HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 04/23/2019 - CONSIDERATION OF A MOTION TO ELECT A MAYOR PRO TEMAgenda Item 1
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AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY April 23, 2019
City Council
STAFF
Delynn Coldiron, City Clerk
Carrie Daggett, Legal
SUBJECT
Council Consideration of a Motion to Elect a Mayor Pro Tem.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is for Council to consider a motion to elect a Mayor Pro Tem.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council proceed with this item.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
There is a conflict in the City Charter between when the terms for new Councilmembers begins and when a
Mayor Pro Tem shall be elected.
Under Article II, Section 1(d), the Charter states that the terms of the Mayor and other members of the Council
shall begin when they take the oath of office, which shall occur as the first order of business at the first regular
or special Council meeting following the final certification of election results and after expiration of the recount
period, or their appointment.
The recent election was certified on April 12. An individual has five days after this date to file a request for a
recount; until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17 in this case. The next regular or special meeting following this
date is April 23, 2019, which is the date set aside to swear-in the new Council.
Under Article II, Section 4, the Charter states that at the first regular or special meeting after final certification of
a City election, the Council shall elect a Mayor Pro Tem for a two (2) year term from among the members of the
Council to act as Mayor during the absence or disability of the Mayor. Unfortunately, when the last round of
changes were made to the Charter, this item did not receive the same update as the prior section which would
have postponed this until after the expiration of the recount period. Although it would seem to make most sense
for a new Council to choose their Mayor Pro Tem, the Charter language as it currently exists requires this to be
done at the April 16 meeting.
To ensure compliance with the City’s Charter, at the April 16 meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Horak was elected to
continue as Mayor Pro Tem. Because his term will end on April 23, the newly seated Council will need to elect
a new Mayor Pro Tem.
The proposed process for electing the Mayor Pro Tem is as follows:
1. Mayor describes the responsibilities of the Mayor Pro Tem:
a. Under the Charter, serves in absence of Mayor.
b. Under the Code, Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem confer with City Manager on preparation of the
agenda for each Council meeting.
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c. Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem give direction to the City Manager and the City Attorney with regard
to initiating and developing ordinances and resolutions.
2. Mayor recommends process for electing Mayor Pro Tem:
a. Citizen input.
b. Individual Councilmembers announc interest in the position.
c. Mayor requests a motion to elect a candidate.
d. If motion is seconded, discussion and vote.
e. Process continues until a candidate gets four votes.
3. If there’s an objection to the proposed process, other Councilmembers can suggest an alternative. If
objection is seconded, a motion and vote on the alternative occurs. If alternative passes, that becomes
the process that will be used to select the Mayor Pro Tem. If no alternative is approved by majority vote,
the Mayor’s proposed process is used.