Agenda Item #18.3-18.4
For Council Meeting of: December 17, 2024
CITY OF SANTA ROSA CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: TERESA STRICKER, CITY ATTORNEY
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
SUBJECT: ELECTION OF MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR
ACTION: MOTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the City Attorney and City Clerk that, following induction of the newly-elected Council Members, the Council elect a Mayor and then a Vice Mayor in accordance with Sections 6 and 15 of the Santa Rosa City Charter and Section XII of the City Council Manual of Procedures and Protocols.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Sections 6 and 15 of the Santa Rosa City Charter requires that, following the certification of election results and induction of new Council Members into office, the newly-constituted Council shall elect one of its members to serve as Mayor for a two-year term, and then another of its members to serve as Vice Mayor for a one-year term. Section 15 of the City Charter and Section XII of the City Council Manual of Procedures and Protocols provides the process for the election of Mayor and Vice Mayor.
BACKGROUND
Following the certification of election results, outgoing Council Members leave the dais and newly-elected Council Members take their Constitutional Oath of Office and then assume their seats at the dais.
City Charter Sections 6 and 15 require that immediately following the induction of new Council Members, the newly-constituted Council elects one of its members to serve as Mayor for a two-year term, and another member to serve as Vice Mayor for a one-year term, or until a successor Mayor or Vice Mayor is chosen.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
None.
ANALYSIS
Section XII of the Manual of Procedures and Protocols establishes the following procedure for the election of Mayor and Vice Mayor:
The incumbent Mayor acts as the Presiding Officer and calls for nominations for a new Mayor from the floor.
Each nomination must receive a second and be accepted by the nominee prior to a vote on the nomination.
If only one Council Member has been nominated, the Presiding Officer shall declare that individual to be elected Mayor by unanimous consent. If two or more Council Members have been nominated, election of the Mayor will be by process of elimination.
If two or more Council Members have been nominated, election of the Mayor will be by process of elimination as follows: Each Council Member shall vote by ballot for a number of nominees that equals one fewer then total number of nominees. Those nominees receiving one vote or no votes shall be eliminated. Subsequent votes shall be taken by ballot with each Council Member voting for one less nominee than voted for in the previous round. Only nominees not eliminated may be voted upon.
Once a single nominee receives a majority vote, the Presiding Officer shall declare that nominee the newly-elected Mayor and then pass the gavel to the new Mayor.
Following election of the new Mayor, the newly-elected Mayor calls for nominations for a new Vice Mayor using the same procedures outlined in (b) – (e) above.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Section XII of the City Council Manual of Procedures and Protocols and Sections 6 and 15 of the Santa Rosa City Charter
PRESENTER
Teresa Stricker, City Attorney
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