!It Iorgeot Cl!y
Co<M tor. <ty to 011.", tho _. <J CoIfomIa"
Tho rna;, t88S(J(l Polo AIIQ has INs mot!)' c:<>CII1<i
1l'I8I'Jlbe("$I-18: bIx:aus. • was ~ 10 be an
~. ~ 10 tho lSEllo..non tho
Cotn;t """"'" from 15 """'*"" 10 nino • __ " M<>o! ~ <<>unci, ill CaIIomIa J;av,
~ n~ but ~ 6e\'9Il-rnernb¥ stru<;i:Ut8
".oo.t>"y bosI """", .. the _000 01 l>:<h
small wid IargEl.
A ~ C«nd hu prown 10 work
-... Ior9or-.... ~blo\iOr~ and
mat1COiili' .. ' .... thanPakJMo. fOi~, 11-. cay d ~ r.. • _
CoIZlCI tIld Is en ~Ing ~. 0/. city
Ihol has -. ~ IrM>MId 11 regional -..
CON
'O)t G9'mc' SjM abm., 8.,.", " Hint
MtmbtD
To cIlongo to a __ Cotn;t roquItos
amoodment of 100 Clty's Charter" ThIs ortJon. k
~ PlOWl unsatJsfactOl}', ~ only bo undooa by
lh9 ""''''''
1 hefe has boon no pub/If. darTlO( fO( th!s ~_
The "' .... member Couoc.1 has bean ~_.
'If ~ a!n'1 hroke. doo't rtx It·
Pa!Q Alto has a strong lnIeresi and sense cI
rosponslblity 10< patI!cIpetlon In r~ _
Th.. places additional demands on """"'"
I'TleffibEoni and w()Ijd be mote diffiCUt It tOOre were
,"" .. councl moml>ero" Palo Alto 10 unique In
thal ~ has all ~ own \tIItIoo; this jUstWies having
• Iotger CooocI. There.... mo<o agoncIes
roqulMg COUI1Ct member -"",.
Tho CI.ITenI ."".",.",., CouncI fundbna wt!h
two IIa1ldJng ~ til""" rnember118Ch.
ThIs ~ with a oommIttae quorum tI """' 81
IoasI • 1Ilirt! tI tho CcuooII Is maklnQ •
.-10 \!It fIJI CooocI. Rod"'*>g
\!It CouncI 10 ......, members COIJd mean
~ tho otandJng committees as wtII, to
three rnembors. Thus,' quorum '" only two (a
lesser 'fICllo",) could be making
recorMl8Odatlons to tho CoooeI. (Tho CIy a
SUflIl\'YIIlo opentIoscJlerently than Palo AIIo: •
ha. no IIa1ldIN,l commltI_.)
PRO
A ....,.. ..... 'ibfo CcuiCI __ -.
Iw 1000 irT"1*' on _. an;! __ COOl
_ The COilnct mol .. ....00 01Il10 ""'" fa< -. __ "-'Ihoni ... t._
CoIrd ~ ond __ _
__ .....-~Ihoni_ -. bo
-i11OOUngs.
A ",,,,,r".Mllbit Courd ~ morw ftIr4duIlI
~ awJ 't1j>Oi ~ on 111!1 pot! 01
-*' --. "-""'" ~ i1i8IlIber1 0I1he CoondI to ploy. ~ NlIoIn
Il1o poIIcl_~ 01 tho cry. n.. 10 •
tsn:loncy OIl the pu1 01 _'1 01 • tarQo<
CoondI to rvIy on othor "_ 011110 CooncI
10 take !too lead snd ~ iO<j)Or\i$O In po_ ...... "' ..... than IaMng rosponsNl!y
~ for that partlct.iar arc.a.
Now lhat tho Cc<JncI h ... ""_ • U!I_
NMY:xy Co.'I\misslon. lila. Is no! .. mo:l1 ooec:I
10 identify fINo Of' Uw&(l councl ~ Yr~h
Wong U!lltleo expertlso. , ..... ......,.mombet Co<Mlcf CO<.Id muoago Ito respo._
The opp<lIIUiiIy for fIoie and take omong tho ___ bo .. ,.._ """ •
seYeI'H'ntWI"I body.
