Coalinga Municipal Code Art. 4 Municipal Elections

In accordance with California Government Code Section 36503.5, the municipal election for the City shall be held on the same day as the Statewide general election.

(§ 1, Ord. 527, eff. February 14, 1987)

The electors of the City of Coalinga shall elect five (5) Council Members pursuant to Sections 2-1.701 and 2.-1.801. General municipal elections are held every two (2) years in even-numbered years. The general municipal election shall be consolidated with the statewide general election. The City Council Members will be installed the first meeting after the votes have been certified.

(Ord. No. 811, § 1, eff. 6-14-2018)

(a) Pursuant to California Government Code Sections 34886 and 34871(c), Council Members shall be elected by-districts in five (5) single-member districts.

(b) (1)

Beginning with the general municipal election in November 2018, Council Members shall be elected in the electoral districts reflected on the map contained in Figure 1 and as subsequently reapportioned as provided by State law. Elections shall take place on a by-district basis as that term is defined in California Government Code Section 34871, meaning one (1) member of the City Council shall be elected from each district, by the voters of that district alone. In accordance with Section 2-1.601, each Council Member shall serve a four (4) year term, limited to two (2) consecutive terms, until his or her successor has qualified.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (b)(4), the Council Member 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 live 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 California Government Code Section 34882 and Elections Code Section 10227.

Residency in a district means a candidate is domiciled in the district. Domicile is defined as: That place in which his or her habitation is fixed, wherein the person has the intention of remaining, and to which, whenever he or she is absent, the person has the intention of returning. At a given time, a person may have only one (1) domicile.

Termination of residency in a district by a Council Member shall create an immediate vacancy for that Council district unless a substitute residence within the district is established within ninety (90) days after the termination of residency.

(3) The Fresno County Clerk shall verify voter registration in the district residence claimed for running for a City Council seat. In addition candidate must provide the following additional information to verify their ninety (90) day residency requirement:

a. Proof of home ownership/rental property. Proof of home ownership as evidenced by providing the following: 1a) a copy of a grant deed, 1b) a mortgage payment billing statement verifying the address, 1c) or any other document that can verify home ownership and residency of the property; and 2a) evidence of a homeowners property tax exemption filed with the Fresno County Assessor for proof that the home is the primary residence.

If a candidate does not have a tax exemption on file they must submit an affidavit signed by the candidate verifying that the home is the candidate's primary residence.

If the home ownership is in the name of a person other than the candidate, or in the name of a legal entity, such as a trust, partnership or corporation, the candidate must submit an affidavit signed by the homeowner or authorized legal representative of the entity verifying that candidate is living in the home as his/her primary residence.

If the residence is rented or leased by the candidate, the candidate will provide proof of residency by providing a signed copy of a lease or rental agreement.

If a candidate is living at a residence without a lease/rental agreement and whose name otherwise does not appear in the proof of home ownership, candidate must have landlord/property owner sign an affidavit, under penalty of perjury, verifying candidate's residency in landlords/property owner's property.

b. Proof of motor vehicle registration. A copy of any motor vehicles registered to the candidate for the residency claimed or proof of a valid California driver's license showing their address on their license is consistent with the address shown on their nomination papers. If the residence address on either the driver's license or auto registration is in the process to being changed, the candidate must provide a document from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV14 form) verifying the change is in process. If a candidate does not own an automobile or does not have a California driver's license, the candidate must submit any other State of California issued identification showing their address on the identification document is consistent with the address shown on their nomination papers.

c. PG&E/City of Coalinga Utility Bill. A PG&E bill or City of Coalinga utility bill in the candidate's name showing that the service address is consistent with the address in candidate's nomination papers. In the event a PG&E bill or the City of Coalinga utility bill has not been generated, a letter from an authorized representative of the utility provider stating that an account has been opened in the candidate's name will suffice. If there is an agreement with a landlord or other legal entity, as verified by a rental contract or lease contract, that the landlord or other legal entity will pay the utility bill, the candidate must submit an affidavit signed by the landlord or the other legal entity's authorized legal representative verifying that the landlord or other legal entity, is responsible for paying the PG&E bill or the City of Coalinga utility bill.

d. The candidate must sign an affidavit, under penalty of perjury, verifying residency.

Failure to provide any of the above-required documents will disqualify a candidate from meeting the residency requirement. Willfully submitting false, forged, altered documents or coercing or unduly influencing persons providing affidavit documents will also disqualify candidates and constitute a misdemeanor violation in addition to any other legal remedy available to enforce a similar fraudulent act.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, each of the Council Members in office at the time this chapter takes effect shall continue in office until the expiration of the full term to which he or she was elected and until his or her successor is qualified. Vacancies in Council Member offices elected at-large may be filled from the City at-large. At the end of the term of each Council Member, that Member's successor shall be elected on a by-district basis in the districts established in subsection A and the map contained in Figure 1, as subsequently reapportioned as provided by State law. A vacancy in a Council Member office elected by-district shall be filled by a person qualified to hold the office, who is a resident of the district.

(Ord. No. 811, § 2, eff. 6-14-2018)

(a) Consistent with Section 2-1.601, Council Members shall be elected in Council Districts 1, 3, and 5 beginning at the general municipal election in November 2018, and every four (4) years thereafter.

(b) The Council Members from Council Districts 2 and 4 shall be elected beginning at the general municipal election in November 2020, and every four (4) years thereafter.

(Ord. No. 811, § 3, eff. 6-14-2018)