Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, March 02, 2021
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER AN UPDATE ON THE PROCESS TO FILL A CITY COUNCIL VACANCY AND ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VACANCY AD HOC COMMITTEE (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
In the November 3, 2020, City of Carson Municipal Election, then Councilwoman Lula Davis-Holmes was elected Mayor thereby vacating her City Council seat term ending in November 2022.
At the City Council meeting on January 21, 2021, the City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 21-007 to formally acknowledge the vacancy of the City Council seat as of January 12, 2021, and proclaimed the need to fill the vacancy by City Council appointment no later than March 15, 2021.
At the February 2, 2021, City Council Meeting, the City Council approved the formation of the City Council Vacancy Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes and Mayor Pro-Tempore Jim Dear, to identify candidates to fill the vacant City Council seat for the remainder of the term. The Ad Hoc Committee set forth a citywide application process for interested Carson residents to apply by February 24, 2021.
This item is to provide an update on the citywide application process, consider any recommendations from the Ad Hoc Committee to fill the seat should they have any at this time, and to review next steps and timelines.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
RECEIVE update and DISCUSS any recommendations of the City Council Vacancy Ad Hoc Committee.
APPOINT a candidate to fill the vacant City Council seat term ending in November 2022, if the Ad Hoc Committee had offered recommendations.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
The timeframe for the City Council to take an action by March 15, 2021 to appoint a successor to the vacant seat cannot be changed. The City Council may declare a special election, if desired, after this date.
IV. BACKGROUND
In the November 3, 2020 Municipal Election, then Councilmember Lula Davis-Holmes was elected to the office of Mayor, thereby vacating her City Council seat term ending November, 2022 as of the date of the certification of the election results by the Carson City Council on January 12, 2021. City Charter section 306(b) sets forth the procedures for filling vacancies in elected offices. Under section 306(b) and 306(d), City Council has three options to consider:
• Appoint a Successor for the remainder of the term;
• Call a Special Election to elect a successor for the remainder of the term; or
• Appoint an interim to fill the vacancy until the date of the Special Election.
At its City Council meeting held on February 2, 2021, the City Council decided to pursue appointing a successor for the remainder of the term ending in November 2022. The deadline for submitting an application was February 24, 2021. A total of 44 applications were received within the specified timeframe. The Candidate List is attached.
The City Council has until March 15, 2021 to make an appointment. The appointment must be made in public. Filling a vacancy is not permitted in closed session. If the City Council is unable to make an appointment by March 15, 2021, an election would need to be called for the purpose of electing a successor for the remainder of the term.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
There are no significant direct costs associated with this item. However, should the City Council be unable to agree on an appointment to fill the vacancy, there will be costs associated with conducting a special election in the City of Carson and staff would need to return to the City Council with a summary of those anticipated costs should the need arise for conducting a special election.
VI. EXHIBITS
Candidate List (pgs. 3-5)
Prepared by: Sharon Landers, City Manager and Michael George, Assistant to the City Manager