2.53.040 City Council vacancy appointments.
A. The process for filling a vacancy by appointment to the City Council is intended to be consistent with and implementing of Chula Vista Charter Section 303(C). To the extent there is any conflict between the Charter and this chapter, the terms of the Charter shall govern.
B. In the event of a City Council vacancy, the City Clerk will work with City staff to notify the public of the vacancy in accordance with then applicable “best practices.” At a minimum, notice of the vacancy will be posted on the City’s website and at the City Clerk’s office.
C. The application period shall commence on a date established by the City Clerk no later than five calendar days after the vacancy is declared by the City Council in accordance with Charter Section 303(A) and end on the day falling 14 calendar days after the commencement date. An individual desiring to fill a vacancy must submit a qualified application during the application period. The City Clerk will collect and provide all qualified applications received within the application period to the Mayor and each Councilmember no later than 72 hours prior to the meeting scheduled for nominations or interviews. Such applications will be made available to the public at the same time. Applications received after the established application period shall not be accepted. The Mayor and each Councilmember shall independently review all forwarded qualified applications for the vacancy.
D. Should four or fewer qualified applications be received by the City Clerk within the application period, following the close of the application period, the appointment process shall be as follows:
1. At an open meeting of the City Council, the Mayor and City Council shall collectively set a date and time to hold an interview of all applicants who have submitted a qualified application during the specified application period.
2. At the meeting set for interviews, any member of the public shall be afforded the opportunity to speak to the item prior to commencement of the interview process.
3. The Mayor and City Council will then conduct the interviews.
4. Public comment will be solicited and allowed again after the interviews.
5. Following the interviews and any public comment, the Mayor and City Council shall publicly deliberate and select one individual for each available position. The affirmative votes of at least three Councilmembers are required for appointment.
E. Should five or more qualified applications be received by the City Clerk within the application period, following the close of the application period, the appointment process shall be as follows:
1. The City Clerk shall place an item on the agenda of an open City Council meeting, indicating that nominations by the City Councilmembers for interviews to fill the vacancy will take place. The vacancy and the names of applicants who have submitted a qualified application during the application period will be listed.
2. At the meeting for nominations, any member of the public, including any individual submitting a qualified application, shall be afforded the opportunity to speak to the nomination item.
3. Following the public comment period, the Mayor and each Councilmember will complete a form indicating one or more applicants each wishes to nominate for an interview and provide the form to the City Clerk. The forms submitted to the City Clerk shall be public record and retained on file in the office of the City Clerk.
4. The City Clerk shall then publicly announce each applicant receiving two or more nominations and indicate that each Councilmember’s nomination form is available for public review.
5. The Mayor and City Council shall then collectively set a date and time to hold an open meeting of the City Council for the purpose of interviewing each applicant who received two or more nominations.
6. At the meeting set for interviews, any member of the public shall be afforded the opportunity to speak to the interview item prior to the commencement of the interview process.
7. The Mayor and City Council will then conduct the interviews.
8. Public comment will be solicited and allowed again after the interviews.
9. Following the interviews and any public comment, the Mayor and City Council shall publicly deliberate and select one individual for each available position. The affirmative votes of at least three Councilmembers are required for appointment. (Ord. 3370 § 1, 2016).