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City of Palo Alto
____ "_ "" ___ ~ity Manl!ger'~~eport
TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
ATTENTION: Policy & Suvict!S COII'mittee
FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER
AGENDA DATE: November' 1, 1994 CMR:489:94
SUBJEL"f: City Council Siu Reduction: Communi!)' R''lclion to Proposal
RF.QIIESI
The Council direeted L'1at the Policy and Services Committee determine if there was
community interest in placing tJ'1e propos.al to reduce. the size uf th~ Ci~y Council before the
voters. Community organizati(lns we,re asked to evaluate the pmpos'iJ and present their
responses to the Policy and Seryke$ Committee at this November 1, 1994 meeting.
RECOMMENDATIa.'ffl
On the basis of the responses that have been received, staffre{:ommends that the Poiicy and
Services Committee recommend to Council t.hat the proposal for a charter amendment that
would reduce the size of the City Council should <Jot be placed on the ballot.
pm ICY IMPLICATIONS
Pro and con arguments related to the propesal were compiled and distributed to the
community organizations to pro ... jd~ a foundation for their discussions. See. attachment.
EXECImvE SIlMMARY
A lener from the Chair of the Polky and Services Committee, describing the Committee's
interest in cbtaining community input on the proposal to reduce l~e size of the City Council,
was mailed in .,arly Aug",t to the presidents or representatives of forty Palo Alto
organizations. 'The letter encouraged the organizations to review the pros and COIlS, discuss
the merits of the propesal, and respond in writing or in po"on at the November I meeting
of the Policy and Services Committee. A reminder letter was sent in mid-October to those
organizations who had not yet responded.
By the time of ~)e preparation of this staff report, written responses had been re.:eived from
ten organizations and one individuaL The responses accompany this report in the Committee's
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packet. Al!hough e~re5sed in v"')';ng ways, the consensus was that the Council should
COQ.Qci.l remain at its nine-member size. One organization, however, reported a majority of
those altendin& it! annual meeting f~vQred downsizing to seven members.
F1SC4I, lMp4,cr
There would be mimr costs associAted willl plac; ng the proposal on the ballot of tile general
mu:nici:paI eiec%ion. The lon,g-term costs or savings resulting from a redlJction in Counc:il size
""" unknowD.
EN\'DIONMEl'fiA I, 4 SSFSS1\fENT
NiA
A:rnONE~'TS
Pros and COHS: Should the' P310 Alto City Charter Be Amended 10 Reduce the Size. of the
Council from Nine Members 10 Snen 'I\'{embers?
PREPARED BY: Vioci Rudie, Assi,lant to the CilY Manager
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CITY M.\NAGER APPROVAL: ~-:::;,._. __
B , . STROJNY
A~sislZn City Manager
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SHOULD nu: PAlO ,\LTC CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED
TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE COUNCIL
FROM NINE ME-.!SERS TO SEVEJj MEMBERS?
........ ,.. J-Wo _ Otr c......d: -.. ~ ...... , ... of __ .".. ... ~,..-... 10. ~ o! tIw ~ mit-'N1N 04 ............. ~. ~~"'""'" .... ~~ l* .. tw~~IMi~ ptOQorodoonll ... __ .,0IrwMI ~ ,.... ......... ~ ... \I'OW:n~. poiRtf/ll .... orr 1"091fWl1.J11'l1d dt4i4 ........ ~
,.. ....... _______ .......... !leIJllroll..,N~
.jlII r== ... 'tMr II ftes!r,.., to Snwn .......
__ ~"""'!okl .. e.._c.y
Cou-d 10r I; c:ty Is sb in ~ lStlIt.t of Ga.lt~
r,... mali; rM$Qt'l fWo ~o res ~ ~a")' c(x;o'd
~ ',. bDcau:w I ~ ~ ,'J t'lll! en
!IfAlIwia:te <;:OOHpt .... ti:YJ I., m. f 1)6.."" .... ~'i p.~
Coln;j mcMJd 7ft.." 15> .~ !o n:rw
~ Mo:$: cty ccu.,,::J~ J,n ~~;x • .;.. i'la','8
tp~ ;~, Cd: a !e"".'(1.-,--r,;r" ... '1€-r ~;"'"\X1-:'"i,
prt'lbabti t.st ~~w.; tJ':;i! a:t.'ao'l\4rJP"';' cl Dol;,
--~
A ~ CoI.rIeI hu CJI!"OIt."8I1 10 ~"Ofi(
.ill I ..... two-ctiN wth biQOew ~ D:'ld
I'I'Cft ..... ,. i ~ tb 'Ct-.n P1lo ;.:too. fa.-~. !hi cay ct ~ r~ • _,,_
Cou1cO lind !o on ~ ~ r:J. cit, ... hoo _ .. 't#; _ In rogOo.-oO -..
