Wednesday, August 19, 2026, 5:00 PM
Council Chamber
6650 Beach Boulevard
Buena Park, CA 90621
Mayor Connor Traut
Vice Mayor Lamiya Hoque, Ph.D.
Council Member Joyce Ahn
Council Member Carlos Franco
Council Member Susan Sonne
BUENA PARK CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
5:00 p.m.
Zoom Webinar: zoom.us/join
MEETING ID: 863 1808 3085 PASSCODE: 930932
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MEETING PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT OPTIONS: Each speaker has 3 minutes.
IN-PERSON
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1. GENERAL
1.A. CALL TO ORDER
1.B. ROLL CALL
1.C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
2.A. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
This is the portion of the meeting set aside to invite public comments regarding any item on the Special Meeting Agenda only. Public comments are limited to 3 minutes. Those wishing to speak in-person are asked to add their information at the digital public kiosk located at the entrance of the Council Chamber. Those wishing to speak via Zoom are asked to press the "Raise Hand" button or dial *9.
3. NEW BUSINESS
3.A. CONSIDER APPOINTING JOYCE AHN TO CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 1 AND ADOPTING A RESOLUTION CANCELING THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION FOR DISTRICT NO. 1 Presented by Adria M. Vicuna, Director of Government and Community Relations/City Clerk — Recommended Action: Consider appointing Joyce Ahn as the Council Member for District No. 1 for a term of four years in lieu of holding an election and adopt a resolution canceling the General Municipal Election for District No. 1, pursuant to CA Elections Code Section 10229.
4. ADJOURNMENT
This agenda contains a brief general description of each item to be considered. Supporting documents are available for review at City Hall or at www.buenapark.com. Supplemental materials distributed to the City Council less than 72 hours before the meeting are posted to the City’s website at www.buenapark.com and copies are available for public inspection beginning the next regular business day in the City Clerk’s Office. This governing body is prohibited from discussing or taking action on any item which is not included in this agenda; however, may ask clarifying questions, ask staff to follow-up, or provide other direction. The order of business as it appears on this agenda may be modified by the governing body.
I, Adria M. Vicuña, MMC, City of Buena Park, do hereby certify, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that a full and correct copy of this agenda was posted pursuant to Government Code Section 54950 et. seq., at Buena Park City Hall, 6650 Beach Blvd., and uploaded to the City of Buena Park website:
www.buenapark.com.
Adria M. Vicuña, MMC
Director of Government and Community Relations
City Clerk
Date Posted: August 17, 2026
August 19, 2026
New Business
Item No. 3A.
City Council Agenda Report
CONSIDER APPOINTING JOYCE AHN TO CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 1 AND ADOPTING A RESOLUTION CANCELING THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION FOR DISTRICT NO. 1
PREPARED BY PRESENTED BY
Adria M. Vicuna, Director of Government and
Community Relations/City Clerk
Adria M. Vicuna, Director of Government and
Community Relations/City Clerk
DEPARTMENT HEAD APPROVAL CITY MANAGER APPROVAL
Adria M. Vicuna, Director of Government and
Community Relations/City Clerk
Aaron France, City Manager
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Consider appointing Joyce Ahn as the Council Member for District No. 1 for a term of four years in lieu of holding an election and adopt a resolution canceling the General Municipal Election for District No. 1, pursuant to CA Elections Code Section 10229.
PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL ACTION
On June 23, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 15132 calling for a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the purpose of electing City Council Members for District Nos. 1, 2, and 5.
DISCUSSION
On June 23, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 15132 calling for a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the purpose of electing City Council Members for Buena Park City Council District Nos. 1, 2, and 5. A Notice of Election was published in English, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese, and Punjabi, posted at the City's posting locations and the City's website. The nomination period opened July 13 and closed on Thursday, August 6. As of the close of business on Thursday, August 6, 2026, the legal deadline to file nomination papers, only one person, incumbent Joyce Ahn, filed nomination papers to run for office of Buena Park City Council Member representing District No. 1.
CA Elections Code Section 10229 provides that if by the statutory nomination filing deadline there are not more candidates than offices to be elected in any district, and if there are also no citywide offices or measures on the ballot, then the Elections Official shall certify these facts to the City Council, publish a notice of the same, and after the fifth date of such publication, the City Council may take one of three courses of action:
1. The City Council may appoint to the office the person who has been nominated.
2. The City Council may appoint to the office any eligible voter if no one has been nominated (not applicable here).
3. The City Council may determine to hold the election if either no one or only one person has been nominated.
The Elections Official has provided the required certification to the City Council that there are not more candidates than offices to be elected in District No. 1 (Att. 2). Further, the Elections Official published in the Buena Park Independent on August 14, 2026, a 'Notice That There are not More Candidates than Offices to be Elected in Electoral District No. 1,' stating the facts set forth herein and notifying of the City Council's authority to either appoint the nominated candidate and cancel the election for City Council District No. 1, or not (Att. 3). The required five-day notice period was August 14 - August 18, 2026.
