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Defined Mayoral Rotation
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC, CITY CLERK
APRIL 23, 2024
1
2 On February 6, 2024, the City Council referred a
discussion on codifying a defined process for the
annual selection of Mayor to the Council
Committee on Policy Development and Internal
Operations (PDIO).
The Committee (Birsan/Obringer) is recommending
Council choose to define a rotation process in an
Ordinance and are providing two approaches for
Council consideration.
3 The PDIO Committee met on March 6, 2024, and
reviewed Policy and Procedure No. 2 which outlines
the organization of the City Council and currently
reads:
8. ORGANIZATION OF CITY COUNCIL
The City Council shall annually reorganize, choosing from amongst its members who should serve as Mayor and Vice Mayor for the coming year.
8.1 Term of Mayor. The appointment of the Mayor is for a one-year term.
8.2 Term of Vice Mayor. The appointment of Vice Mayor is for a one-year term.
4 The PDIO directed staff to return to the City Council with its recommendation that the Council codify its
approach for selecting the Mayor in an Ordinance.
The PDIO recommended two options, the Town of
Danville’s current process and a process Mayor
Birsan suggested at the March 6 meeting.
5 Option #1 – Town of Danville’s Language:
a. The position of Mayor is rotated annually. Each councilmember has the right to serve (barring Council changes) every five years.
b. The Vice Mayor is the Councilmember next in the line of succession. c. The City Council agrees upon a five (5) year cycle. The example that follows applies starting in 2025 and with current Councilmembers:
2025 – Councilmember A (Obringer)
2026 – Councilmember B (Nakamura)
2027 – Councilmember C (Aliano)
2028 – Councilmember D (Hoffmeister)
2029 – Councilmember E (Birsan)
6 Option #1 – Town of Danville’s Language (continued):
a. If one new councilmember is elected or appointed, they are placed at the end of the rotation and incumbent members move up one year if their order is impacted. b. If more than one new councilmember is elected, they are placed at the end of the rotation in an order determined by the percentage of votes they received of total votes cast within their election district, with the new Council member that received the highest % of votes being listed first. Incumbent councilmembers move up by the number of years equivalent to the number of new councilmembers elected (i.e. two (2) new members means that the others move up two (2) years) if their order is impacted.
If a Councilmember defers from serving as Mayor in their assigned year, they drop to the bottom of the rotation, and everyone moves up a year.
7 Option #2 – Mayor Birsan’s Proposed Process:
If there is only one nomination for the position of Mayor, they will be appointed. In the event of two or more nominations, the candidate who has not been the Mayor the longest going back from the current term shall be appointed. If tied, the candidate with the highest percentage of votes in their last election shall be appointed.
Questions and
Action Items
1. City Council confirm:
a. the desired language; and
b. whether the rotation process will be
documented in an Ordinance or in an
amendment to Policy and Procedure No. 2.
2. Authorize staff to return to a future
m
eeting with the appropriate
documents for Council consideration
and action.
8