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CON
EII\Cloocy III CouncI moeIlngo wit not nee 4y ...uo Ir<om hoWog __ memI>ors, not
_ tho 0-.;. bo much """,,,,. h 10 tho
pot/lc ..no ..... the lime at puWc 1lOOI!ngt,
C<>n:I_ .. .,. tJ1lIc*Iy ........ pot! 01 .: ..
.-00.
~ ooordo ... oh"" _. NIne
Is • good ....-boCIUM k cIooo not ~
dr."" _Ir<o~.
lho ivst'<»IIc<l !", Ioonir.g ''''' lJ:n"" foiMs«'I
Co«il'OO:s.ioo fr1 1991 \ff3S 10 essl$t the Cooncl
wtlh tt:EI hslNy volume (j compI&..'( Issues \Wh
whJo:n ~ I ... I. doal. Rodocln9 iIlo Co<rd _
cOOd """,",W .00!n tho b<.«Ia<1 bomo by .. c/1
coonca iTlOffit>oI.
The", <an be • poroep<loo tim • CooocII has
mort!' pot;ote1 'tihen there tI'e Iewe:-t'J"r9I'nbet8.
f ech councI rnEII"r.b$r'.s VOI:e can carty more
wolght.
" rod\.cilon 10 _ rnornbo<t «<Ad ~ ....
oppat\rII'I for 1110 _ 01 ""'-"'""'
_ Of >\oIOfoOty couneI momben ond ....
d/;o(olIy cI _ on tho CoootI. A _ 01
ei«:<J<n <nO< tho post 20 __ ~ Iha!
__ good councI .....-. _ not .......
boon """"" r Ihoni hod boon 0t'Iy MYOn __
~ Is not the ilIM1lbe< 01 rnornbo<t on • CouncI. W
!he Iomperamor< awJ tho ""'" _ 01 tho
Cwncl. lhal rroJ<. Irtoracllon$ posslbIe '"
lmpossIiJIe.
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PRO _tho ...:no momt>era of tho Co<lncI might be
• __ group In tormo of 1ho ~ or
_!hoy omo to the Ca,.lCI, the faa of tho
__ '" the! • nin&-momber Co<lncI t'eo 1101
brcoIgIt any g!08t '"""""" of -*'lin tormo of
""_"of~_ (e.g., '-0 ethnicIty, _, 1amI'y~
Ilomo_~~)
Each 0C>IJf>ClI membe< has an oOIigatlon 10
rspt6S&l1! the entIre cor.-.munlty, regardl5$.'i dhow
many members there are. Stl"IGn rnembe."'1 wif
not mean J$$s repres(;rmrt/orl tot Palo oNto _em.
" Is not """""""'Y I. have a largo Co<JneI In
onkr 10 ....... tho opponunlly lot .-
.. ooidal .... be et_. TUI71O'>'« to guaranlooo
In Polo Alto with IIle CUlTemf'; enac:ted lerm 11mb.
"" _ ..00_, _·quollfio<! on IIle _ of long ~ In¥oNemert. .--01
_ pall of ......, .... !aha Is from, QIn "" ."
_ In tho oommoo/Iy.
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CON
The Palo AIIo Cou>cIohoUId be ~ of
tho _ Palo Mo cIIIltn, Yo11O IhOOIhIy II
an ompIoy<od'-Ttu; "'" eo.m fob must
be _bIe In I«mS 01 tho houtI of
COO1ITIiIrr"o« It 1ho .....".,.. __ roduoocI from
nine to ......", !his <Xl<J;j moen IhoI -. """"" _ would haw mo<o 10 do end tilt pooiIjon
....... be .... _lor """""'" Who ""'
",."". em;:Ioyme<"t.
