Sunnyvale council certifies election results, honors outgoing members and swears in two new council members

Sunnyvale City Council on Jan. 7, 2025, unanimously adopted a resolution certifying the results of the Nov. 5, 2024 consolidated general municipal election, honored outgoing council members Russ Melton and Omar Dean and swore in Charles E. Chang (District 4) and Eileen Lay (District 6). The council also selected Linda Sell as vice mayor for 2025 and ratified or assigned several intergovernmental liaison positions.

City Clerk David Carnahan presented the canvass, telling council the staff report "details the number of votes cast and the percentage of the votes received by each candidate" and cites Elections Code Section 10263 and City Charter Section 601. Vice Mayor Myrlie Srinivasan moved to "adopt staff recommendation," Council Member Omar Dean seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.

The certification concluded the formal canvass. Mayor Larry Klein and visiting elected officials also used the meeting to recognize outgoing Council Members Russ Melton (two terms; eight years on council) and Omar Dean (four years). Melton received a plaque and spoke about his time on the planning commission and council, thanking city staff and his family. Dean was recognized for his work on VTA-related issues and for advancing guaranteed basic income planning. Several regional representatives and community members, including Supervisor Betty Young, representatives from Sen. Ayesha Wahab's office and Assemblymembers Alex Lee and Patrick Aarons, offered remarks and certificates.

Council then administered oaths of office to the two incoming members. Eileen Lay walked through the oath and introduced herself as the new District 6 council member; during her remarks she said she is "the first Vietnamese American person to be a city council member for this city" and discussed priorities including schools, housing and equity. Charles E. Chang likewise took the oath and thanked supporters and family, saying he will "improve the lives of the people we represent."

After the swearing-in, Vice Mayor Srinivasan nominated Council Member Linda Sell as vice mayor; Sell accepted. Because no other council member was nominated for the role, the mayor declared her the vice mayor per council policy. Council members then proceeded through a series of intergovernmental and board appointments. Among the assignments announced or ratified were reappointments and new appointments including: Council Member Richard Mellinger to the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency and the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority; Mayor Larry Klein to the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority board of directors; Council Member Linda Sell to the VTA board of directors; and Council Member Alyssa Cisneros to the Valley Water Commission (alternate: Vice Mayor Srinivasan). Several appointments were moved, seconded and carried unanimously in separate motions.

During public comment, Katherine B. thanked the council for funding a neighborhood Climate Action grant and presented council members an "emergency go bag" and informational materials produced with that funding. Resident Robert Chen urged the city to accelerate fiber construction and to address weak cell signals in parts of Sunnyvale; council member Richard Mellinger noted a study issue on cell coverage mapping scheduled for a future workshop (February). City Manager Tim Kirby closed remarks with personnel updates, saying a new finance director had been appointed and noting an upcoming retirement in public safety leadership.

The council completed organizational items including seating assignments for 2025 (the mayor remained in the center seat and council members selected seats in order of seniority) and received brief intergovernmental reports. Mayor Klein closed the meeting at 9:48 p.m.

Votes at a glance • Certification of Nov. 5, 2024 election canvass (resolution referencing Elections Code Section 10263 and City Charter Section 601): Motion by Vice Mayor Myrlie Srinivasan; second by Council Member Omar Dean. Vote: 7-0 — approved. • Consent calendar: Motion by Council Member Richard Mellinger; second by Vice Mayor Srinivasan. Vote: 7-0 — approved. • Multiple intergovernmental appointments (selected items): motions carried 7-0 (see actions array for details).

What changed The council’s composition changed with the swearing-in of Charles E. Chang (District 4) and Eileen Lay (District 6). Council leadership for 2025 was set with Linda Sell serving as vice mayor; several board and agency liaison roles were reassigned or confirmed in the meeting, positioning Sunnyvale’s representatives for regional policy work in water, transportation and energy.