Chapter 1.5 — GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

The City shall hereafter hold its general municipal election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in even-numbered years. (Ord. 16-1585 § 2)

If an election held pursuant to this Chapter occurs on the same date as any other regular statewide election, such election may be consolidated. In the event of consolidation of elections, the provisions contained in the Elections Code pertaining to the conduct of elections shall apply. (Ord. 16-1585 § 2)

• A. By-District Elections. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 34886, all members of the City Council of the City of Carson, other than the Mayor, shall be elected by district in four (4) single-member districts.

  1. All members of the City Council shall be elected in the electoral districts established by subsection (B) of this Section and as subsequently reapportioned pursuant to State law. All City Council elections shall take place "by district" as that term is defined in California Government Code Section 34871, meaning each of the five (5) Councilmembers, other than the directly elected Mayor, shall be elected from each district, by the voters of that district alone.

  2. Any Councilmember elected or appointed 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.

  3. Termination of residency in a district by a Councilmember shall create a vacancy for that City Council district unless a substitute residence within the district is immediately declared and established within thirty (30) days after the termination of residency.

  4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, all Councilmembers in office at the time this Section takes effect shall continue in office until the expiration of the at-large term to which they were elected.

• B. City Council Districts and District Elections. All Councilmembers, other than the directly elected Mayor, shall be elected on a by-district basis from the Council districts shown and numbered on the map attached to the ordinance codified in this section as Exhibit A, a copy of which shall be on file in the City Clerk's office. In November 2020, and every four (4) years thereafter, the following two (2) City Council districts shall be elected by district: District 1 and District 3. In November 2022, and every four (4) years thereafter, the following two (2) City Council districts shall be elected by district: District 2 and District 4.

• C. Amendment of District Boundaries. Pursuant to California Elections Code Section21620, as it may be amended from time to time, the City Council shall adjust the boundaries of any or all of the districts following each Federal decennial census or, if authorized by the City Charter, following each Federal mid-decade census, to ensure that the districts are in compliance with all applicable provisions of law.

• (Ord. 20-2008 § 2)

CHAPTER 2 OFFICERS

Pursuant to the authority granted by Section 51501 of the Government Code of the State of California, the assessment and tax collection duties performed by the City Assessor and Tax Collector hereby are transferred to the Assessor and Tax Collector of the County of Los Angeles.

1. Same. Abolishment of Offices. The Offices of City Assessor and Tax Collector hereby are abolished.

2. Same. Transfer of Duties. Pursuant to the authority granted by Section 51507 of the Government Code of the State of California, the duties of the City Assessor, other than the assessing of City property and the duties of the Tax Collector, other than the collection of taxes, hereby are transferred to and shall be performed by the City Clerk, or such officer of the County of Los Angeles as may by contract with the City be designated and authorized to perform such duties.

• (Ord. 2 § 2200)

Any application required to be filed with the City or fees required to be paid to the City, pursuant to the provisions of this Code, shall be filed with or paid to the City Clerk, unless otherwise by this Code provided.

(Ord. 2 § 2201)

The City Clerk upon the entry to his duties of office shall execute a bond to the City in conformity with bonds of Public Officers, and in conformity with the provisions of the Government Code of the State of California relating thereto, in the amount of $50,000. (Ord. 2 § 2202)

The City Treasurer upon the entry of office shall execute a bond to the City in conformity with bonds of Public Officers, and in conformity with the provisions of the Government Code of the State of California relating thereto, in the amount of $50,000. (Ord. 2 § 2203)

No person unless authorized by the City Clerk, Mayor or City Attorney, shall remove any papers or documents from the City Offices.

(Ord. 2 § 2204)

No person elected or appointed to membership on the City Council of the City of Carson shall, subsequent to such election or appointment, be eligible for employment, or for appointment to any position, with the City for which compensation is paid, until one (1) year has elapsed after such person has ceased to be a member of the City Council. (Ord. 2 § 2205)

The office of Enforcement Officer of the City of Carson is hereby created and established. The Enforcement Officer shall be appointed by the City Administrator and shall meet the qualifications established for the position by the City Administrator. The Enforcement Officer shall have the authority and duty to enforce the provisions of the Municipal Code and Ordinances of the City of Carson as may be from time to time designated or assigned by the City Administrator. Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 836.5, the Enforcement Officer may make arrests for violations of such Municipal Code or ordinances, and may issue citations for misdemeanors pursuant to California Penal Code Chapter 5C (commencing with Section 853.6) and Carson Municipal Code Article 1 Chapter 2. The Enforcement Officer shall be responsible for the proper performance of his duties to, and shall be subject to removal by, the City Administrator.

