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HomeMy WebLinkAboutD-1 Staff Report - Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem SelectionSCHEDULED ITEM D-1 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER FROM: JEFFREY LAWRENCE CORNEJO, JR. CITY CLERK LUCY DEMIRJIAN, INTERIM CITY CLERK SERVICES MANAGER DATE: JANUARY 21, 2025 SUBJECT: SELECTION OF MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO-TEM BACKGROUND: In 2024, the City Council adopted Resolutions and Ordinances to transition from its current at-large electoral system to a by-district electoral system. The district system that was selected included 5 voting districts spread out through the City and eliminates the position of a directly-elected Mayor. The first district-based elections were held on November 5, 2024. On October 21, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-C59, concerning the selection criteria and term of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, which would be rotational among the five councilmembers. The reorganization shall take place on the third Monday in January, and will be based on seniority. The terms for Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem shall be a period of one year, until January of each succeeding year. This action will approve the selection of a Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem for the period of January, 2025 through January, 2026. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the City Council take the following action: 1) Approve the selection of Council Member Robert Gonzales, as Mayor for a one-year term, through January 2026; and 2)Approve the selection of Council Member Edward J. Alvarez, as Mayor Pro-Tem for a one-year term, through January 2026. ANALYSIS: Based on the new criteria adopted by Resolution No. 2024-C59, the Mayor shall be that Council member with the greatest uninterrupted seniority, who has not previously served as a rotational Mayor. Approved City Council January 21, 2025 Selection of Mayor/Mayor Pro-Tem January 21, 2025 Page 2 However, if such Council member does not accept the nomination for Mayor, then the next most senior Council member shall be offered the position of Mayor. The Mayor Pro Tem shall be the Council member with the next greatest uninterrupted seniority on the Council. However, if such Council member does not accept the nomination for Mayor Pro Tem, then the next most senior Council member shall be offered the position of Mayor Pro Tem. Based on the new rotational system established by the City Council, Councilmember Robert Gonzales would be the most senior member to serve in the new rotational position of Mayor, and Councilmember Edward J. Alvarez would be the next most senior member to serve in the position of Mayor Pro Tem. List of Councilmembers arranged by seniority: Council Member Robert Gonzales Elected to office in March 2009 Elected to office in March 2013 Elected to office in March 2017 Elected to office in November 2020 Elected to office in November 2024 Council Member Edward J. Alvarez Elected to office in March 2013 Elected to office in March 2017 Elected to office in November 2022 Council Member Jesse Avila Jr. Elected to office in November 2020 Elected to office in November 2024 Council Member Andrew N. Mendez Appointed to office in April 2020 Elected to office in November 2022 Councilmember Sabrina Bow, Ed.D. Elected to office in November 2024 FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved: Lucy Demirjian Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr. Interim City Clerk Services Manager City Clerk Reviewed and Approved: Sergio Gonzalez City Manager Attachments: 1) Resolution No. 2024-C59 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-C59 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA AMENDING AND RESTATING RESOLUTION NO. 2023-007 CONCERNING THE SELECTION CRITERIA AND TERM OF THE MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM. BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Azusa as follows: SECTION 1. That the City Council of the City of Azusa hereby amends Resolution No. 2023-007 in its entirety and adopts the following Mayor and Mayor Pro Tern selection criteria and term of office. (1)Intent. The intent of this Resolution is to ensure that the City's Mayor andMayor Pro Tern are selected based on objective criteria. Criteria such asseniority and public support as expressed in the number of votes received inan election are to be used as the basis for selecting the Mayor and Mayor ProTern. It is the Council's intent to ensure that each member serving on theCouncil receives the opportunity to serve as Mayor and/or Mayor Pro Ternat least once during his or her four-year term as a Council member.(1)Selection Criteria -January of 2025. After the first election at whichCouncilmembers are elected based on district voting, at the City Councilmeeting on the third Monday in January (2025), the Mayor and Mayor ProTern shall be selected. The Mayor shall be that Council member with thegreatest uninterrupted seniority, which has not previously served as arotational Mayor. However, if such Council member does not accept thenomination for Mayor, then the next most senior Council member shall beoffered the position of Mayor. The Mayor Pro Tern shall be that Councilmember with the next greatest uninterrupted seniority on the Council, whichhas not previously served as a rotational Mayor Pro Tern. However, if suchCouncil member does not accept the nomination for Mayor Pro Tern, then thenext most senior Council member shall be offered the position of Mayor ProTern.(2)Selection Criteria -Post 2025. Annually, at the City Council meeting on thethird Monday in January, the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tern shall be selected.The Mayor shall be that Council member that is currently serving as MayorPro Tern. If such Council member does not accept the nomination forrotational Mayor, then the next most senior Council member which has notyet served as Mayor or Mayor Pro Tern, shall be offered the position of Mayor.However, if two or more Councilmembers qualify for the position of Mayorby virtue of having equal seniority, then that Council member who receivedthe highest number of votes in their previous November General City Election shall be the Mayor. The person who received the next highest vote total in their previous election shall be Mayor Pro Tern. The incumbent Mayor Pro 'Fern shall not serve consecutive tenns. (3) Term. The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tern shall serve from January until January of each year succeeding year. A new successor shall be selected on the third Monday in January of every year. Notwithstanding this section, the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tern shall continue to serve until his or her successor takes office. SECTION 2, The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this day of October, 2024. c Robert Gonzdes Mayor ATTEST: STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES CITY OF AZUSA ) ) ss. ) 1 HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution No. 2024-C59 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Azusa, at a meeting thereof held on the 2U‘ day of October 2024, by the following vote of the Council: COUNCILMEMBERS: GONZALES, ALVAREZ, AVILA, BECKWITH COUNCILMEMBERS: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:MENDEZ APPROVED AS TO FORM: I Best Bipst & Krieger, l^LP City Attorney