Agenda Item No: K.6
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: July 7, 2026
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: David Gassaway, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution 2026 -158 and Ordinance 2026 -05 CM Submitting to the Voters a Measure to Make the Office of City Clerk an Appointive Position
Resolution 2026-158 Approving an Ordinance and Ordering that a Measure be Submitted to the Voters of the City at the General Municipal Election to be held on November 3, 2026, to Change the Office of City Clerk to an Appointive Position; and
Ordinance 2026-05 Adding a New Article I X (City Clerk) to Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Fairfield Municipal Code to Change the Office of City Clerk to an Appointive Office
Funding Source: N/A
Contact: Farbod Pirouzmand, (707) 428-7397
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt resolution.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
Staff requests the City Council consider placing a ballot measure before Fairfield voters to change the Office of City Clerk from an elected position to an appointive position pursuant to California Government Code Sections 36508 through 36510.
DISCUSSION
The City of Fairfield is a full-service municipal organization serving a population of approximately 120,000 residents. Organizational excellence is one of the six strategic goals of the council, defined as striving to become a leader in local government best practices. Given the growth of the city and increasing operational complexity of the organization and state laws , the responsibilities associated with the Office of the City Clerk have become increasingly specialized and technical in nature. Hiring a professional city clerk is a best practice for full service municipal governments.
The City Clerk’s Office plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with numerous state laws governing public meetings, elections, records retention, public noticing requirements, transparency mandates, and municipal procedures. In addition, the office is responsible for supporting the legislative functions of the council, including agenda preparation, reco rds management, maintenance of official proceedings, and compliance with the California Brown Act and California Public Records Act.
The current City Clerk, Karen Rees, reported at the March 17, 2026, council meeting that she will not run for re -election when her term ends in 2028. Ms. Rees expressed the need for a professional city clerk based on her observation during her tenure starting in 2014, that the city has grown in size and complexity. She recommended to the council that the city clerk’s position change from elected to appointed.
Modern municipal governance requires a high level of technical expertise and professional experience in municipal law, election administration, records management, and agenda coordination. A 2022 survey by the city of Ca rlsbad, CA, found that 80% of California cities had transitioned to an appointive city clerk model. This allows cities to recruit and retain experienced municipal professionals with specialized training and certifications necessary to effectively administer increasingly complex legal and procedural requirements.
City General Law / Charter City Clerk Structure
Alameda Charter Appointed
Antioch General Law Elected
Concord General Law Appointed
Hayward Charter Appointed
Livermore General Law Appointed
Napa General Law Appointed
Pittsburg General Law Elected
Pleasanton General Law Appointed
Richmond Charter Appointed
Sacramento Charter Appointed
San Leandro Charter Appointed
Vacaville General Law Elected
Vallejo Charter Appointed
Among Fairfield’s comparable jurisdictions, based on Council Resolution 2000-156, only Antioch, Pittsburg and Vacaville have elected city clerks.
Under California Government Code Sections 36508 through 36510, general law cities may submit to the voters the question of whether the Office of City Clerk should become appointive rather than elective. If approved by a majority of voters, the council would thereafter appoint the city clerk upon expiration of the current term of office.
Proposed Language for Appointed City Clerk
Election on November 3, 2026
Shall the Office of City Clerk be appointive?
YES
NO
Transitioning to an appointive city clerk structure would provide the council with the ability to recruit candidates based on professional qualifications, municipal experience, technical expertise, and demonstrated knowledge of California municipal law and legislative administration. This approach is intended to strengthen or ganizational continuity, ensure procedural compliance, and support the effective administration of council operations.
Approval of the proposed resolution would place the measure before Fairfield voters for consideration at the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The median salary for a city clerk position is $150,000 based on a survey on the jurisdictions listed in City Resolution 2000-156. This additional cost will not be realized until the end of the current city clerk’s term in December of 2028.
PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION
N/A
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
The council may decline to submit the measure to the voters and retain the current elected city clerk or provide alternative direction to staff.
COORDINATED WITH
City Attorney’s Office
STAFF CONTACT
Farbod Pirouzmand, Assistant City Manager
(707) 428-7397
[email protected]
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 2: Proposed Resolution
Attachment 3: Proposed Ordinance