TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Liza Tamura, City Clerk
Martha Alvarez, Senior Deputy City Clerk
SUBJECT:Title
City Council Reorganization:
a) History and Discussion of Mayoral Rotation
b) Selection of Mayor
c) Selection of Mayor Pro Tem
d) Recognition of Outgoing Mayor Montgomery
APPROVE
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_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
At the November 17, 2020, City Council meeting, Councilmember Stern and Councilmember Hersman requested that the history of the Mayoral rotation be discussed at the December 1, 2020, City Council meeting, prior to the scheduled selection of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem.
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss and provide direction regarding the selection of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, and recognize outgoing Mayor Montgomery.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Manhattan Beach is a General Law city incorporated under the laws of the State of California on December 2, 1912. The City has a “Council-Manager” form of government where the City Manager is appointed by the City Council and is the Chief Executive Officer of the municipal corporation. The City Council acts as the board of directors of the municipal corporation and meets in a public forum where citizens may participate in the governmental process. The Mayor serves as the chairperson of the City Council. The City Council consists of five members, elected at-large on a non-partisan basis, who serve staggered four-year terms, with a two consecutive term limit.
On September 1, 2015, the California State Legislature passed the California Voter Participation Rights Act, also known as, Senate Bill (SB) 415. This legislation prohibits a local government from holding an election on any date other than a statewide election date if doing so in the past has resulted in a significant decrease in voter turnout. SB 415 requires cities with insufficient voter turnout to either change their election dates to June or November of even years, or adopt a plan to consolidate its election with the statewide election, no later than the November 8, 2022, statewide general election.
At the October 18, 2016, City Council Meeting, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 16-0026 establishing new General Municipal Election dates to be held in November of even years beginning in November 2020, to meet state mandates imposed by SB 415. Therefore, in 2019, the City held the last General Municipal election in March to be followed by the County consolidated elections in November of even years. Councilmembers elected on or after the November 2020 consolidated election, will return to the previous Mayoral rotation, occurring every nine and a half months.
For reference, as posted on the City website, the upcoming mayoral terms are scheduled to begin and end at the following dates with the accompanying term lengths:
• December 1, 2020 - September 7, 2021 (9 Months - Suzanne Hadley)
• September 7, 2021 - June 7, 2022 (9 Months - Hildy Stern)
In researching the Mayoral rotation, staff has been unable to find a City Ordinance or a City Resolution which addresses this subject matter. However, minutes from the February 28, 1978, City Council meeting include an item titled, “Plan for Rotation of Mayor.” The minutes continue to state that Councilmember Cashin suggested that the City Manager be instructed to prepare and submit to City Council (at the next meeting) a four-year plan of rotation for Mayor. Councilmember Switzer made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Blumberg, and it was so ordered. Additional research into the City Council meeting minutes for calendar year 1978, confirmed that no four-year Mayoral rotation plan was ever agendized on subsequent City Council meeting agendas. While there is no documented Mayoral rotation plan in place, the City has been utilizing “past practice” since the mid-1970’s.
DISCUSSION:
The Mayor is a member of the City Council and selected by a majority of the City Council every nine and a half months. As a member of the City Council, the Mayor shall have all the powers of a member. In addition, the Mayoral role is largely ceremonial as he or she attends public events on behalf of the City Council.
The Mayor Pro Tem is also a member of the City Council and is selected by a majority of the City Council every nine and a half months. The Mayor Pro Tem serves as backup to the Mayor, presides over the City Council meeting in the Mayor’s absence, and attends events when the Mayor is unavailable.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
After analysis, staff determined that public outreach was not required for this issue.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Public Comments (Received as of November 25, 2020)