CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
10/13/2025
1 SUBJECT:
Discussion of Potential Options for Amendments to Mayor and Vice Mayor Selection Process Policy
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Review recommendations and policy decision options identified by City Council Ad-Hoc Subcommittee to amend the Mayor / Vice Mayor Selection Process, and provide direction to develop an amended Administrative Policy No. 17 for the annual selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor.
STAFF CONTACT:
Kevin Woodhouse, City Manager
(650) 738-7409
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
City Council Policy Update Process
At the regular meeting of the City Council on January 27, 2025, the City Council appointed a two-Councilmember ad hoc subcommittee, to consist of Councilmember Bier and Councilmember Espinosa, to evaluate policies for annual selection process for Mayor and Vice Mayor and to develop recommendations for Administrative Policy #17 ”Selection of Mayor and Mayor pro Tem”. At this meeting, the City Council discussed key items for consideration, including but not limited to the following:
• A transparent process with a clear and equitable district rotation and representation • Minimum amount of service time for eligibility of Mayor and Vice Mayor • Supermajority vote of City Council to differ from policy The Minutes from the January 27, 2025 meeting are provided as Attachment B.
Summary of Policy Updates
The Council Ad-Hoc Subcommittee held several working meetings and met with staff to discuss and refine recommendations for updating the policy. Attachment A reflects a summary of the Ad-Hoc subcommittee’s key policy recommendations and decision points identified for full Council policy direction.
A summary of the updates follows:
• Background on Councilmember Term Limits and District-Based Elections: History on the City’s transition from at-large elections to district-based elections was included to provide the timeline for district elections as well as clarity behind the policy updates and Pacifica City Council 2
October 13, 2025
its restrictions. It also cites the language in the Municipal Code regarding the maximum length of time a Councilmember may serve on the City Council. • Standard Process: The policy is divided into the standard process for selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor and special circumstances that deviate from the standard process. The first part of the policy describes selecting the current Vice Mayor to serve as the next Mayor and the eligibility for a Councilmember to serve as the next Vice Mayor; furthermore, it outlines requirements for the official confirmation of the Mayor and Vice Mayor.
• Selection Method for Vice Mayor: Because in the standard process the Vice Mayor shall be selected as Mayor, the policy places emphasis on the selection method for Vice Mayor. Therefore, references to eligibility and district rotation center on Councilmembers serving as Vice Mayor. The ad hoc subcommittee met and discussed two possible methods: “District Rotation” and “Public Drawing.”
• Special Circumstances: The policy lays out a few scenarios that may fall outside of the standard process for the selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor, including vacancies, declinations/deferrals, and exceptional scenarios, for Council consideration. The list is not intended to be comprehensive.
• Diverging from Policy Requires Supermajority Vote: The proposed amendments include a provision for the City Council to choose to diverge from the selection process established by the Policy, which would require a 4/5 supermajority vote.
Direction Requested at this October 13, 2025 Meeting:
The Draft Summary of the Mayor / Vice Mayor Selection Process (Attachment A) identifies areas of the process that require City Council discussion and direction with respect to key decision points or provisions and direction to staff in order to develop and bring back to Council a draft proposal for an amended Administrative Policy No. 17 for the Process of Selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor.
RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN:
Review of this issue is not part of the FY 2024-25 workplan and does not directly relate to the City Council 2023-2030 Strategic Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to amending the Mayor and Vice Mayor Selection Process Policy.
ORIGINATED BY:
City Manager's Office
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Attachment A: Selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor – Draft Summary (DOCX) Attachment B: Excerpt from Minutes of 1-27-2025 Special and Regular Meeting (PDF)