May 14, 2025 – Study Session Minutes Page 1
MAY 14, 2025 – CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MEETING
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Freedman called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: M/Freedman, MPT/Cajulis, C/Law, C/Tragarz, C/Wu ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
Also present: City Manager Weiner; Acting City Attorney Mann; Community Development Director Vasquez, Public Works Director Barcelo, Community Services Director Bumia, Community Development Deputy Director Guerra, Finance Director Merkel Medina; Finance Manager Meza; Community Relations Officer Tep; Administrative Services/Human Resources Officer Ramos; Senior Management Analyst Munoz; Senior Management Analyst Markel; Administrative Services Specialist Cortez and City Clerk De Dios DISCUSSION ITEM:
1. City Council Policy for Rotation of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem – Discuss and provide comments to the Acting City Attorney and the City Clerk regarding a policy for rotation of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem that will be brought back for formal consideration by the City Council at its May 28th public meeting.
ACA/Mann provided a staff report outlining the different proposed rotation procedures to Council along with an option for Council rotation that would allow all members of the Council to serve as mayor in a four-year period (“option 3”) ending in 2028. He is requesting feedback from Council to form a policy to be considered at an upcoming regular meeting.
MPT/Cajulis stated that he prefers option 3 as he feels it is more fair.
C/Wu said all council members should be treated equally and prefers option 3.
C/Tragarz provided information and expressed it should be at the discretion of the City Council and supports option 3.
C/Law expressed her support for option 3 and feels that it is most equitable. She was in favor of rotation procedure 1.
M/Freedman provided information on the purpose of the study session and that her understanding was that the Council was working towards aligning with the Government code. She explained that although the word fair has been brought up, by the time that this policy goes into effect by 2028 it may not be fair to the councilmember that may not get a chance to serve as mayor due to year-long terms in a four-year cycle. She said option 3 is fine.
May 14, 2025 – Study Session Minutes Page 2
C/Tragarz provided the history of the rotation procedures and feels that option 3 is most fair.
ACA/Mann stated that the idea is that Council adopts an interim rotation until 2028 where Council would then follow the selected procedure but always have the power to change it.
There was discussion amongst Council and staff on the different options provided, the different rotation variables at play throughout election cycles, and rotation policy history.
ACA/Mann thanked Council for their input.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
There was no input from the public.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED on the 28th day of May 2025
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Linda Freedman, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Teresa De Dios, City Clerk