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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Glendale Municipal Code Amendment Pertaining to Selection of the Mayor
1. Introduction of Ordinance of the Council of the City of Glendale, California Amending Section 2.04.020 of the Glendale Municipal Code, 1995, Relating to the Mayoral Selection Process
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Action Item
Approved for December 9, 2025 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As directed by the Council, the City Attorney’s Office presents an ordinance for introduction and adoption that will amend the mayoral selection process set forth in Glendale Municipal Code Section 2.04.020. If adopted, the ordinance will revise the mayoral selection process by eliminating the provisions pertaining to the order of precedence of mayoral selection. The ordinance provides two options for moving the mayoral selection date from April to July, either commencing in 2026 or 2027. The draft ordinance also provides an additional alternative for Council consideration (which can be incorporated into either the 2026 or 2027 selection commencement) where if the codified mayor selection date is within 30 days of the certification of the general municipal election results by the Council and the swearing in of the newly elected councilmember(s), then the mayor selection will take place on the same date of the certification and swearing in. Lastly, the ordinance will also bifurcate the mayor selection from the date the new mayor takes office by providing that the mayor’s appointment becomes effective at the regular meeting following the meeting where the mayor is selected.
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Council introduce and adopt the ordinance.
ANALYSIS
On March 30, 2021, the Council adopted Ordinance No. 5963, amending the Glendale Municipal Code (“GMC”) relating to the annual selection of the mayor. GMC Section
2.04.020 provides for an order of precedence for selection of mayor based on longest continuous service since last serving as Mayor, limitations on appointments, and a “best interest” clause that permits the Council to make a selection that it deems to be in the City’s best interest.
Elimination of Mayoral Selection Process
On July 1, 2025, the Council reviewed Section 2.04.020 as well as alternative language that could be considered to address concerns raised regarding its implementation and fairness. Ultimately, the Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance amending Section 2.040.020 that will remove the selection policy from the GMC; the Council will select the mayor by majority vote with no restrictions on who can be selected.
Change of Mayoral Selection Date to July
The Council also directed a change to the mayoral selection date from April to July. This is intended to allow councilmembers elected in June during statewide primary election years to participate in the mayor selection for the upcoming year. As requested, two options are presented for when the new mayor selection date will occur, in 2026 or 2027:
Option 1 – 2026
Commencing in 2026, the date and time for selection of the mayor shall be during the first regular meeting of the council occurring after the third Monday of July of each year.
Option 2 - 2027
In 2026, the date and time for the selection of the mayor shall be during the first regular meeting of the council occurring after the first Monday in April. Commencing in 2027, the date and time for selection of the mayor shall be during the first regular meeting of the council occurring after the third Monday of July of each year.
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Staff recommends that if the mayoral selection date is moved to July, then it should be after the third Monday in July to provide sufficient time after the June statewide primary elections for the new Council to be sworn in. Los Angeles County has up to 30 days to certify election results which then must be approved by the Council. In the past, the County has taken the full 30 days.
Mayoral Selection Date within 30 days of Certification of General Election Results and Swearing In of Newly Elected Councilmember(s) Alternatively, the draft ordinance includes an option where mayoral selection will be on the same date as the Council’s certification of the general election results and swearing in of the newly elected councilmember(s) if the mayor selection date will otherwise occur within 30 days of said certification and swearing in. This will be applicable to the June municipal elections. This alternative can be incorporated into either option 1 or 2.
Effective Date of Mayoral Appointment
As directed by the Council, the ordinance will also amend the GMC to make the mayoral appointment effective at the regular meeting after the mayor is selected.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
Not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
This activity involves organizational and administrative activities of the government related to the process for selecting the mayor, and such internal procedural changes have no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. As such, this action is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
This item is exempt from campaign disclosure requirements.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
1. The Council can choose not to introduce and adopt the ordinance amending GMC Section 2.04.020, in which case the current mayoral selection policy will remain in place.
2. The Council can choose an alternative not identified by staff. 48a
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ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Michael J. Garcia, City Attorney
Prepared by:
Michael J. Garcia, City Attorney
Dorine Martirosian, Principal Assistant City Attorney
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
None.