Santa Clara scales back charter proposal, sends public works measure to voters

SANTA CLARA WON’T GET the sweeping charter overhaul city officials spent more than a year developing. Instead, city voters will weigh in on a narrower change to how the city handles public works projects.

The Santa Clara City Council last month declined to place a comprehensive charter amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot. Instead, councilmembers at their July 14 meeting unanimously approved a slimmed down measure to go before voters that would change how the city handles public works projects and contracts. The measure would significantly raise the threshold to $250,000 before council approval is required.