Policy Watch: Your weekly tip sheet for what’s going on in your community

County of Santa Clara

Overview of the Charter Revocation Process.

After the discussion on October 7, 2015 regarding the failure of Spark Charter School to ensure all staff have the clearance and credentials required by state law and the city’s charter, and the closure of the school until these violations were corrected, the Board requested an information item on the charter revocation process.

Where:  Santa Clara County Board of Education

When:  Oct. 21, 2015, 5:00 pm

Link to item: http://sccoe.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=1&event_id=58&meta_id=5968

Link to agenda: http://sccoe.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=1&event_id=58

County to join Chamber of Commerce

Membership with the San Jose Silicon Valley (SJSV) Chamber of Commerce will enable the County of Santa Clara, as one of the region’s largest employers, to more proactively meet with and engage the local business community and thereby provide more opportunities to develop partnerships in support of the County’s own Mission and Core Values.  There are sufficient funds budgeted in the Office of the County Executive’s Approved 2016 Budget to cover the annual membership amount of $15,000.

Where: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

When: Oct. 20, 2015, 9 am

Link to item: http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/_pdfs/council/2015/100615/StudySession.pdf http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=6065&MediaPosition=&ID=78148&CssClass= http://sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/46412 http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=6754

Link to agenda: http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=6065

 

City of San Jose

Amendments to City Elections Code; includes deleting voluntary campaign expenditure limits

As directed by Council, amendments have been made to the provisions in Title 12 of the San Jose Municipal Code. The Council is taking action on the items below:

Disclosure of Electioneering Communication: Based on a large number of violations in the 2014 election, the Ethics Commission reviewed what is required to be included in the disclaimer on electioneering communications in printed. The current provision requires printed communication include “paid for” by a candidate or candidate controlled committee followed by the name, street address and city of the candidate or candidate controlled committee. The FPPC requires a similar disclaimer on mailings, but not on other communications (billboards, yard signs etc.).

Deadlines to close out campaign committees: Currently, candidates must retire all campaign-related debts, including loans, within six months after the date of the election, and may only deposit personal funds into his or her campaign bank account 45 days from the day of the election to settle debts. The difference in dates makes it difficult for candidates and candidate committees to reconcile debts.

Campaign contribution limits—Special Elections: The Municipal Code specifies separate campaign contributions limits for the primary and runoff election periods of regular elections, but not for special elections.

Minimum penalty: The Municipal Code provides the minimum fine for the non-filing of late contribution reports must be set at $1,000. This restricts the Ethics Commission’s ability to consider all relevant circumstances and mitigating factors in assessing fines.

Where:    San Jose City Council

When:  Oct. 20, 2015, 1:30 pm

Link to item: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=1467&meta_id=536240

Updated Memo: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=1469&meta_id=538296
Link to agenda: http://sanjose.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?event_id=567df9ca-725b-43d7-9357-47a5b758b333

 

Liccardo, Rocha, Carrasco, Kalra recommend review of options for pay equity; Herrera recommends ordinance modeled on SB 385.

In light of the movement the federal and state government have made in closing the wage gap in the public sector, and the recent announcement by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors that it intends to enact a pay equity ordinance, the Mayor and members of the San Jose City Council are taking action.

Mayor Liccardo and Councilmembers Rocha, Carrasco, and Kalra recommend that the City Manager and City Attorney bring forward options for assessing and promoting gender and ethnicity pay equity in the City’s employment decisions, including decisions about recruitment, hiring, and pay.

They suggest the following ideas be evaluated in this assessment:

  • A gender pays equity ordinance with applicability to City employees and/or City Contractors.
  • Assessment of current hiring and promotion practices with the goal of achieving gender and ethnicity pay equity.
  • Ways to promote gender-equitable representation in recruitment of qualified candidates in executive and senior level positions.

Vice Mayor Herrera recommends:

  • Directing staff to research and prepare a Gender Pay Equity ordinance with applicability to city contracts and employees that is modeled after the expanded definition of equal pay as stated in SB 385 by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson.
  • Adding to one of the Key Legislative items—Support for AB 1017 (Campos) Gender Pay Equity

Where:    San Jose Rules Committee

When:  Oct. 21, 2015, 2:00 pm

Link to item: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?meta_id=538818

http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?meta_id=538814

http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?meta_id=538816

Link to agenda: http://sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/47050

 

Next steps on Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program at Rules; Neighborhoods Commission declines to coordinate outreach.

