HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Policy No. 120 - Selection of Vice Mayor amended August 15 2023CITY COUNCIL POLICY
CITY OF NATIONAL CITY
AMENDED: August 15, 2023 ADOPTED: November 20, 2018
POLICY # 120 TITLE: Selection of Vice Mayor
PURPOSE
In order to provide every member of the City Council with an opportunity to serve as Vice-
Mayor, it is the policy of the City Council that selection be made on the basis of the length of
time that a member has served on the City Council, and whether or not the member has
previously had the opportunity to serve.
POLICY
It is the policy of the City Council of the City of National City that the position of Vice-Mayor
shall be rotated among the Councilmembers so that each Councilmember serves one (1)
year as Vice-Mayor during their four (4) year term. The City Council shall select the Vice-
Mayor in accordance with the procedure set forth herein.
1. As a General Law City, selection of the Vice-Mayor is governed by Sections 36801
and 34905 of the California Government Code.
Section 36801 provides:
The City Council shall meet at the meeting at which the
declaration of the election results for a general municipal election
is made pursuant to Sections 10262 and 10263 of the Elections
Code and, following the declaration of the election results and
the installation of elected officials, choose one of its number as
mayor, and one of its number as mayor pro tempore. [Referred
to as the “Vice-Mayor” in National City.]
Because National City has a directly-elected Mayor, pursuant to Title 4, Division 2,
Article 3 of the Government Code, the provisions of Section 36801 pertaining to
the City Council selecting the Mayor do not apply; the Council selects only the Vice-
Mayor.
2. The Vice-Mayor shall have the powers and duties as specified in Government
Code Section 36802, which provides that the Mayor shall preside at the meetings
of the City Council and that if the Mayor is absent or unable to act, the Vice-Mayor
shall serve until the Mayor returns or is able to act. The Vice-Mayor has all of the
powers and duties of the Mayor.
3. The term of Vice-Mayor shall be for one- year and, in accordance with
Government Code Section 36801, selection of the Vice- Mayor shall occur upon
certification of the election results. For purposes of this policy, the election
assumes the general election held in November and Certification of the Election
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
CITY OF NATIONAL CITY
AMENDED: August 15, 2023 ADOPTED: November 20, 2018
POLICY # 120 TITLE: Selection of Vice Mayor
results generally occurring in December.
4. The Vice-Mayor shall be the Councilmember with the most seniority who has not
been Vice-Mayor in the last three (3) consecutive years. In the event two (2) or more
Councilmembers have equal seniority and have not been Vice-Mayor in the last three
(3) consecutive years, the Councilmember with the most votes in their last regular
general election shall serve as Vice-Mayor.
5. In the event of a vacancy on the City Council that is filled by appointment, the
appointee shall not be included in the rotation for Vice-Mayor during the appointed
term of office.
Related Policy References
California Government Code Sections 36801-36802
California Elections Code Sections 10262 - 10263
Prior Policy Amendments:
November 20, 2018 (Resolution No. 2018-204)
September 19, 2000 (Resolution No. 2000-120)