The City Council has the option to either appoint the sole nominee, Joyce Ahn, to the office and cancel the election for District No. 1, or hold the election. If the City Council makes the appointment and cancels the election for that district, the City would realize an estimated cost savings of approximately $20,000-$25,000 because there would be no election services needed from the Orange County Registrar of Voters, and translation and publications costs.
If appointed, Joyce Ahn would take office and serve exactly as if elected starting her new term in December 2026 representing District No. 1. The election for District No. 2 and 5 will occur as scheduled.
Should the City Council wish to hold the election instead of making the appointment, there would be limited opportunity for write-in candidates to qualify for the election. Only write-in candidates who have properly qualified may be considered in the vote tally. To qualify as a write-in candidate, a person generally must follow the same process as a traditional candidate: they must file with the City Clerk/Elections Official certain basic information and must submit the proper number of signatures nominating that person as a write-in candidate. Write-in candidates must file their completed form between September 7 - October 20, 2026. If no official write-in candidates qualify, Joyce Ahn would only need a single vote to be declared the winner in the election.
The City Clerk is recommending the City Council consider appointing Joyce Ahn to Buena Park District No. 1 for a term of four years in lieu of holding an election, and adopt a resolution canceling the General Municipal Election for District No. 1, pursuant to CA Elections Code Section 10229.
BUDGET IMPACT
If the City Council chooses to appoint Joyce Ahn as the City Council Member for District No. 1 and cancel the election, the City would realize an estimated cost savings of approximately $20,000 - $25,000.
Attachments
Resolution - Canceling Election for D1.pdf
2026 Nov Election - D1 - City Clerk Certification.pdf
2026 Nov Election - D1 - Public Notice.pdf
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BUENA PARK, CALIFORNIA, APPOINTING JOYCE AHN TO
REPRESENT BUENA PARK CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 1
FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS IN LIEU OF AN ELECTION,
AND CANCELING THE NOVEMBER 3, 2026, GENERAL
MUNICIPAL ELECTION FOR DISTRICT NO. 1 BUENA PARK,
PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE SECTION
10229
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 15132 calling for a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the purpose of electing City Council Members for Buena Park City Council District Nos. 1, 2, and 5, for a full term of four years. One member to be elected by the voters of District No. 1, one member to be elected by the voters of District No. 2; and, one member to be elected by the voters of District No. 5; and, WHEREAS, at the close of the nomination period on Thursday, August 6, 2026, only one person filed nomination papers to run for the office of City Council Member representing Buena Park City Council District No. 1; and,
WHEREAS, therefore, there are not more candidates than offices to be elected for the City of Buena Park City Council District No. 1 for the November 3, 2026, General Municipal election; and,
WHEREAS, because of the above-stated facts, California Elections Code Section 10229 allows one of the following courses of action to be taken by the City Council:
1. Appoint to the office the person who has been nominated.
2. Appoint to the office any eligible elector if no one has been nominated.
3. Hold the election if either no one or only one person has been nominated.
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10229 a notice, herein attached and incorporated by reference as Exhibit A was published on August 14, 2026, in the Buena Park Independent, certifying these facts and the courses of action available to the City Council; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10229, if by the 75th day before the scheduled General Municipal Election, August 20, 2026, no person has been appointed to this office pursuant to (1) or (2) above, the election for Buena Park City Council Electoral District No. 1 is required to be held along with all other elective offices on the ballot. If an appointment is made to this office, the General Municipal Election for Buena Park City Council District No. 1 must be canceled, but the General Municipal Election for Buena Park City Council District No. 2 and District No. 5 will be held as scheduled; and,
RESOLUTION NO.
WHEREAS, if the City Council makes an appointment pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10229, the City Clerk/Elections Official shall not accept for filing any statement of write-in candidacy for City Council Member from City Council District No. 1 which is submitted after the appointment is made; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BUENA PARK DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: That the above recitals are true and correct.
