REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
To:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From:Jason Simpson, City Manager
Prepared by:Candice Alvarez, MMC, City Clerk
Date:September 23, 2025
Subject:Council Direction on Filling Vacancy Resulting from Council Member Johnson's Election to the State Assembly District 63
Recommendation
Direct staff on how to proceed in filling the vacancy on the City Council created by Council Member Johnson’s election to the State Assembly. The Council has the following options:
1. Direct the City Clerk to prepare the necessary Resolution to call a special election to fill the vacancy; or
2. Direct the City Clerk to solicit applications from interested and eligible residents and appoint two (2) Council Members to serve on an Appointment Committee to review applications, conduct interviews as needed, and provide a recommendation for nomination to the full City Council to appoint a qualified individual to serve the remainder of the unexpired term, with the seat scheduled to appear on the November 2026 ballot for the remainder of the term.
Background
On August 26, 2025, Council Member Johnson was elected to represent Assembly District 63.
She was sworn into office and submitted her letter of resignation to the City on September 8, 2025. As a result of her election and transition to the State Legislature, her seat on the City Council has become vacant effective September 8, 2025.
Pursuant to City Council Policy No. 200-11, within five (5) days of the vacancy, a special vacancy notice must be posted and published, and pursuant to California Government Code Section 36512, the City Council must either fill the vacancy by appointment or call a special election within 60 days.
Direction to Fill Vacancy
Additionally, since the vacancy occurred in the first half of the term and more than 130 days prior to the next general municipal election (November 3, 2026), an appointment would be effective only until that election. At that point, a successor elected by the voters would serve the remainder of the term through December 2028.
Discussion
The appointment process provides the City Council with a cost-effective and expedient method of ensuring uninterrupted representation, while a special election allows the electorate to select the representative directly, though at a significant fiscal cost.
If the Council chooses to proceed with an appointment, the following timeline is provided for consideration based on the 60-day requirement under state law.
Date Action Responsible Party
September 8, 2025 Vacancy occurs (resignation effective). City Clerk By September 13, 2025
Special vacancy notice
posted/published (within 5 days of
vacancy).
City Clerk (notice
posted/published
as required)
September 23, 2025
Council meeting: Council decides
whether to call a special election or
move forward with an appointment
process. If an appointment process is
selected, the Council is to appoint two
(2) members to serve as the
Appointment Committee.
City Council
September 24 – October 7, 2025
The application period would be open
for two weeks. Applications would be
available from the City Clerk’s Office;
fax/email submissions would not be
accepted. Applications will be available
online and in person.
Applicants / City
Clerk
October 8 – October 13, 2025
Appointment Committee reviews
applications, selects candidates for
interview, and schedules interviews as
needed.
Appointment
Committee
October 14, 2025
Earliest regular Council meeting after
review: Committee would present
nomination(s) for Council consideration
and possible appointment.
City Council
November 7, 2025
Last possible appointment date under
Gov. Code §36512 (60 days from
vacancy); if no appointment is made by
this date, Council must call a special
election to be held on June 2, 2026.
City Council
Direction to Fill Vacancy
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact depends on the option selected. An appointment will have minimal cost associated with advertising and administrative support. Alternatively, the Riverside County Registrar of Voters provided a preliminary estimate for conducting a special election to fill this vacancy of approximately $32,000. This amount represents a significant unbudgeted expenditure and would require identifying funding sources or a budget amendment if the Council elects to call a special election.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Government Code §36512
Attachment 2 – Posted/Published Notice of Vacancy
Attachment 3 – City Council Policy No. 200-11
City Clerk's Office