CC 12-07-2021 Study Session Item No. 2 Commissions and Committees_Staff PresentationDecember 7, 2021
Commissions and Committees
CC 12-07-2021 Study Session Item No. 2
1.Background
2.Current Commissions
3.Current Committees
4.Commissions/Committees in
Other Cities
A.Commissions
B. Committees
5.Commission Membership
Requirements
7.Senior Services
8.Housing
9.Fine Arts Name Change
10.Committee Charters
11.Scope of the ERC
12.Impact of Adding Commissions
13.Interim City Manager
Observations
14.Recommendation
Presentation Outline
•FY 2019-20 City Work Program
•Consider new commissions and committees to
address Cupertino’s needs.
•Traffic and Transportation
•Economic Development
•Senior Services
•FY 2020-21 City Work Program
•Review Scope of the ERC
1. Background
1. Background cont.
•FY 2021-22 City Work Program
•Fine Arts Name Change
•Develop Charters for:
•Economic Development Committee
•Fiscal Strategic Development Committee
2. Current Commissions
Commission Summary Description
Bicycle Pedestrian Advises Council on transportation matters within Cupertino including bicycle and pedestrian traffic, parking,
education, and recreation.
Fine Arts Advises Council and encourages the realization, preservation, and advancement of fine arts for the benefit o
the citizens of Cupertino.
Housing Advises Council on housing policies and strategies, affordable housing projects, and sources of funding for
affordable housing.
Library Advises Council regarding library service in the community and serves as liaison between the City and the
Santa Clara County Library JPA.
Parks & Recreation Advises Council on parks and recreation related activities, including park site acquisition and development,
community activities, and recreation policies.
Planning Advises Council on land use matters such as specific and general plans, zonings and subdivisions. Reviews
other matters as specified by City ordinances or Title VII of the Government Code of California.
-Design Review
Committee A subcommittee of the Planning Commission that reviews aspects of site and architectural design.
Public Safety Advises Council on areas relating to public safety, traffic, police, fire and other areas where public safety may
be of concern.
Sustainability Advises Council on major policy areas related to the environmental goals in Cupertino’s Climate Action Plan
and General Plan’s Environmental Resources/Sustainability Element.
Teen Advises Council and staff on issues and projects important to youth in the Cupertino community.
Technology, Information, &
Communications (TICC)
Advises Council on all matters relating to telecommunications in Cupertino and provides support for
community access television.
3. Current Committees
Committee Summary Description
Audit Committee
Reviews external and internal audit reports, monthly treasurer’s
report, and city investment policies. Recommends appointment of
external and internal auditors and recommends a budget format.
Disaster Council Supports the City’s emergency management and preparedness
responsibilities.
Economic
Development
Committee
Enhances and promotes a strong local economy to provide
municipal services that businesses and residents desire and need to
maintain the community's quality of life.
Environmental
Review Committee
Evaluates the initial study of a proposed project to determine
whether the project may or may not have a significant effect on the
environment.
Fiscal Strategic
Plan Committee
Confers, strategizes, and plans for current as well as future activities
that have a fiscal impact on the City.
Legislative Review
Committee
Makes recommendations on legislative advocacy issues and
authorizes position letters for legislation that aligns with the City's
Council-approved Legislative Platform.