HavIng nine cooocI members ..-• _ _ "'*t for _.,.,. 10 be _ 10 .. _ •
Ww of tilt mombota I>eca .... of __ !hoy """"
I~. '" ,,'lop. CoooeI ~ oro"""" \nc1l<led
10 !Jee mof8 parts of th$ CCty and r~.$ a."e
mQ{a likely !et eoooun:I« CO<.JnoCj ~ W
t-fcvfde Informal as well 89 lronal ~
The oppoIlunlty lor repr ....... 1loo co tho C<>uooJ
frO<n '" pal\$ of 11>0 ~ C>O<.Id be
";",lImnoo. 11><>,. [s • ,,",WOW d'l\cU\y h
o!ecting carid ldat81l hom th& 81$1 SOI..th of me
Qreoon Exp< ... way sna IhIs C<><id ~
tM >k\l8!Ioo.
Tho Polo AIIo commonIty has no d#iIcUIy
",oduc41g """"Oh qoaIlie<I Of Horost8d
candldales'", nine C¢oJ<lCI .......
Aodvclng It .. Coone. slzo 10 ......., wooId _
tho ~ ",_ !of more pocpo 10
seMI on IIle Co<.w>cJ !tiel -. goklOd by tho
Inoop!Ioo of two-terrn 1ImiIs.
The qua\Iy of HIe In Palo Mo ....... nell be
radically lmP<oved 0< damaged by IIle _ ...... __ • nIne-member aM __
CouncI "'" )'I!8f1Ifrom now.
IF COUNCIL IS REDUCED,
WHAT IS 'THE APPROPRIATE MECHANISM AND TlMING?
P" />I(:> Counct -.. "'" had on tho fl(st Tuesday ott .. lho flrst Monday In November d _ odd
IUI!bored year. (Palo _ Chorter. ArtIa. III. SectIon 3.)
CMlI'lOIdllg Jar1<I&ry I. 11192. no _ oIlaiI be oIlgi1;/o 10 serv. oonsectA!YoIy In """" than two h.ltermo
d .......... _ d IIott eo.n:t. My paotlaII8I1TI d o/I'",~ longer than two yeotI _ be _ I
loA torm. Tormo d cI!Ioe commoooced before Janua.')I I. 1992. shall not be counted wtoen cIotermOtIng o!iAIbIlY under U. -.. (Palo _ Chartar. _III. Section 2.)
AcconiIng to tho CIty Chorter pnMoIon on I""" limits. foUl c4 tho C<iIT8rII """"'" _ .... no< be
oiIgIbIe to __ In 1999 and the _Ing flvo curretll momIlOrs .... no! be e!lgjbIe In 2001.
1.'1 conjunctfon wm. d~ the pros and coos of reducing the slz", of the: Counc~, councl membeta
~od tho foIiO'Mng _M1 methods for Implementfng lho leductlon.
• Make the changeJ to II! seven-member Courd tn 2001. so that the decl&lo;l regarding Coone. alze
OM be made on the basIs of merft raIns' than CiJuent membership. Cf'.l.zens would cast ballots 10r
1lvae couoolI me<nbonI. ra:heo than flv •• In thai yea I.
• Make the f'Jlange10 I $BYtn-memberCounclIn 199"f. AAhcugh nooounci members arepreyene:ed
from ~ AI eiJct!t:M, that year. four rJ the ft.nI ~ terms expire then wi! haw 5efV8d two
tsmoo on tho Counci and oomo might decide to step down.
• InsflILto tho cf1ongo gmOuaily. Hav. one dtho foul ...... up I", oIectlon In 1995 doslgnalod ...
t..o.yaor _ onlho ballot, and eliminate one addltlonaJ .... 1 In 1997. wh!ch wi! I_tho CooncI
redU<ed by 1'M;) In 1997 and _ ohar. tho Impact """"'IIlhe IWo _ d CO>JnCII """"'*' -
__ l«miIara 1991-G6.oo and __ IOfffiS .,.,993-$7·2001.
• _ d Iho gracf<.ooI approach .... to Imposo tho two-year ooat In 1997 and _ Iho
__ In 1999; or do i In 1999 and 2001.
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