Santa Rosa City Council
November 18, 2025

ELECTION OF VICE MAYOR
City Council MeetingNovember 18, 20251

The City Attorney and City Clerk recommend that the Council elect a Vice Mayor as required by the City Charter.Recommendation 2 Charter requires the Council, at the time it selects a Mayor and in November of each odd-numbered year, to select one of its members as Vice Mayor.•Vice Mayor serves as Mayor Pro Tem in the absence of Mayor. •Vice Mayor serves a one-year term. City Council Manual of Procedures and Protocols describes selection process for Vice Mayor. •These rules were recently updated by Council. 3 Election of New Vice Mayor
Updated Nomination RulesPresiding Officer calls for nominations for Vice Mayor. Nominations require a second and nominee’s acceptance.Each Council Member may nominate OR second the nomination of only one Council Member, but may not both nominate and second a nomination.No Council Member may nominate themself but may second a nomination for themself. If a nomination is invalid (no second or no acceptance), the nominator/seconder may make or second a new nomination.Once all nominations are made, Presiding Officer closes nominations. 4 Selection Process: One Valid NomineeIf there is only one valid nominee, the Presiding Officer declares that person to be elected Vice Mayor by unanimous consent. 5 Voting Process: If 2 or 3 NomineesEach Councilmember “shall” vote by written ballot for one of the valid nominees. •Any ballot with vote for any other person = invalid•Any ballot with votes for more than one person = invalidThe Clerk reads ballots aloud after all votes are cast. If a nominee receives 4 or more votes, the Presiding Officer declares that individual to be elected. 6 Selection Process: Elimination & RevoteIf no valid nominee receives at least 4 votes, then the following elimination rules are applied:•Nominees receiving 0 votes = eliminated unless would result in only 1 remaining nominee. •If no nominees received 0 votes, then nominees receiving 1 vote = eliminated unless would result in only 1 nominee remaining. If any nominee is eliminated, then revote by ballot to select one of remaining valid nominees. 7 New Rule to Get Unstuck: Run-Off VoteIf there is a 3/2/2, 3/1/1, or 2/1/1 vote, then a run-off vote (by ballot) is taken to eliminate one of the two nominees tied with the lowest votes. Following elimination of one nominee by run-off vote, the Council revotes (by ballot) to select one of the two remaining nominees. 8 New Rule to Get Unstuck:No Other Process to Move ForwardIf there is a completely tied vote (e.g. 3/3; 2/2; or 2/2/2), or other circumstance where there is no other established process to move forward, then Council “shall” discuss and consider taking one of the following actions:•Revote by written ballot; OR• Decide, by motion, to select Vice Mayor from the remaining nominees by random selection (drawing name from a hat or other container). 9 QuestionsAny Questions?
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