Charter Review Committee

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What is Sunnyvale's Charter Review Committee?

Sunnyvale's City Charter is the set of rules that guides how the City runs and delivers services. Any changes to the Charter must be approved by a majority of Sunnyvale voters. To review and suggest updates, the City Council created a Charter Review Committee (CRC). The CRC will collect and study ideas for possible changes to the Charter. The process will include input and allow enough time for the City Council to put any proposed changes on the November 2026 ballot.

Why is it important to make changes to our City Charter?

It is important to make changes to our City Charter because it helps keep our City's rules and government up to date. Charter reviews allow Sunnyvale to:

Modernize outdated policies
Use public funds wisely
Encourage operational efficiency
Increase civic participation

Which parts of the Charter are being reviewed by the CRC?

Compensation

Review councilmember salaries, including the Mayor's, without changing the role of the Mayor.

Vacancies

Study whether appointed councilmembers filling vacancies should serve until the next November election instead of the next city or state election.

Regular Meetings

Look at changing the requirement of holding two Council meetings a month to having at least 24 Council meetings a year.

City Manager

Look into letting the City Manager settle claims over $50,000 (amount to be decided) without City Council approval.

Contracts on Public Works

Find ways to allow more flexible and cost-effective ways to deliver City construction projects - not just the traditional lowest-bid method.

Contact

Email Charter Review Committee Members

Staff Liaison

Connie Verceles
Deputy City Manager
Office of the City Manager
408-730-7480

PROGRESS

The City Council held a joint meeting with the Committee on June 3 (RTC No. 25 - 0212) and provided the following direction to the Committee:

Prioritize developing ballot measure language for the following City Charter provisions for the November 2026 Election:

Charter Section 605 (Compensation): Study City Council salaries and compensation, including for the Mayor without modifying the role of the Mayor.
Charter Section 606 (Vacancies): Study whether the current rule providing that councilmembers appointed to fill a vacancy serve until the next general municipal or consolidated statewide election should be changed to the next feasible November general election.
Charter Section 611 (Regular Meetings): Consider changing the Charter provision that requires two Council meetings per month to instead require at least 24 meeting per year.
Charter Article 8 (City Manager): Study adding a provision to City Manager's powers and duties to permit settlement of claims against the City in an amount greater than $50,000.
Charter Section 1309 (Contracts on Public Works): Study amending the Charter to allow other project delivery methods besides design-bid-build (lowest responsible bidder after notice of publications for bids).

MEETINGS

Evenings, first or fourth Thursday of each month in the Redwood Conference Room located at City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.

Past Meetings

All videos are YouTube videos unless noted.

Sept. 25, 2025 (04:49:40)
Sept. 4, 2025 (03:07:11)
Aug. 7, 2025 (01:34:35)
June 30, 2025 (02:50:39)
June 5, 2025 (01:18:26)
June 3, 2025 (02:24:60) - Joint meeting with the City Council
May 1, 2025 (04:26:16)
April 3, 2025 (02:37:49)
March 6, 2025 (01:55:37)
Feb. 27, 2025 (02:00:30)
Feb. 6, 2025 (02:14:38)

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Composition

Eleven Council-appointed members, with a minimum of one member from each Council District.

Qualifications

Sunnyvale residency.

A minimum of 6 members must be registered to vote in Sunnyvale.

Term

Dec. 2024 to early 2026

Members

Barry Vickrey
District 3

David Newswanger
District 1

Gail Rubino
District 6

Galen Davis
District 3

Gustav Larsson, Chair
District 2

Kathryn Filley
District 1

Ken Olevson
District 3

Kristel Wickham, Vice Chair
District 2

Martin Pyne
District 5

Timothy Oey
District 1

Vacant^*

^*Paulette Saldanha resigned effective Feb. 20, 2025.

DOCUMENTS

City Charter
History of Charter Amendments
Report to Council 18-0414, May 22, 2018 - Review of Charter Review Committee Report and Recommendation to Amend Sunnyvale City Charter Section 604 Regarding Filling City Council Vacancies and Provide Direction to Staff on Next Steps
Report to Council 11-089, May 10, 2011 - 2011 Charter Review Committee Final Report and Council Direction on Charter Amendments
2006-07 Charter Review Committee Report Report to Council 07-118, April 10, 2017 - 2006-07 Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee Final Report and Council Direction on Charter Amendments
Report to Council 25-0212, June 3, 2025 - Discussion and Direction on Recommendations from Charter Review Committee for Potential Charter Amendments for Further Study and Ballot Measure Consideration
Report to Council 24-1203, Dec. 3, 2024 - Appoint Applicants to the Charter Review Committee
Resolution 1239-24, June 4, 2024, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Sunnyvale Establishing a Charter Review Committee
Report to Council 24-0030, June 4, 2024 - Discussion and Direction Regarding Adoption of a Resolution to Create a Charter Review Committee to Review the Sunnyvale City Charter and Develop Potential Charter Amendments for the City Council to Consider for the November 2026 Election
Report to Council 24-0406, May 7 , 2024 - Discussion and (1) Adoption of a Resolution Calling a General Municipal Election to be Held in the City of Sunnyvale on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, for the Purpose of Submitting to City Voters an Ordinance Concerning Amendments to the City Charter; Requesting Consolidation with the Statewide General Election and Election Services from Santa Clara County; Directing the City Attorney to Prepare an Impartial Analysis; and Setting Priorities for Ballot Arguments; and (2) Approve Amendments to Council Policy 7.3.4 (Roles and Responsibilities of Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilmembers) Relating to the Role of District Councilmembers
Report to Council 24-0272, Jan. 30, 2024 - Discuss and Provide Direction Regarding Process, Scope of Review, and Timeline for Potential Amendments to the City Charter
Report to Council 23-1070, Nov. 28, 2023 - Colleagues Memorandum: Empanel a Charter Review Commission (CRC)

BACKGROUND

In late 2023, the City Council discussed several proposed changes to the City’s charter.

Three of the proposed changes appeared on the November 5, 2024, ballot. These items would have:

Replaced gendered references throughout the charter with gender-neutral language
Required 24 regular Council meetings per year versus two per month (provides greater scheduling flexibility)
Eliminated the voter registration and citizenship requirements for all boards and commissions (removes barriers to volunteering)

Visit 2024 Charter Amendments to learn more about this ballot measure.

City Council incorporated one of the proposed changes into Council Policy 7.3.4 Roles and Responsibilities of Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilmembers. The added language communicates that Sunnyvale Councilmembers represent the entire City. The language encourages Councilmembers to make decisions that are in the interests of the entire community.

These ideas discussed by City Council in 2023 and 2024 remain for consideration by the Charter Review Committee:

Allowing Councilmembers appointed to fill vacancies to serve until the next feasible November general election, as opposed to the next feasible election (i.e., appointees could no longer go up for election in a primary)
Examining the Compensation of the Mayor (full-time)
Examining Council salary and compensation
Evaluating whether to adopt an alternative voting system, such as ranked-choice or approval voting, or retain the existing first-past-the-post system for districts and mayoral elections
Establishing rules for empaneling Redistricting Commissions
Consider family, medical, and military leave for Councilmembers

The application period for the Charter Review Committee closed on Oct. 24, 2024.

The City Council appointed Charter Review Committee Members on Dec. 3, 2024.

The Charter Review Committee held its first meeting on February 6.

The Committee reviewed the Charter at its February 27, March 6 and April 3 meetings. The review resulted in 23 potential Charter amendments.

The Committee dropped or prioritized the potential Charter amendments at its May 1 meeting:

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