Governance and Ethics Committee Meeting - March 31, 2026

The City of Santa Clara Governance and Ethics Committee convened on March 31, 2026, primarily to discuss the city's annual priority setting process and related governance policies. The meeting included extensive public commentary on the challenges of community engagement, particularly regarding the city's 030 process for placing items on council agendas, which some attendees criticized as restrictive and not community-centric. Committee members and staff discussed improving the priority setting process by incorporating scientific and general surveys to better capture diverse community input, scheduling priority sessions earlier in the year to align with budget planning, and ensuring transparency in how priorities are ranked and funded. There was also significant discussion about the committee's work plan, including the need for more frequent meetings, review of existing council policies (such as 030 and 042), and addressing concerns about ethics, meeting management, and public participation. The committee agreed to schedule a special meeting to further address delayed performance reviews and work plan items. No specific contract awards, RFPs, or vendor selections were discussed, but the conversation highlighted potential impacts on future procurement and budget allocations tied to council priorities.