VOTE411 Voter Guide

SUNNYVALE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSITIONSA city or town charter is a foundational legal document—essentially a local constitution—that establishes a municipality's government structure, powers, and duties. It defines the form of government (e.g., mayor-council or council-manager), authorized powers, and operating procedures. Charters are adopted or amended by a majority vote of town voters. It is customary for a city or town council to periodically review its charter and propose updates for the consider of voters. Sunnyvale voters last amended its charter in 2019.Typically, some proposed amendments in a charter election are routine and technical in nature – modernize language, make it consistent with changing state law, or update it to reflect evolving functions.Other amendments may be more substantive. For example, Sunnyvale is asking voters to consider creation of a Parks and Recreation Board and the requirement for a Library Board, which currently exists. The proposed amendments also include term limits for the Mayor and Town Council members and would change the Mayor's term from two years to three years.The Sunnyvale Town Council approved a slate of propositions for the consideration of voters in the May 2 General Election. Propositions A through S are listed below.BALLOT LANGUAGEVote “For” or “Against” each proposition separately.Proposition A: Shall Charter Section 3.02 (Number, Selection, Terms of Office and Elections) be amended to adjust the Mayor’s current two (2) year term to a three (3) year term?Proposition B: Shall Charter Section 3.02 (Number, Selection, Terms of Office and Elections) be amended to limit the Mayor and Council Members to three (3) consecutive terms in office, with a three-year sit-out period following the conclusion of three (3) consecutive terms, beginning in 2026 for all positions, except the Mayor and Council Members Places 5 and 6, for whom term limits shall begin in 2027 after their current terms end?Proposition C: Shall Charter Section 3.07 (Code of Ethics) be amended to clarify that the Town’s code of ethics shall apply to the conduct of elected and appointed members of Town Boards and Commissions, Town officials, and employees?Proposition D: Shall Charter Section 3.07 (Code of Ethics) be amended to require the Mayor, Council Members, and appointees of any Town Board or Commission to complete at least 8 hours of governance and/or ethics training for each term served by the individual?Proposition E: Shall Charter Section 3.07 (Code of Ethics) be amended to require Town Council to adopt ordinances imposing penalties for willful or grossly negligent violations of the code of ethics by elected and appointed Town officials and Town employees?Proposition F: Shall Charter Section 3.08 (Prohibitions) be amended to increase the sit-out period from one year to three years for a Mayor or a Council Member before holding a compensated appointed position or employment with the Town?Proposition G: Shall Charter Section 3.09 (Meetings and Procedures) be amended to allow the Mayor or any single Council Member to place an item on the Town Council meeting agenda?Proposition H: Shall Charter Section 3.14 (Council Investigations) be amended so that Town Council has the ability to investigate, at their discretion, conduct of appointed boards, officers, or appointed board members as opposed to official conduct of any department, agency, appointed boards, office, officers, employees, or appointed board members of the Town?Proposition I: Shall Charter Section 3.14 (Council Investigations) be amended to require a two-thirds supermajority of Town Council to approve an investigation of the conduct of Town departments, agencies, appointed boards, officers, employees, or appointed board members?Proposition J: Shall Charter Section 5.01 (Town Manager) be amended to change the mandatory requirement that the Town Manager reside in the Town of Sunnyvale, to be a requirement at the discretion of Town Council?Proposition K: Shall Charter Section 5.01 (Town Manager) be amended to add enforcing the Town’s code of ethics to the duties of Town Manager?Proposition L: Shall Charter Section 5.02 (Town Secretary) be amended to allow the Town Council to appoint and remove the Town Secretary without requiring a recommendation from the Town Manager?Proposition M: Shall Charter Section 5.03 (Town Attorney) be amended to allow the Town Council to appoint and remove the Town Attorney without requiring a recommendation from the Town Manager?Proposition N: Shall Charter Section 6.04 (Council Action of Budget) be amended to change the deadline to adopt a budget from September 20 to September 30, to align with State law?Proposition O: Shall Charter Article VII (Boards and Commissions) be amended to require the Town Council to establish a Library Board?Proposition P: Shall Charter Article VII (Boards and Commissions) be amended to require the Town Council to establish a Parks and Recreation Board?Proposition Q: Shall Charter Section 10.01 (Nepotism) be amended for clarify that family members of the Mayor, a Council Member, or the Town Manager - up to the 3rd degree by blood or 2nd degree by marriage - may not serve on Town boards or commissions or employment positions, except for volunteer, internship, or seasonal positions, or if the individual has been employed by the Town for a continuous period, as defined by State Law, before the related official took office?Proposition R: Shall Article XI (Review and Amendment of Charter) be amended to require all Charter Review meetings be open to the public?Proposition S: Shall Article XI (Review and Amendment of Charter) be amended to require that notice of date, time, and place for all Charter Review meetings be posted at least 72 hours prior to such meetings?