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CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE
STAFF REPORT
TO: Mayor & Council Members
Mayor Pro Tern Steve Downs
Council Member Ted Weill
DATE: November 16, 2023
FROM:
SUBJECT: City Council Vacancy Due to Resignation of Mayor Richard W. Kite
SPECIFIC REQUEST OR RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
A) Elect to appoint a qualified Rancho Mirage resident to fill the vacancy created by Council Member Richard W. Kite's resignation for the remainder of his unexpired term; 8) Approve the attached City Council Appointment Application form; C) Require that a complete application must be submitted to the City Clerk's Office on or before 5:00 P.M. on November 30, 2023, in order to be considered by the City Council; and
D) Schedule interviews for December 5, 2023, in the context of a City Council Special Meeting duly called by the Mayor, and include the vacancy item on future City Council meeting agendas until the vacancy is filled.
JUSTIFICATION OR INFORMATION
Mayor Richard W. Kite, whose term expires in November 2024, resigned from the City Council effective November 17, 2023, creating a vacancy on the Rancho Mirage City Council.
A subcommittee, consisting of Mayor Pro Tern Downs and Council Member Weill, was formed to determine the options available to fill the vacant seat and to submit a recommendation to the City Council on how best to move forward.
The subcommittee reviewed the options available to fill the vacancy and determined that, pursuant to Government Code Section 36512, subd. (b), if a vacancy occurs on the City Council, the City Council shall, within 60 days from the commencement of the vacancy, either fill the vacancy by appointment or call a special election to fill the vacancy.
AGENDA ITEM#
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DATE: November 16, 2023
City Council Vacancy
JUSTIFICATION OR INFORMATION CONTINUED:
The subcommittee concurred that it was appropriate to appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy created by Mayor Kite's resignation for the remainder of the unexpired term. This approach will avoid the expense of a special election that would result in filling the vacancy for a relatively short period of time before the seat would be up for election again on November 5, 2024.
In other words, whether the vacancy is filled by appointment or special election, it would be on the ballot in November 2024.
The subcommittee also prepared the attached City Council Appointment Application form which applicants would be required to complete and submit to the City Clerk's Office should the City Council opt to appoint someone to fill the vacancy.
RECOMMENDATION:
After reviewing the options available to fill a vacancy on the City Council and discussing possible timelines, the subcommittee recommends that the City Council:
A) Elect to appoint a qualified Rancho Mirage resident to fill the vacancy created by Mayor Kite's resignation for the remainder of his unexpired term; 8) Approve the attached City Council Appointment Application form; C) Require that a complete application must be submitted to the City Clerk's Office on or before 5:00 P.M. on November 30, 2023, in order to be considered by the City Council; and
E) Schedule interviews for December 5, 2023, in the context of a City Council Special Meeting duly called by the Mayor, and include the vacancy item on future City Council meeting agendas until the vacancy is filled.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. City Council Appointment Application Form
AGENDA ITEM#
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ATTACHMENT 1
APPLICATION FORM
(SEE ATTACHED)
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CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENT APPLICATION FORM
ELIGIBILITY
City Council Members must be at least 18 years of age and a registered voter in the City of Rancho Mirage.
APPLICATION FILING REQUIREMENTS
Completed applications will be accepted in the City Clerk's office until 5:00 P.M. on November 30, 2023. Please feel free to include additional information with your application. Your application must be signed and include your current registered voter information. Voter registration will be confirmed. Applications may be sent to the City Clerk via email to [email protected], mailed to City of Rancho Mirage, Attn: City Clerk, 69825 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, or hand-delivered to City Hall (same address).
FINANCIAL INTERESTS
Council Members are required to complete and file a Form 700 Statement of Economic Interests disclosing various financial interests.
PUBLIC INFORMATION
Becoming a candidate for public office means that information about you will become a matter of public record immediately. This includes any and all documents submitted to the City during the course of the application period. As such, these documents must, by law, be available to the public for inspection and/or copying.
GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE POSITION
Regular meetings of the City Council are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 1 :00 P.M. Additional meetings may be called as necessary. In addition to regular Council business, the individual selected must be available to actively participate as a Council liaison to numerous external agencies and organizations.
The City of Rancho Mirage operates under a council -manager form of government. The five City Council Members are elected to four years terms . The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tern are appointed every year on a rotational basis by the City Council. The City Council is the legislative body responsible for the overall policies of the City. The Council makes all policy determinations through enactment of ordinances and resolutions and has final authority in the implementation of these policies. The Counci I determines how the City will obtain and spend funds and approves the City's budget. The City Council appoints the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk, as well as members of the City's various advisory boards and commissions.
As for this appointment, the selected candidate will serve through the remaining term vacated by Richard W. Kite, which is November of 2024.
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Thank you for your interest in applying for the appointm e nt position of Rancho Mirage City Council Member. Please complete this application in full.
Appli cation s are due by November 30, 2023 at 5:00 P.M.
Please submit your complete application to the City Clerk's Office at City Hall or via email:
MAIL/DELIVER: City of Rancho Mirag e, Attn: City Clerk, 69825 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 .
EMAIL: [email protected]
For questions about the application, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at (760) 324 -4511 Ext. 488 or via email to [email protected].
SECTION I: CRIT ERIA
Name: _______________________________ _
Email Addre ss : ____________________________ _
Phone Number: ____________________________ _
Home Address : -----------------------------
Date of Birth: __________ _ Registered Voter: Ye s D No D SECTION II: SUPPL EMENTAL INFORMATION
1. Please describe any community activities in which you are or have been engaged in Rancho Mirage. Include the organi zation, your role, a brief description of your activities, and dates of participation.
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2 . Please state why you would make a good representative for the City of Rancho Mirage .
3. What is your vision for the future of Rancho Mirage? What would be your areas of priority if appointed to the City Council?
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4 . How would you approach constituent service for Rancho Mirage?
5. Please provide three references and their phone numbers :
Name: ____________ _ Phone Number: ----------
Name: ____________ _ Phone Number: ----------
Name: ____________ _ Phone Number: ----------
SECTION Ill: EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY INFORMATION Please include a brief background on your education and employment history . Please attach a copy of your resume as additional information .
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I hereby acknowledge that this appointment opportunity is subject to the complete discretion of the City Council and, should I not be appointed, I further acknowledge that I shall not be entitled to an explanation or reason as to why I was not appointed.
AUTHORIZATION
I hereby authorize the Mayor, each City Council Member, and their designees to contact third parties for confidential background references pertaining to my employment history, civic participation, educational background, and general character, without having to disclose to me the information provided by any such third party nor the identity of the source of any such information.
I attest that the information provided on this application is true and complete to the best of myknowledge.
Signature ________________ _
Printed Name ----------------
Date __________________ _
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