At the October 7, 2015 Rules Committee meeting, direction was given to the Neighborhoods Commission to determine if they would be able to do outreach on the Crime Free Multi Housing Program. On October 14, the Neighborhoods Commission discussed this direction. A majority of the Commission felt it was beyond the expertise of the Commission members, and that the effort could impede the Commission as they try to address the numerous items in their Work Plan. They voted to decline the invitation to conduct outreach on this issue.

Recommended action:

  • Accept the response from the Neighborhoods Commission; and
  • Direct staff to coordinate community stakeholder outreach and return to the Rules and Open Government Committee in March 2016 with analysis from the Police and Housing Departments as well as legal analysis from the City Attorney.

Where:    San Jose Rules Committee

When:  Oct. 21, 2015, 2:00 pm

Link to item: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?meta_id=539004

Link to agenda: http://sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/47050

 

City of Cupertino

Study Session on potential Ballot Measures regarding Civic Center Master Plan and Vallco Shopping District Special Area

Councilmembers wish to discuss potential ballot measures that could be used to seek voter input on the Civic Center Master Plan and Vallco Shopping District Special Area.

If the Council decides to implement a ballot initiative, they must place in on the ballot by Jan. 15, 2016 for the April 2016 ballot; March 11, 2016 for the June 2016 ballot; or August 12, 2016 for the Nov. 2016 ballot.

Where:    Cupertino City Council

When:  Oct. 20, 2015, 6:45 pm

Link to item: http://cupertino.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=d9bb5044-df07-40be-892e-57417cb9c9a2.docx

http://cupertino.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=77e8035b-7c14-4925-8162-ab4203b2f9bb.docx

http://cupertino.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=bae37246-9202-48e6-8f7f-f2d01ba839cf.docx

Link to agenda: https://cupertino.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=436401&GUID=93737BB0-545C-4615-AC91-5A278E27E1ED

 

City of Mountain View

Special study session on rent relief

The purpose of this Study Session and community meeting is to hear from a panel of experts representing both landlords and tenants, take community input, discuss a preliminary list of possible rent relief options, and provide direction to staff.

Where: Mountain View City Council

When: Oct. 21, 2015, 6 pm, Social Hall of the Senior Center, 266 Escuela Avenue, Mountain View

Link to item: http://mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=17827http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/_pdfs/council/2015/100615/StudySession.pdf  http://sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/46412 http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=6754

Link to agenda: http://mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=17827

 

Developer request for $8 million (M) in City funds for 60-unit affordable housing development

The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Review Committee recommends the Council add $8M in affordable housing funds to the NOFA and reserve a total of $8M for a 60-unit affordable studio apartment development. If the City approves the reservation of funding, the proposal will go through the City’s development and design review process, which is expected to take approx. 9 months. During this time, there will be opportunities for public input at community meetings, Zoning Administrator hearings, Development Review Committee meetings, and other public hearings. The Palo Alto Housing’s NOFA application includes a preliminary design for the site that will become more defined as the project moves through the entitlement process.

Where:    Mountain View City Council

When:  Oct. 20, 2015, 6:30 pm

Link to item: http://mountainview.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=98120368-76f8-4fbb-8ff1-3e53d3031aab.pdf

http://mountainview.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=99fc3bf2-adab-44ef-a1fb-c19f5a1ac21d.pdf

http://mountainview.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=94c27c42-ab62-470b-bc0b-a97540057eb6.pdf

http://mountainview.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=22ab33d1-8ef2-404b-9a90-550666352c15.pdf

http://mountainview.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=880d30fa-a832-441f-b9f9-f974229e77ca.pdf

http://mountainview.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=9f251741-d1d2-465a-ae24-d950cb2cb316.pdf

Link to agenda: https://mountainview.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=381797&GUID=ADCF4BDC-2EF7-43C3-9824-F08688C4B681

 

Santa Clara Water District

Staff report in response to Board request related to recent media coverage

Insinuations and allegations in recent news articles may have raised concerns regarding the efficacy of the District’s management of public money. Staff will address the allegations and respond to any inquiries the Board may have regarding this issue.

Where:    Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors

When:  Oct. 27, 2015

Link to item: https://scvwd.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2499206&GUID=8AC148DD-4E68-4863-B832-FCAEE995F361

Link to agenda: https://scvwd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=420371&GUID=DC349451-0E99-4D1A-9010-9319B3179932

 

West Valley Community College District

Deciding on process to appoint new Trustee to vacant Board seat

Discussion and possible action concerning the process to use in selecting a final candidate for appointment to the vacancy in Trustee Area 4

Where:    West Valley Mission Community College District Board of Trustees

When:  Oct. 20, 2015

Link to item: N/A

Link to agenda: http://www.wvmccd.cc.ca.us/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=8180

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