Barstow Municipal Code Ch. 2.54 By-District Electoral System

(a) The city council declares that the change in method of electing members of this city council hereby enacted is being made in furtherance of the CVRA of 2001.

(b) Beginning with the municipal election in November 2018, members of the city council shall be elected in the electoral districts established by section 2.54.010(c) and subsequently reapportioned as provided by State law. Elections shall take place by-district as that term is defined in California Government Code (GC) Section 34871, meaning one member of the city council shall be elected from each district, by the voters of the district alone. Each member of the city council shall serve a four-year term.

(c) Members of the city council shall be elected on a by-district basis from the four city council districts hereby established. The boundaries and identifying number of each district shall be as described on the City Council District Map attached hereto as "Exhibit A" and incorporated by reference.

(d) Commencing with the general municipal election in November 2018 and thereafter the voters in districts 1 and 2 shall elect members of the city council by-district for full four year terms. At the general municipal election in November 2020 and thereafter, the voters in districts 3 and 4 shall elect members of the city council by-district for full four year terms.

(e) Each member of the city council elected to represent a district must reside in that district and be a registered voter in that district, and any candidate for city council must reside in, and be a registered voter in, the district in which he or she seeks election at the time nomination papers are issued pursuant to G.C. Section 34882 and E.C. [Elections Code] Section 10227. It is the intent of the city council that no term of any member of the city council that commenced prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be affected by this chapter.

(f) Registered voters signing nomination papers or voting for a member of the city council shall be residents of the geographical area making up the district from which the candidate is to be elected.

(g) Termination of residency in a district by a member of the city council shall create a vacancy for that city council district unless a substitute residence within the district is immediately declared and established within 30 days after the termination of residency. In the event that a vacancy is created as a result of termination of residency as provided herein, such vacancy shall be filled pursuant to the provisions of the E.C.

(h) If necessary to facilitate the implementation of this article, the city clerk is authorized to make technical adjustments to the district boundaries that do not substantively affect the populations in the districts, the eligibility of candidates, or the residence of elected officials within any district. The city clerk shall consult with the city manager and city attorney concerning any technical adjustments deemed necessary and shall advise the city council of any such adjustments required in the implementation of the districts.

(Ord. No. 956-2018U, § 3, 1-16-2018)

The office of Mayor of the City of Barstow is a separate office, which shall continue to be elected at-large, pursuant to the 1976 ballot measure approved by a majority of the city's electorate.

(Ord. No. 956-2018U, § 3, 1-16-2018)