01-20-1998 - Change in Council Reorganization Date• City of West Covina
Memorandum
TO City Council and City Manager
FROM City Clerk's Office
SUBJECT Change in Council Reorganization Date
AGENDA
ITEM NO. x z
DATE 1/20/98
SUMMARY This ordinance changes the annual City Council reorganization date from April to
March to coincide with March general municipal elections.
DISCUSSION
In years past, Council reorganization took place in the month of April to coincide
with the general municipal elections held in April. Currently Municipal Code Section 2-21 still
reflects the month of April for the annual selection of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. Now that the
general municipal elections take place in March, a change in the Municipal Code is necessary to
coincide with the March election dates. Therefore, the proposed ordinance changes the
stipulated month of April to March. That is the only change in the proposed ordinance.
If the proposed ordinance is introduced at this meeting and adopted at ,the next
regular Council meeting on February 3, it would become effective thirty days later on March 5,
1998. City Council reorganization could then take place on March 17, 1998, and be in
compliance with the Municipal Code. The effect of this change shortens the current Mayor's
term of office by one month.
ALTERNATIVES
1) The City Council could decide to leave the Municipal Code as is and conduct the
reorganization at the second meeting in April of 1998. If so, the newly elected mayor's term
would expire on March 9, 1999, cutting short that term of office by one month. This is, because
state law requires reorganizations of City Councils to take place one week following their
general municipal elections and the next one slated for West Covina is March 2, 1999. The
Mayor selected on March 9, 1999 would experience a one -month extension of his/her term to
April of 2000. The fluctuation between the "short a month/extend a month" scenario would
continue until such time as the Municipal Code is revised.
2) The City Council. could also consider reverting the City's general municipal
election back to April of the even -numbered years. As you will recall, the State legislature
enacted a legislative statute for the presidential primary to be conducted in March of 1996 (rather
than June 1996). The legislature thought that California would have more influence nationwide
if the election was held at that earlier time. However, the intended influence did not materialize
as other states countIeracted by moving forward their presidential primaries. The statute also
stated that it would remain "...in effect until January 1, 1998, and as of that date is repealed,
unless a later enacted statute, which is enacted before January 1, 1998, deletes or extends that
date." No action was taken by the legislature. This means that the presidential primary reverts
back to June every our years. This opens the door for the City of West Covina to also revert
back to April of the even -numbered years.
If this alternative interests the Council, a directive to staff to report back with time
frames and necessary, actions would be appropriate.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation is o introduce t following ordinance:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING
SECTION 2-21 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATIVE
TO REORGANIZATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
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City Clerk Janet