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Board narrows backlog of referrals, directs ad hoc committee and schedules strategic-plan study session
Summary
After a multi-hour debate, supervisors approved a motion to remove a set of older referrals from active tracking, asked administration to work with the board policy ad hoc committee on a referral/priority-setting process, extended the ad hoc committee and scheduled a strategic-plan study session for late summer/early fall.
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on April 22 moved to reorganize its long list of previously filed referrals, asked administration to work with the board policy ad hoc committee to formalize how new referrals are introduced and prioritized, and scheduled a study session to review the countywide strategic-planning process in the late summer or early fall.
The board has accumulated hundreds of standing referrals over many years. County staff analyzed the list and recommended categorizing referrals into three groups: (1) items to continue as active priorities, (2) an intermediate set to be placed in a dormant/"watch" category for future reconsideration, and (3) items recommended for removal. Supervisors debated whether exceptions should be allowed for specific items that had recent public advocacy.
What the board decided: supervisors voted to accept staff's general recommendation, place a subset of referrals in a controlled dormant category rather than the active queue, and remove a narrower set from active tracking. The board directed administration to work with the board policy ad hoc committee to develop a process that distinguishes new referrals from ongoing work and to return with recommendations. The board extended the life of the ad hoc committee through September 2025 to complete that work. The actions were approved by unanimous vote.
Strategic plan process and study session: staff presented a draft framework for a countywide strategic plan (mission, core values, policy priorities and draft goals/objectives) and described a proposed process that includes hiring a consultant, conducting a SWOT analysis, and holding employee and community engagement this summer. Board members sought more time to consider the format and requested a study session in late summer/early fall so the full board can provide input to the consultant before community engagement is finalized. The board asked staff to return with the community-engagement timeline and to coordinate with the ad hoc committee.
Item-specific note (recusal): Supervisor Ellenberg recused herself from discussion and vote on one referral (item 181 in the package) because of a potential conflict of interest; the board proceeded to take action on that single referral with four supervisors present and approved its removal from active tracking 4-0.
Why it matters: the actions aim to reduce the cumulative backlog of requests, create a transparent process for introducing and prioritizing new items, and set a timeline for a countywide strategic plan that will guide long-term priorities. Supervisors said they wanted to balance urgency on high-impact items with realistic departmental capacity.
Ending: administration will return with a recommended priority-setting process, a timetable for the study session and a report on departmental capacity and suggested workload limits if the board wants them; the ad hoc committee will help design the referral process and report back in the coming months.
