CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
10/27/2025
1 SUBJECT:
Amendments to Mayor and Vice Mayor Selection Process
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt the Resolution titled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Pacifica Rescinding Administrative Policy No. 17 ‘Selection of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem’ and Amending the City Council Rules and Code of Ethics to Add Guidelines for Selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor”.
STAFF CONTACT:
Sarah Coffey, City Clerk
(650) 738-7307
[email protected]
Kevin Woodhouse, City Manager
(650) 738-7409
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
At the regular meeting of the City Council on January 27, 2025, the City Council appointed a two-Councilmember Ad-Hoc Subcommittee consisting of Councilmember Bier and Councilmember Espinosa to evaluate policies for annual selection process for Mayor and Vice Mayor and to develop recommendations for amendments to the process with the intent to set forth clear and transparent procedural guidelines and criteria to assist the Council in this annual process.
The Council Ad-Hoc Subcommittee held several working meetings and met with staff to discuss and identify and refine recommendations, policy considerations, constraints and key decision points to be brought forward for full Council policy direction.
At a regular meeting on October 13, 2025, the City Council discussed a summary of key policy considerations, options and recommendations that were identified by the Ad-Hoc Subcommittee in collaboration with staff. The City Council reviewed the following areas:
• Background Information on Councilmember Term Limits and District-Based Elections: Information on the City’s transition from at-large elections to district-based elections starting with the November 2020 election, the district-based election sequencing and the Pacifica Municipal Code Section 2-8.04 which imposes term limits and a maximum length of time a Councilmember may serve on the City Council in order to provide context, clarity and constraints that would impact policy decisions for the Mayor and Vice Mayor selection process.
• Qualifying Eligibility Criteria for Mayor / Vice Mayor: The City Council reviewed options for qualifying criteria for eligibility for nominations for Mayor and Vice Mayor, including provisions for experience on City Council, prior experience in the role of Mayor Pacifica City Council 2
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/ Vice Mayor, time left in relation to term / term limits, and prior deferral / declining of nomination. The City Council directed that the eligibility criteria for Mayor would be having served at least 11 months as Vice Mayor in the preceding year or having deferred the nomination of Mayor in the immediately preceding year. They directed that the eligibility criteria for Vice Mayor would be having served at least 11 months on City Council and not serving in the final year of their second term on City Council. • Selection Method Options for Mayor / Vice Mayor: The City Council reviewed and discussed options for the selection method for Mayor and Vice Mayor, including a district-based rotation sequence in conjunction with eligibility criteria, a random public drawing in conjunction with eligibility determination, and Council discretion in the nomination selection based on eligibility and/or expressed interest. • Deferring and Declining Nominations: The City Council discussed deferring and declining nominations and the ramifications and guidelines for each. A Councilmember may defer a nomination and be considered for the same role in the following year, with no expectation of priority provided to the deferring Councilmember. A Councilmember may not defer nomination in two consecutive years. A deferral may be made for any reason and the reason need not be stated by the Councilmember. A Councilmember may decline a nomination for any reason and the reason need not be stated. If a Councilmember declines a nomination, they may not be considered for the same role in the following year. Deferrals and declinations may not be rescinded. • Special Circumstances: Special circumstances that are not addressed in the policy may arise from time to time, and will be addressed at Council’s discretion at the time the circumstance arises.
• Diverging from Policy Requires Supermajority Vote: The proposed amendments include a provision for the City Council to choose to diverge from the established selection criteria and process by a supermajority vote of those Councilmembers present.
Rescinding Administrative Policy No. 17 “Selection of Mayor and Mayor pro Tem” The Recommended Action proposes rescinding Administrative Policy No. 17 “Selection of Mayor and Mayor pro Tem” and incorporating the provisions and guidelines for the process of selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor into the City Council Rules and Code of Ethics.
Updates to the City Council Rules and Code of Ethics:
Based on City Council direction from the October 13, 2025 regular meeting, the provisions and guidelines for the process of selection of the Mayor and Mayor pro Tem are incorporated into the proposed amendments to the City Council Rules and Code of Ethics inserted as Section 9 “Selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor” and to re-number subsequent section headings. The amendments are marked in the proposed City Council Rules and Code of Ethics attached as Exhibit A to the Resolution proposing the amendments. Below is a summary of the Section 9 inserted into the Council Rules and Code of Ethics, which addresses the Selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor:
1. Timing for Selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor
The City Council selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor among its membership annually at the first regular meeting in December or a special meeting in December. In those years of a General Municipal Election the City Council meeting at which the selection of the Mayor and Vice Mayor occurs will be held as soon as practical after the election results Pacifica City Council 3
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are certified by the County Clerk.
2. Eligibility Criteria for Mayor and Vice-Mayor
A member of the City Council will be eligible to be considered for Mayor if they have served as Vice Mayor for at least 11 months in the preceding year. A member of the City Council will be eligible to be considered for Vice Mayor if they have served at least 11 months on City Council and they are not serving in the final year of their second full term on City Council. If a Councilmember deferred the nomination for Mayor or Vice-Mayor in the immediately preceding year, they may be considered for nomination for the same appointment in the subsequent year. However, a Councilmember who has declined the nomination for Mayor or Vice-Mayor in the immediately preceding year, cannot be considered for nomination for the same role until the second year following declination.