C~
n. GmiM' fHg 5M +1 Remain It Hint
MtmI!oa
Te ~flO'!!' 10 • ~beI' Counct <"9C;'OirM
alT"iE'fld'rT'oi'OI r:i the C~{S Cnaner, This a,;;tlOO, if
It p'tJ\"~ ur.s.a:tls:a~O('i, crnJel C'or1Iy be undC(le by
thi; \'01:'~-s
T."'.E-re r-.as ~ roO ~..!biic ~.a"D(l,' f()~ t!"1is cha;;ga
T~ "":"'('":T''i''!"!'',t'i'1 Cowx;) h:.'1s been workit'YJ wEll:
'if t~ a;'I'1 br'o!<8, d,)(l'! (ix;t'
Palo ~c ha$ II strO!'"lg interest and 'Soef"\S8 r:I
~ry ftx participa'Joo j" roQicnaJ ts.s.ues.
Th!$ p.acas, addtional o~""Id~ on courd
~ and ~ be more ~ltfoClit 't then! 'NEWt! '-=-.....-.. Palo Me Is IJIliQUe .,
_ k r. ..... ~ .. u ... : this ~ hlMng
• taroer CCw..ncI. !'hefi!' are more agenc:6e:s
fequiring C<lIIlcl ~ _eserIa1io<1.
Tho _ ~ Coonci I1.w1C!ions witt>
"".wdng _ ct four _....en.
Thii ~, with a COtTWTlICtee quonm 01 thfQe, at
IeeSI a ltWd of the: Counci is rr.kIng 8
~ '0 \he lUI Counc1. RedUC>!lg
the COI.n::fI to MY8I1 rnernbeos COUd mean
reducing the ~nding committees as wet!, to
IIvEN:!~, TrlU'S, S QUOfIJm at only tVlIO {a
lenar traction} could 08 makIng
.. ,camme""."''''' to the Coonci (Tho City 0/
~ operates differently than Palo Alto; i
has no 5tandi"IQ committees_)
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~.,
A-...--Coord __ ~
tw _ impo<:I 00 staff. and <-.I 'MJIJO "'"
_. Tho ~ creotes much 01 tho """ Ie< ___ ~"""''''bo_
Coord ~ and __ c:o<.olCC
....-__ Porhapo """" ~ ....." be
-~
~_'-Coord reqoSamcn~
~ end ,,,,,,,,,-.,. on tho port 01
~ <:C>\6IdI _. n _ """" __
men-. 0/ Iho Coord to play • """",",10k"
1tlo ~ 0/ the Cly. Thero".
-.:y on the """ 0/ .......-. 01 • lo!'J<"
0:.ulcI to TBI'I on cAAE:I' rnemt.ers ci the CoI.n::i
to take the iead and do;We!op ~ in
~ areas, f3tner tN,\n \alOng r9ipOI'l.$lbf':ty
1Jlerns.eNes tot thet parti<;J.4f cl.fE!a,
New tha1: th2 Counci r.as ssta bH,v.ad 8: Uti :r'rE-'3
Advistxy eo.~, them is rtof as rr.och l"'.t<E,,:1
to lderdy ['riC Q( UN*, cour.cJ ~ wth
e::trong utJlt)es expertise. ~ i! s.ev~--tl.eornbef
Coord 00Ud ".""go .. rospooslbIltios
A """"'" CouncI wOOd Improw tho Coord',
W<>ri<k1g ~ Woth the Cly M&""IiO' and
d\o _ by aIIoY.ing ,""re IndMdcal """"ct. A ..,._ Coord WO\Jd Improw Ihe boIanco in
~ __ Ihe _ and Cotod.
