AGENDA ITEM #
STAFF REPORT
TO: City Council DATE: November 7, 2024
FROM: Steve Downs, Mayor
SUBJECT: Consider Options for Filling City Council Vacancy
SPECIFIC REQUEST OR RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council consider an appointment process according to the dates outlined in the staff report and the attached application.
JUSTIFICATION OR INFORMATION
BACKGROUND:
The resignation of a former council member from the City Council creates a vacancy that must be filled. The council has 60 days from the date of the resignation to make a decision as to how to fill the vacancy. As the resignation was on September 19, 2024, we have until November 18, 2024, to make our decision.
The options to fill the vacancy are: 1) this council can seek applicants for potential appointment to fill the vacancy; 2) this council can authorize a special election to fill the vacancy. If the decision is to seek applicants for potential appointment, that appointment must be made by the 60th day after the resignation, which is November 18th; however, there is no assurance that the Council will agree on an acceptable appointee. If the Council goes through the appointment process but doesn’t find an applicant that receives a majority vote, a special election could still be called by the Council.
The voters have overwhelmingly supported the appointment choices made by this council in previous years. At this point in the vote count for this year, it is clear that the same will happen for Michael O’Keefe who was appointed last year and is now on track to win election by a margin of about 80% compared with the closest losing candidate. Our residents have spoken clearly on this issue again and again. The appointment process is a probationary period where residents have an opportunity to observe a council member in action, instead of relying on empty campaign promises before casting their votes. The appointment process also encourages more participation from residents. When I was appointed in 2021, there were 16 applicants for that appointment. When I ran for election in November of 2022, there were 6 applicants for 3 seats.
When Michael O’Keefe was appointed about 11 months ago, there were 11 applicants. In this election, including Michael, there were 5 candidates for 2 seats. 13-1
DATE: November 7, 2024 Page 2 of 2
Consider Options for Filling City Council Vacancy
JUSTIFICATION OR INFORMATION CONTINUED
AGENDA ITEM #
Appointment Process Dates:
• If approved by the Council today, the application would be available today, November 7, 2024
• Applications would be due to the City Clerk by Wednesday, November 13, 2024, by 5:00pm (PT)
• Special City Council Meeting on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 1:00pm, to interview all applicants.
• Special City Council Meeting on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 1:00pm, to consider voting on an appointment or calling an election if a majority vote is not obtained.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Appointment Application
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ATTACHMENT 1
APPOINTMENT APPLICATION
(SEE ATTACHED)
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CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENT APPLICATION FORM
1 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 13, 2024. 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 Tem 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 Council 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.
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2 Thank you for your interest in applying for the appointment position of Rancho Mirage City Council Member. Please complete this application in full.
Applications are due by November 13, 2024 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 Mirage, 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: CRITERIA
Name:
Email Address:
Phone Number:
Home Address:
Date of Birth: Registered Voter: Yes No
SECTION II: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
1. Please describe any community activities in which you are or have been engaged in Rancho Mirage. Include the organization, your role, a brief description of your activities, and dates of participation.
_____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 13-5
3 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?
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 13-6
4 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 III: 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.
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 13-7
5 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 my knowledge.
Signature ______________________________________
Printed Name ___________________________________
Date __________________________________________
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