3. Presiding over Selection of Mayor and Vice-Mayor
The currently seated Mayor will be the presiding Chair for the process of the selection of Mayor. The newly selected Mayor will become the presiding Chair for the selection of the Vice-Mayor. The selection of Vice-Mayor will occur following the selection of Mayor.
In an election year, the selection of Mayor and Vice-Mayor will occur following the oath of office being taken by newly elected Councilmembers and the new Councilmembers being seated at the dais. If the Mayor is an outgoing Councilmember, the Vice-Mayor will preside as Chair for the process of the selection of Mayor.
4. Selection Process for Mayor and Vice-Mayor
Based on the Eligibility Criteria for Mayor and Vice-Mayor, the City Clerk will determine which Councilmembers are eligible for consideration as Mayor and Vice-Mayor. As a courtesy, the City Clerk will inform eligible Councilmembers of their eligibility prior to the release of the Agenda Packet for the City Council meeting at which the selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor will be agendized. The Agenda Staff Report will include the names of Councilmembers eligible for consideration for Mayor and Vice-Mayor based on the eligibility criteria and will include any information regarding prior year’s deferrals or declining of nominations, if applicable. Prior to any vote on selection of Mayor or ViceMayor, the City Council shall allow public comment, deliberate on the appointment of Mayor or Vice-Mayor, and then vote on selection of Mayor or Vice-Mayor by majority vote of seated Councilmembers.
5. Declining Nomination for Mayor or Vice Mayor
A member of City Council who is eligible for nomination for Mayor or Vice Mayor may decline the nomination for any reason. The Councilmember must make a statement declining the nomination prior to any motion being made for the appointment of Mayor or Vice-Mayor. There is no requirement for the Councilmember to state a reason for declining the nomination. However, once a member declines the nomination for Mayor or Vice Mayor the declination cannot be rescinded and that member cannot be considered for nomination in the immediately following year.
6. Deferring a Nomination for Mayor or Vice Mayor
A member of City Council who is eligible for nomination for Mayor or Vice- Mayor may defer the nomination for any reason. There is no requirement to state a reason for deferring the nomination. If a Councilmember defers the nomination for Mayor or Vice Mayor, they may be considered for nomination for that role in the immediately following year. The Councilmember must make a statement deferring the nomination prior to any motion being made for the appointment of Mayor or Vice-Mayor and once made a deferral cannot be rescinded. A Councilmember may not defer the nomination for Mayor or Vice-Mayor two years in a row.
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7. Vacancies and Partial Terms
The City Council may select a new Mayor or Vice Mayor outside of the annual process as a result of vacancies or City Council discretion. If the role of Mayor becomes vacant, the Vice Mayor will serve as the Mayor in the interim until the City Council appoints a new Mayor. If there is a vacancy for Vice Mayor during their year of service, the City Council shall appoint a new Vice Mayor in accordance with this Section 9 SELECTION OF MAYOR AND VICE-MAYOR.
8. Supermajority Vote Required to Deviate from Policy
Any deviation from the rules in this Section 9 SELECTION OF MAYOR AND VICEMAYOR must be made by a supermajority vote of the Councilmembers present.
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.
ORIGINATED BY:
City Clerk
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Exhibit A: Proposed Revisions to City Council Rules and Code of Ethics (redline version)(PDF) Pacifica City Council 5
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RESOLUTION NO. _____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFICA RESCINDING ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY NO. 17 “SELECTION OF MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM” AND
AMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL RULES AND CODE OF ETHICS TO ADD GUIDELINES
FOR SELECTION OF MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR
WHEREAS, the City of Pacifica has certain Administrative Policies to set forth specific policy, regulations, and to establish procedural guidelines on various subject matters; and
WHEREAS, the City Council Rules and Code of Ethics has been established to define the roles, responsibilities and expectations of the City Councilmembers and staff with regard to the organization and process for the operation of City Council meetings; and WHEREAS, periodic review of the City Council Rules and Code of Ethics will assist all City Councilmembers to better understand their role and responsibilities and will help to make City Council meetings as productive as possible; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pacifica’s Administrative Policy No. 17 (AP#17) “Selection of Mayor and Mayor pro Tem” was previously adopted to set forth the procedural guidelines for the annual selection of Mayor and Mayor pro Tem; and WHEREAS, at a regular meeting held on October 13, 2025 the City Council directed amendments to the process, policy and procedural guidelines for the selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Pacifica does hereby rescind the City of Pacifica’s Administrative Policy No. 17 (AP#17) “Selection of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem” and the procedural guidelines directed by Council for the selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor will be included in the “City Council Rules and Code of Ethics”.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Pacifica hereby approves the amendments to the procedural guidelines for the selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor and incorporates them into the revised “City Council Rules and Code of Ethics” which is attached hereto and incorporated in Exhibit A.
• • • • •
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pacifica, California, held on the 27th day of October, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES, Councilmembers:
NOES, Councilmembers:
ABSENT, Councilmembers:
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ABSTAIN, Councilmembers:
_________________________________
Sue Beckmeyer, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________ _________________________________ Sarah Coffey, City Clerk Michelle Kenyon, City Attorney Pacifica City Council 7
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EXHIBIT A