WIth • ___ ."'"' C.oooct, t 10 _ IbIy Ih&I
_ tho CouncI '" tho CIty ~ eoUd
_ 100 powoIfU.
Tho ~ "" gI... and lair. """"'" tho _ rnemI;oen; wOOd be ~ _ •
~bOOy.
Ethc::fent..)· ae: COI .. nc:l ~ .. r'Ot r+ I) ,...... rrom """"'0 _ """"" .--.. no<
woUd the ~ bt ~ short.. It Is h
public ""'" ...... tho timo .. ...-~. Cot.ncI _ ..... ~ • """" _ 01 tho
~
S<mn-_ """""" .... collen _. .....
Is. 6 QOOCI I"II.Xl".ber b«auIe I doeI no( .... f
dlOOo _ '"" ~
Tr:o jl>:>t,,;.;.,::rXI '0, f:;.i: .... >;! rh.a U:I~~ .l.C\"'-$;..yY
C'X::,mi,,,,-0l ~,l 1~1 "'3...~ ~(, jI_s.s::$1 the ~
", •• 11 U~ r.oo." .-d1J"'T\e <.4 COI'nPe.x '1:S$.Ui!5 'o'iI:ti
'fINc-M lit M.s iO QeeJ A~uc~ thE ~ ~8
coi.Jd net'e..:t$lJ" '!!iOOlra r~ taurdeo borne b)' II6d1
cvunct me.Tober
There can ~ a ~lon ~1 a Co:..'r'd has
more powt>~ when ~r-are ~ ~
Each COtJf'o('J ~'5 .... ((9 carl carrl mc:ra
... ighI
A reduc:ticln to ...... ~ co..td n"l!!II:n less
~ fo< tho _ 0/ '*""POI ....
creotlYo Of ~ 00inCt -. and ....
df,lef5i'y oi \IWI on the Cotn::.J. A,....,..,... r;I
"'_ em< the pa( 211 ____ !hit
""'_ good oou-d --. ...,.., nco ...... t __ r -. _ -. ""'Y _-.
It is no! the Ilt.I"MC!f 01 ~ ¢ria CourdI, btA
tr.e tempera~ and me woO<: ~ c:i the
Coord, thai make ir.I~ ~ Of
~
WhIo 1ho ...,. """'"""" 0I1ho C<ulcI m/ght be a __ 1rl1em1s 01 !he ~ or
_ Ihey' bring to !he CooncI, tho fact 01 !he
..-'" ...... _·mo",Oer CouncI hao not
bnIugtt II'rf greer ___ 01 d Ivo!"eay In """'" 01
...,,_ootol~_
(e.g. ...... 1IIInIcIy. Incomo, famIy ~.
home ""' ... lilll>. 00_)
Eacl1 coonci mom"", has an oOIigatJoo to
ropj'esBf'W: the e;;tire OOf'l1iTlunrty, r99iird~ oi hO'W'
rr.allY ~ t1erE at9. Seven members ...... ,
r\OI I"!'oean ~ repros.enlation tor Palo Alto
resktents.
It Is not naoessa.ry tv have a large CouncI! In
ooler to ....... !he opportunity for new cand_ to be oioctOO. TUrn""", i$ guoIBnteed
In Polo Alto _!he WTO!1IIy """"'eel tom> 11rr .....
An _ carolda!e, YfflIkluaUIIed 00 !he baM
01 !ong C<lIIVl'U1ity _.!OrO, __ 01
_ port 01 ""'" ho/ilho Is from, can ...., ...
_Intho~.
CON
The-f1Ik, Mo Cocxd should be ,epo ... !tI&Jw of
!he "''OnIg& Palo Alto _on. wflo __ 5o!Iy to
an""'JlfO'ltld re.Jdenl Thus the CooncI job .....
be .....ooabkt Irl ...".,. 01 Ihe hoon at
co,)" i .'",Il If 1M ~ wtI'1!I rDx::ed tmm
Nne 10 SIlViO, this cc:Qd rrHin IhII: etch oouncI __ ...., _ mot • ., do om Ihe pooItion
"""*I be I<oos attractIVO kY . oomoono ..... """
-~.
