CITY OF MENIFEE
SUBJECT: Appointment to the City of Menifee District 2 City Council Vacancy
MEETING DATE: January 15, 2025
TO: Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Stephanie Roseen, City Clerk
REVIEWED BY: Stephanie Roseen, City Clerk
APPROVED BY: Armando G. Villa, City Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Discuss and appoint a resident of District 2 of the City of Menifee to the City Council to serve for the remainder of the term, ending December 2026; or
2. Continue this item to the February 5, 2025, City Council meeting for further consideration.
DISCUSSION
On December 17, 2024, staff brought forward a staff report outlining the options for the City Council to fill the vacancy for District 2 created by the election of Ricky Estrada as Mayor. Those options included holding a special election on November 4, 2025, appointing an eligible resident from District 2, or adopt an ordinance for a temporary appointment of a District 2 resident to the City Council and a special election. The City Council voted to move forward with an appointment process to fill the vacancy.
The appointment process discussed by the City Council involved a request for interested individuals to submit a Statement of Interest to the City. Additionally, City Councilmembers provided staff with questions to be consolidated for a question-and-answer forum.
The City advertised the vacancy of District 2 on December 23, 2024 with a due date set for the Statement of Interests on January 7, 2025 by 5:00 PM. At the end of the application period the City received nine submittals. Applicants’ submittals are attached for Council’s consideration. In the interest of privacy, addresses, phone numbers, and emails have been redacted from applications. The City Clerk has reviewed the minimum qualifications for the applicants have been met and all are registered voters within District 2 of the City of Menifee.
City of Menifee Staff Report
District 2 Vacancy
January 15, 2025
2 4
9 7
Statements of Interest were received by the following applicants: Altie Holcomb, Barbara Brohl, Ben Diederich, George Mills, Jeffrie White, Joe Long, Laz Peterson, Richard Sierra, and Thomas Fuhrman.
The questions received by the City Council were incorporated and published with the Statement of Interest on December 23, 2024. This provided all applicants with time to review the questions ahead of time prior to addressing the City Council. A forum is scheduled to take place during a special City Council meeting scheduled for 4:00 PM on January 15, 2025.
This item before the City Council is for the City Council to discuss and select a resident of District 2 to serve as the District 2 City Councilmember for the remainder of the term set to end in December of 2026. A motion and a second must be made and a majority vote of the City Council must be received for an applicant to be appointed. If the City Council reaches a majority vote, the appointee would be sworn in and assume the position at the next City Council meeting.
Alternatively, if no majority vote can be reached, Council can continue this item to the next City Council meeting.
Appointment by the City Council must be made by February 15, 2025. If a majority vote is not received by the deadline, the City Council must call a special election for November 4, 2025.
STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVE
Regular City Business
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Altie Holcomb Statement of Interest
2. Barbra Brohl Statement of Interest
3. Ben Diederich Statement of Interest
4. George Mills Statement of Interest
5. Jeffrie White Statement of Interest
6. Joe Long Statement of Interest
7. Laz Peterson Statement of Interest
8. Richard Sierra Statement of Interest
9. Thomas Fuhrman Statement of Interest