SECOND READING AND ADOPTION
C:\Program Files\eSCRIBE\TEMP\128736378\128736378,,,Ordinance - District-Based Commission Seats.docx ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AMENDING
VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE CHULA VISTA MUNICIPAL
CODE TO IMPLEMENT DISTRICT -BASED NOMINATIONS
FOR CERTAIN BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND
CLARIFY THE PROCE SS FOR REASSIGNMENT OF SEAT
DESIGNATIONS WHEN APPOINTMENT PROCESSES ARE
ADJUSTED
WHEREAS, on December 16, 2025, the City Council of the City of Chula Vista directed the City Clerk, in coordination with the City Attorney, to review the City’s boards and commissions appointment framework and ret urn with recommended amendments to support greater district-based representation, consistent with applicable legal requirements, subject-matter expertise considerations, and the City Charter; and
WHEREAS, on January 20, 2026, the City Council received a presentation regarding potential amendments and directed staff to return with an ordinance redesignating four seats , one per City Council district, on certain boards and commissions to use the district-based nomination process described in CVMC Section 2.25.052(C), without imposing a district residency requirement on appointees; and
WHEREAS, the City Council’s direction applied to the following bodies: the Board of Library Trustees, Charter Review Commission, Sustainability Commission, Traffic Safety Commission, and Veterans Advisory Commission; and
WHEREAS, on April 14, 2026, the City Council further directed that appointees to district- nominated seats on the Traffic Safety Commission be required to reside in the corresponding district; and
WHEREAS, under the proposed district-based nomination process, each redesignated seat would be nominated for appointment by the corresponding District Councilmember subject to approval by a majority vote of the full City Council in accordance with the City Charter; and
WHEREAS, CVMC 2.25.035 currently establishes a process by which the City Clerk shall propose reassignment of seat designations for City Council consideration and approval when seat qualifications are modified; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to clarify that this existing reassignment process also applies when appointment processes are adjusted, in order to promote administrative clarity and ensure orderly transition as terms expire and seats are redesignated.
NOW, THEREFORE the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does ordain as follows:
Section I. The following sections in various chapters in Chula Vista Municipal Code Title 2 are hereby amended and shall read as follows:
Ordinance
2.25.035 Membership – Changes to seat qualifications.
A. If changes are made to the qualifications for one or more seats on a board or commission, including redistricting having occurred, seats being changed from at-large to district- based, qualifications or the applicable appoint ment process being changed for a seat, or a similar event, the City Clerk shall recommend to the City Council for approval the assignments of the seated members to the seats, with the intent of reducing disruption to the board or commission, to the extent possible.
B. When a member is reassigned, the member shall retain the term dates they were originally assigned. Reassigning a seat shall not extend a term or allow a member to serve more consecutive terms than the member would otherwise be entitled to serve.
C. Notwithstanding subsection (A) of this section, if a member does not qualify under the new requirements for the seat to which the member has been assigned, the member nonetheless shall be entitled to serve out the remainder of the member’s term, with a qualified replacement to be appointed and seated for the succeeding term.
2.29.040 Membership.
The Commission shall consist of seven voting members, to be appointed in accordance with Article VI of the City Charter and Chapter 2.25 CVMC.
1. General Appointments. Three Voting Members shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the general appointment process specified in CVMC 2.25.052(A).
2. District-Based Appointments. Four Voting Members shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the district-based appointment process specified in CVMC 2.25.052(C).
Members are not required to reside in the corresponding City Council district.
2.32.060 Membership.
The Sustainability Commission shall consist of seven Voting Members and two Youth Advi sory Members, to be appointed in accordance with Article VI of the City Charter and Chapter 2.25 CVMC.
1. General Appointments. Three Voting Members shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the general appointment process specified in CVMC 2.25.052(A).
2. District-Based Appointments. Four Voting Members shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the district -based appointment process specified in CVMC 2.25.052(C).
Members are not required to reside in the corresponding City Council district.
3. Youth Advisory Members. Two Youth Advisory Members shall meet the qualifications specified in CVMC 2.25.030(E) and shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the general appointment process specified in CVMC 2.25.052(A).
2.39.040 Membership.
Ordinance
The Commission shall consist of seven voting members, to be appointed in accordance with Article VI of the City Charter and Chapter 2.25 CVMC.
1. General Appointments. Three Voting Members shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the general appointment process specified in CVMC 2.25.052(A).
2. District-Based Appointments. Four Voting Members shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the district -based appointment process specified in CVMC 2.25.052(C).
Members are not required to reside in the corresponding City Council district.
2.44.030 Membership.
The Traffic Safety Commission shall consist of seven Members who shall be appointed in accordance with Article VI of the City Charter and Chapter 2.25 CVMC.
1. General Appointments. Three Voting M embers shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the general appointment process specified in CVMC 2.25.052(A).
2. District-Based Appointments. Four Voting Members shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the district -based appointment process specified in CVMC 2.25.052(C).
Members must be a resident of the corresponding Council district and must maintain their district residency throughout their tenure.
2.45.040 Membership.
In accordance with Charter Section 605, the Board of Library Trustees shall consist of five Voting Members and one Youth Advisory Member, to be appointed in accordance with Article VI of the City Charter and Chapter 2.25 CVMC.
1. General Appointment. One Voting Member shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the general appointment process specified in CVMC 2.25.052(A).
2. District-Based Appointments. Four Voting Members shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the district -based appointment process specified in CVMC 2.25.052(C).
Members are not required to reside in the corresponding City Council district.
3. Youth Advisory Member. One Youth Advisory Member shall meet the qualifications specified in CVMC 2.25.030(E) and shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the general appointment process specified in CVMC 2.25.052(A).
Section II. Severability
If any portion of this Ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, is for any reason held to be invalid, unenforceable or unconstitutional, by a court of competent jurisdiction, that portion shall be deemed severable, and such invalidity, unenforceability or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining portions of the Ordinance, or its application to any other person or circumstance. The City Council of the City of Chula Vista hereby declares that it would have adopted each section, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, sentences, clauses or phrases of the Ordinance be declared invalid, unenforceable or unconstitutional.
Ordinance
Section III. Construction
The City Council of the City of Chula Vista intends this Ordinance to supplement, not to duplicate or contradict, applicable state and federal law and this Ordinance shall be const rued in light of that intent.
Section IV. Effective Date
This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force on the thirtieth day after its final passage.
Section V. Publication
The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published or posted according to law.
Presented by Approved as to Form by
Kerry K. Bigelow, MMC Marco A. Verdugo
City Clerk City Attorney