Section 2: That pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10229 the following action is being taken:
The following person is being appointed to the office to which she was nominated, and is considered to be the same as being elected, pursuant to Section 10229(a)(3) of the California Elections Code:
NAME OFFICE TERM
Joyce Ahn Buena Park City Council Member 4 years
Electoral (Council) District No. 1 (expires November 2030) Section 3: Pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10229 the General Municipal Election scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to elect a candidate for City Council Member from Council District No. 1 is hereby canceled due to the fact that there is not more than one nominee who chose to run for that office, and the City Council has made the above appointment. The General Municipal Election shall still be held to elect a candidate for City Council Member from District No. 2 and District No. 5.
Section 4: The person(s) appointed, if any, shall qualify and take office and serve exactly as if elected at a municipal election for the office.
Section 5: The City Clerk shall notify the Orange County Registrar of Voters of the City Council’s action.
RESOLUTION NO.
Section 6: The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and it shall become effective immediately.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 19th day of August 2026, by the following called vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS:
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
I, Adria M. Vicuña, Director of Government and Community Relations/City Clerk of the City of Buena Park, California, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly and regularly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Buena Park, held this 19th day of August 2026.
City Clerk
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ADRIAfvt. VICUNA, C
DIRECTOROF GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
CITY CLERK
CERTIFICATION THAT THERE ARE NOT MORE CANDIDATES
THAN OFFICES TO BE ELECTED IN ELECTORAL DISTRICT N0. 1
I, Adria M. Vicuria, MMC, City Clerk of the City of Buena Park, do hereby certify pursuant to Section 10229, Elections Code of the State of California, to the following facts relating to the General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026:
As of the close of the nomination period on August 6, 2026, only one person has filed nomination papers to fill the City Council seat for Electoral District No. 1 that is up for election at the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election. Therefore, there are not more candidates The person so nominated is:
Joyce Ahn
That Section 10229 of the California Elections Code allows one of the following courses of action to be taken by the City Council at a regular or special meeting held before the General Municipal Election in the event that only one person is nominated to an office:
1. Appoint to the office the person who has been nominated.
2. Appoint to the office any eligible voter if no one else has been nominated.
3. Hold the election if either no one or only one person has been nominated.
A notice of these facts will be published on August 14, 2026, in a newspaper of general circulation in the City pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code. After the fifth day following the date of publication, the City Council will meet to either make the appointment and cancel the election for that office or direct an election to be held. The person appointed, if any, shall qualify and take office and serve exactly as if elected at a municipal election for the office.
If, by the 75th day before the General Municipal Election, no person has been appointed to the office pursuant to (1) or (2) above, the election for Electoral District No. 1 shall be held along with all other elective offices on the ballot. If an appointment is made to this office, the General Municipal Election for Electoral District No. 1 will be cancelled, but will be held for all other elective offices on the ballot.
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If the City Council makes an appointment pursuant to Section 10229 of the California Elections Code, the City Clerk shall not accept for filing any statement of write-in candidacy for City Council Member from Electoral District No. 1 which is submitted after the appointment is made.
City Clerk
Dated: August 10, 2026
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NOTICE THAT THERE ARE NOT MORE CANDIDATES
THAN OFFICES TO BE ELECTED IN ELECTORAL DISTRICT NO. I
AT THE NOVEMBER 3, 2026 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 10229 of the Elections Code of the State of California relating to the General Municipal Election in the City of Buena Park to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, that:
As of the close of the nomination period on Thursday, August 6, 2026, only one person has filed nomination papers to fill the City Council seat for Electoral District No. 1 that is up for election at the November 3, 2026, election. Therefore, there are not more candidates than offices to be elected for City of Buena Park Electoral District No. 1 for the November 3, 2026 election.
The person so nominated is:
Joyce Ahn
That Section 10229 of the Elections Code allows one of the following courses of action to be taken by the City Council:
Appoint to the office the person who has been nominated.
Appoint to the office any eligible elector (voter) if no one has been nominated.
Hold the election if either no one or only one person has been nominated.
At a Special City Council meeting to be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., the City Council will consider whether to make an appointment and cancel the election for that office or direct an election to be held. The person appointed, if any, shall qualify and take office and serve exactly as if elected at a municipal election for the office.
If the City Council makes an appointment pursuant to Section 10229 of the CA Elections Code, the Elections Official shall not accept for filing any statement of write-in candidacy for City Council Member from Electoral District No. I which is submitted after the appointment is made.
If, by the 75th day before the municipal election, no person has been appointed to this office pursuant to (1) or (2) above, the election for Electoral District NO. I shall be held along with all other elective offices on the ballot. If an appointment is made to this office, the General Municipal Election for Electoral District No. 1 will be cancelled, but will be held for all other elective offices on the ballot.
Adria M. Vicuria. MM
City Clerk/Elections Official
Published: August 14, 2026
Posted: August 112026