4. Commissions and Committees in Other Cities
Commissions and Committees in Other Cities
City # of Commissions
and Committees Population FTE*
Mountain View 19 82,272 253
Cupertino 17 66,762 198
Milpitas 17 84,196 230
Los Altos Hills 16 8,300 26
Los Altos 15 31,190 95
Palo Alto 14 67,019 711
Santa Clara 14 128,717 530
Gilroy 11 58,756 138
Campbell 11 42,288 104
Sunnyvale 11 156,503 735
Los Gatos 9 31,439 90
Saratoga 9 31,030 57
Morgan Hill 4 45,742 123
Monte Sereno 3 3,492 7
* Excluding Fire and Police Departments
4A. Commissions in Other Cities
Commissions in Other Cities
City # of commissions Population FTE*
Los Altos Hills 15 8,300 26
Milpitas 12 84,196 230
Cupertino 11 66,762 198
Gilroy 11 58,756 138
Los Altos 11 31,190 95
Mountain View 10 82,272 253
Palo Alto 9 67,019 711
Santa Clara 9 128,717 530
Sunnyvale 9 156,503 735
Los Gatos 8 31,439 90
Saratoga 7 31,030 57
Campbell 6 42,288 104
Monte Sereno 3 3,492 7
Morgan Hill 3 45,742 123
* Excluding Fire and Police Departments
4B. Committees in Other Cities
Committees in Other Cities
City # of Committees Population FTE*
Mountain View 9 82,272 253
Cupertino 6 66,762 198
Milpitas 5 84,196 230
Palo Alto 5 67,019 711
Santa Clara 5 128,717 530
Campbell 5 42,288 104
Los Altos 4 31,190 95
Sunnyvale 2 156,503 735
Saratoga 2 31,030 57
Los Gatos 1 31,439 90
Los Altos Hills 1 8,300 26
Morgan Hill 1 45,742 123
Gilroy 0 58,756 138
Monte Sereno 0 3,492 7
* Excluding Fire and Police Departments
•Generally required to be a resident (some
exceptions for business representative or subject
matter expert)
•Planning Commission and TICC require "qualified
elector"
•Qualified Elector=18 years old, resident, and
US Citizen
•Should this be changed to a residency requirement
for consistency?
5. Commission Membership Requirements
•Complete Streets Commissions
•Los Altos
•Los Gatos
•June 2, 2020 City Council Meeting
•Expanding Bike Ped Commission to Complete
Streets Considered and failed
•Bike Ped currently considers multiple modes of
transportation to consider options holistically, as if
complete streets
6. Traffic and Transportation
•6 of 13 SCC cities have a Senior Commission
•Council dissolved Cupertino Senior Commission in
2009 due to overlapping functions with Senior
Advisory Council (SAC)
•November 2018 Council evaluated reinstating Senior
Commission
•Decided to continue partnership with SAC
7. Senior Services
•Councilmembers expressed desire to expand scope to
include social services
•County provides social services component
•Housing Commission reviews and recommends
Human Services Grant Funding ($550k annually)
•Similar to Sunnyvale's Housing and Human
Services Commission, the only one found in the
survey
•Expanding beyond existing functions would require
significant resources and staff time
8. Housing
•FY 2021-22 City Work Program Item
•Codified and originally named in 1987
•Commissioners want to change name in order to:
•broaden the reach of potential interests
•explore other arts
•better align with Commission goals
•Name change to be completed this FY
9. Fine Arts Name Change
•FY 2021-22 City Work Program Item
•Fiscal Strategic Plan Committee
•5 of 13 SCC cities have financial
committees
•Economic Development Committee
•2 of 13 SCC cities have similar committees
•2 of 13 SCC cities have similar commissions
•For completion this FY
10. Committee Charters
•No other city surveyed has an environmental review
commission/committee
•Presented to ERC on April 15, 2021 and resulted in the
following suggestions from the ERC:
•Roll the environmental review duties into the
Planning Commission (dissolving the ERC or
changing the scope)
•Expand scope to act in an advocacy capacity
and provide education and engagement
•Changing the composition of the ERC to address
the potential for perceived conflicts issues
11. Scope of the ERC
•Adding/Expanding Commissions will increase staff time spent
on administrative and liaison duties
•Additionally, Clerk’s Office spends over 100 hours on
orientations, trainings, agendas, and noticing
12. Impact of Adding Commissions
Commission Hours Spent Annually
Bicycle Pedestrian 240
Fine Arts 200
Housing 220
Library 350
Parks and Recreation 750
Planning 1100
‐Design Review 40
Public Safety 200
Sustainability 220
Teen 300
TICC 120
TOTAL 3,740
Committees Hours Spent
Annually
Audit 230
Disaster Council 30
Economic Development 60
Environmental Review 80
Fiscal Strategic Planning 15
Legislative Review 400
TOTAL 812
•Strong practice of Commissions proposing possible City
Work Program ideas for Council consideration
•Independent commission work items can compete with
Council priorities and approach direction to staff
•Phase out staff as members of committees as
appropriate (such as ERC)
•Additional commissions and committees should be
considered on an as-needed basis through the City's
Work Program given workload and budget impacts, fully
utilizing existing bodies to avoid redundant coverage
13. Interim City Manager Observations
•It is recommended that the City Council review this
report and refer the highest priority committee and
commission changes, if any, to the next City Work
Program.
14. Recommendation
Questions?