(Ord. 72-208 § 1)

Repealed by Ord. 99-1183 .

(Ord. 90-902 § 1; Ord. 93-1020 § 1)

CHAPTER 2.5

RESTRICTIONS PERTAINING TO FORMER CITY OFFICIALS

The City Council finds that one (1) of the ways to attract businesses, residents and talented people to the City is to assure the public that its government is respected for its honesty and integrity and that its decisions are made on the merits and not tainted by actual or potential conflict of interest. The City Council finds that injury to these goals can occur when City officers and other high-ranking employees, upon leaving office or employment, attempt to use that former position for compensation on behalf of private persons and entities in matters pending before the City. In enacting this Chapter, the City Council finds it necessary to impose reasonable restrictions on the ability of former officers and employees to influence the City, or its current officers and employees, for compensation on behalf of other persons and entities so as to avoid appearances of conflicts of interest. (Ord. 00-1198 § 1)

The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings for purposes of this Chapter:

• (a) "City administrative body" shall mean every City and Carson Redevelopment Agency Commission, committee and subcommittee, and every City and Carson Redevelopment Agency office, administrative group, division, and department.

• (b) "City legislative body" shall mean the City Council and the Carson Redevelopment Agency Board of Directors.

• (c) "City official" shall mean any elected official of the City of Carson, any member of the Planning Commission or Mobilehome Park Rental Review Board, every division manager, every department director and every officer or employee of the City or Carson Redevelopment Agency who is required to file a statement of economic interests pursuant to the City's or Carson Redevelopment Agency's conflict of interest code, except that the term "City official" shall not include any member of a City commission, committee or subcommittee other than members of the Planning Commission or Mobilehome Park Rental Review Board.

• (d) "City proceeding" shall mean any City administrative body or City legislative body process or activity to review, act upon or make any recommendation upon an application or request to grant City or Carson Redevelopment Agency approval or action on any ordinance, rule, regulation, permit, subdivision map, license, franchise, grant, loan, contract, or any amendment or modification thereto.

• (e) "Participated" shall mean to have taken part personally and substantially, during the City official's term of office or employment, in the approval, disapproval, formal written recommendation, rendering advice, investigation, or otherwise in any City proceeding except those City proceedings that exclusively involve the exercise of the City's legislative power to adopt an ordinance, rule, or regulation. A City official's abstention from voting on a matter on the basis of a conflict of interest shall not constitute participation hereunder.

• (Ord. 00-1198 § 1)

• (a) Permanent Ban on Certain Activities. No former City official shall, for compensation, act as agent, representative, attorney or otherwise represent any person, as such term is defined in CMC § 1314, before any City administrative body, City legislative body, or officers or employees thereof, by making formal or informal appearance, or by making any oral or written communication, if (1) the appearance or communication is for the purpose of affecting or influencing any City proceeding, and (2) the matter is one in which the former City official participated as an officer or employee of the City or Carson Redevelopment Agency.

• (b) One (1) Year General Ban. No former City official shall, for one (1) year after leaving office or employment, act as agent, representative, attorney or otherwise represent any person, as such term is defined in CMC § 1314, for compensation, before any City administrative body, City legislative body, or officers or employees thereof, by making formal or informal appearance, or by making any oral or written communication, if the appearance or communication is for the purpose of affecting or influencing any City proceeding.

• (c) Restriction on Assistance in Representation. No former City official shall, for compensation, aid, advise, counsel, consult, or assist in representing any other person as such term is defined in CMC § 1314 (except the City, the Carson Redevelopment Agency or other government entity), in any City proceeding in which the former City official would be prohibited from appearing under subsections (a) or (b) of this Section.

• (d) Exceptions. The prohibitions contained in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this Section shall not apply:

  • (1) To appearances or communications by former City officials concerning matters of a personal nature, such as obtaining a business license on their own behalf;

  • (2) To appearances or communications by former City officials at the request of, or on behalf of, the City, the Carson Redevelopment Agency or any other government entity; and

• (3) To prevent a former City employee or official from giving testimony to or under oath, or from making statements required to be made under penalty of perjury, to any court.

• (Ord. 00-1198 § 1)

The requirements imposed by this Chapter shall apply to:

• (a) Any City official employed or holding office on or after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this Chapter; and

• (b) Any City official whose employment or term of office ended less than one (1) year prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this Chapter, except that nothing contained in this Chapter shall prohibit or apply to appearance or communications by such former City official pursuant to a written contract entered into prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this Chapter.

• (Ord. 00-1198 § 1)