HovIng nino cooneI ",..,...,.,. ~ • '
opportu!"Ily for c.1tI2:fiKlI to be doar Ie .....
fow 0/ tho mornI>ono becIwoe 01 whoro .,..,. '""",
liVe Of shop, Councl ~ are more Inct'hed
to S$ rr.ore parts d the Qry and ~ at1I
melfa likely to &nCOUnt~ (-ouncf rnemberI E1'O
p:ovldl2l In!orrroaJ as weli as forrnallnput
The opportun~)' for (epresartatiorl 00 tl-le Cc~
from &l! pa rts 01 the CC>o'11I"n\.lnlty ccW bE
d'lmjfl~'led, Tho:;fe ts & perceived ,j~'¢!Jt)' In
~ ltCting candidates from-the I.1"ea so;..til ci ;he
0'0jI00 Expt ..... ..,y ,00 tNs ",>UId _
tho _Ion
The: Palo Ailo ~ M:s no dl'f!C1..«'y
,,',x:bcing enoogIo qcoaIiiod 0< ".,.,,00
candidat~ IOf nlrlEl Counci seats.
RoducOlg the CowlCi sQe to ...... wOOd _
the __ p""'ided lor ""'" poopIo to
....... 00 the CooncI that -. gained by ....
lneejlIIon 01 two-lomo _
The quality 01 I.. ill Palo Mo wWd no! be
oadicaoly improved or dalnogod tr; tho .-• .,.
beIW9M • ooio>Hnembor .. '<I __
Counci ten years from now.
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IF COUNCIL IS REDUCED,
WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE MECHANISM AND TIMING?
, ; QUOd
F"'" _ CouncI -.. "'" hoid on IIle first Tuesday aft., tho fits! Mo:ldoy !n Nov_" each _
_ ~, (PlIo _ ChIrtor, ~ III, Section 3,)
Cor",.diiQ """""'" 1, 1992. no _ sholl be eligR>io to serve conse<;Utivetf" mote than two fIJI tsrma
d __ .. a ~ at IIle CouncI, Any pot1laj ""'" 01 office longer tl",n two """" sholl be _ •
U ""'" T ...... 01 """" CO", • ....: boIoro January 1, 1m, shall not be counted wIlOfl ""'""""*'II 0iIgIbay ..-_ -. (PlIo _ Chwtor, ~ III, Sec"!loo 2,)
AccOldb ... 10 Ihe ely a-pr-. 011 ''''''' 'imls, fovt of tho ,,.,.,. cooncI """"""" wi! not be
aIg:tIIe 10 INk re--eiectIoo 11 1999 and the remaIning five eurrem members wil not be eiigible In 2001,
In ~Uf"IoCti,oo with discUSslnQ the ~ and CO"'<:; of rejLlcing tile si'2~ of I~e C.ounc~, council r~
~ thtI followmg altemativ~ methods icv. Impierr-~f!!if!g th~ rNuc'iiao
• Vak:e tM ¢h8ng:J 10 a se'w'ffi--membt!r Cound In 2001, so IMI I he dec+s.lcn regard ir!g Coone; Me
can be made on th9 ba~ of rt'Iefit rather (han evrren! rnem'berstiip, Cft:.zens wolkf cast ba:lots 'I}(
three cooncI members, rather than five, m that 'tsar.
It Make the change to a I8YefHnember COOnc~ 1i11997. Mhov(Jh no couflCl merl'lbefs are Pf9V8nIIid
1rom eeekWlg r'tHIiection thai year. four cI the five whose le:ms expire then will have fWVed two
ter'T'N; 00 the CouncI arid aome miQhI dedde to .step down.
• 1tJSttl.Q the ci'larOe gradually. Have one of the four seats U;l for elec::icn In 1996 d~ed as a
twcryear eeat 00 the balk=I:, and eliminate t>rte additional seat In 1997, which wit leave the CO'JIlCI
_ by _In 1997 afld woUd """'" tho Impact among tho,.." groups 01 coooci men-. -
~ whoM tennB are 199r -95-99 and those wt'ose tentt,1 a~ 1993·97·2001.
• ~ of the gradual approach are. to Impose the fwo..'(B3f saat In 1997 and ~8 the
__ In 1999; Of do lin 1999 anO 2001.
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