The City of Santa Clara was incorporated in 1852, adopted the City Charter in 1951 and operates as a Council/Manager form of government. The City Council, as the legislative body, represents the citizens of Santa Clara and is empowered by the City's Charter to formulate City-wide policy. All powers of the City are vested in the Council except those prohibited by the Constitution of the State of California and the provisions of the City Charter. Elected from the City at-large, the Mayor serves a four-year term. City Councilmembers are elected at-large for numbered seats and serve staggered four-year terms. The next municipal election will be in November 2008. The City Charter limits the Mayor and all Councilmembers to serving two consecutive terms.

Citizen participation at Council meetings is encouraged. Meetings are generally held at least two times per month on Tuesdays at 7:00 P.M. at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 1500 Warburton Avenue. Contact the City Clerk's Office for a schedule of meetings. In order to provide maximum citizen access, current agendas and minutes are published here. Complete agenda packets with back-up reports for City Council meetings are available at either City library beginning Saturday before the Tuesday meetings, or at the City Clerk's office on weekdays.

If you wish to have an item placed on the City Council Agenda, you may use the Written Petition to Council Form (PDF). To start the process, you may also email or call the City Clerk at (408) 615-2220, or write a letter to the City Clerk at 1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050. Please provide full information: your name, address, and a contact telephone number. Petitions will be processed by the City Clerk's office and attempt to be scheduled within two weeks from the date received (providing there is a Council meeting within that time frame).

When addressing the City Council under Written Petitions, or during the Public Presentations portion of the Agenda, if you wish to hand out materials to the Council, please bring 14 copies of those materials and provide them to the City Clerk in advance of speaking on the item, so
that the materials may be distributed. If you wish to show audiovisual materials as part of your comments, you must present the audiovisual materials to the City Clerk's Office no later than 10 a.m. on the day of the meeting so that the materials may be checked to ensure technical compatibility with the display system in Council Chambers. For more information, see the policy on the Public Submittal of Written and Audiovisual Materials for City Council Meetings (PDF).

Council meetings are broadcast live on Municipal Cable Channel 15. Council meetings are rebroadcast on Channel 15 on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. and Thursday afternoons at 1:00 p.m. Don't have cable TV? Missed a meeting? DVDs of the meetings are placed at both City libraries for check-out by patrons and are available for purchase at the City Clerk's Office by calling 408-615-2220.

Agenda highlights and other municipal announcements appear weekly on Municipal Cable Channel 15. Agenda information on cable is generally updated on Friday afternoons for the following Tuesday's Council meeting. Tune in to Channel 15 at your convenience.

Printed copies are also posted at the City Clerk's Office at City Hall, the Central and Mission Libraries, the Community Recreation Center, and the Senior Center, by Saturday before the Tuesday meeting. A summary of Council actions is available on the Thursday following the Council meeting at the City Clerk's Office and online. Complete agenda packets are available for review at the City Clerk's Office and both libraries. Addresses are in the Phone Directory located in the back of your Annual Report/City Calendar.

Agenda copies can be faxed or mailed to your home or business on the day that they are posted. Provide your fax number or a supply of stamped, self-addressed envelopes to the City Clerk's Office (you will be notified when your supply runs low). You are encouraged to review upcoming agenda information and attend your City Council meetings. A Phonic Ear "Easy Listener" system has been installed in the Council Chambers to assist people with hearing impairments.

You never know who might show up at a City Council meeting...Galron, Council Leader of the Klingon Empire, stopped by one night. You're invited to stop by too! Take an interest and be informed about your City government - it's here to serve you!

City Committees & Agency Memberships
Council Adopted Goals
History for City Council (PDF)
Procedures for Addressing Council (PDF)
Ethics & Values
Santa Clara is an All-America City