Santa Clara County Grand Jury
• 2009-2010
2009-2010 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury Report Sunnyvale City Council Actions Lack Transparency
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 4 findings
F1
The City of Sunnyvale lacks a written process that is open and transparent for appointing an interim councilmember.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Council should establish a clear written process to appoint future interim Council replacements.
F2
Council’s Dec. 16, 2008, agenda item #9, RTC 08-377, failed to reasonably inform interested members of the public that a predetermined interim councilmember would be appointed at this meeting. 6
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Council needs to properly notice the public, by ensuring that the published agenda clearly describes the items to be considered.
F3
The city’s fiscal impact report was incomplete, in that, it did not provide the Council or the public with the complete cost of the interim appointment to the Council.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Council should direct city staff to provide comprehensive information in their report, so the public has complete information about the cost of an interim appointment.
F4
The Council gave a benefit option to a councilmember that is not available to other city employees.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Council must follow protocols to ensure that it provides no greater benefits to councilmembers than it provides to employees. This report was PASSED and ADOPTED with a concurrence of at least 12 grand jurors on this 27th day of May, 2010. Angie M. Cardoza Foreperson Judy B. Shaw Foreperson pro tem 8
Conclusions 5
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CL1 Page 6The City of Sunnyvale lacks a written process that is open and transparent for appointing an interim councilmember.
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CL2 Page 7The city’s fiscal impact report was incomplete, in that, it did not provide the Council or the public with the complete cost of the interim appointment to the Council.
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CL3 Page 7The Council gave a benefit option to a councilmember that is not available to other city employees.
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CL4 Page 6Council’s Dec. 16, 2008, agenda item #9, RTC 08-377, failed to reasonably inform interested members of the public that a predetermined interim councilmember would be appointed at this meeting. 6
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CL5 Page 6A councilmember is a key city leader, and matters regarding an appointment of this importance merit special care. The Council had a responsibility to the citizens to conduct the business of the city openly and above board, avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. The Council, in its desire to help a deployed military officer keep his benefits package, elected to award a benefit package to a councilmember that was greater than that available to city employees. Findings and Recommendations Finding 1 The City of Sunnyvale lacks a written process that is open and transparent for appointing an interim councilmember. Recommendation 1 The Council should establish a clear written process to appoint future interim Council replacements. Finding 2 Council’s Dec. 16, 2008, agenda item #9, RTC 08-377, failed to reasonably inform interested members of the public that a predetermined interim councilmember would be appointed at this meeting. 6 Recommendation 2 The Council needs to properly notice the public, by ensuring that the published agenda clearly describes the items to be considered. Finding 3 The city’s fiscal impact report was incomplete, in that, it did not provide the Council or the public with the complete cost of the interim appointment to the Council. Recommendation 3 The Council should direct city staff to provide comprehensive information in their report, so the public has complete information about the cost of an interim appointment. Finding 4 The Council gave a benefit option to a councilmember that is not available to other city employees. Recommendation 4 The Council must follow protocols to ensure that it provides no greater benefits to councilmembers than it provides to employees. 7 This report was PASSED and ADOPTED with a concurrence of at least 12 grand jurors on this 27th day of May, 2010. Angie M. Cardoza Foreperson Judy B. Shaw Foreperson pro tem 8