Corona Municipal Code Ch. 2.08 City Council

Sections

Statutory reference:

For statutory provisions providing the powers of municipal legislative bodies, see Cal. Gov’t Code § 37100 et seq.

Regular meetings of the Council shall be held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at Corona City Hall, located at 400 South Vicentia Avenue. The regular meeting start times shall be designated each calendar year by a resolution duly adopted by the City Council before the start of the calendar year. If the City Council wishes to change the start time for any particular regular meeting to an earlier time, it shall do so by a resolution duly adopted at least 14 calendar days in advance of such meeting. The closed session portion shall be held in the City Council Board Room located on the third floor of City Hall, or at such other location as indicated on the published agenda. The open session portion shall be held at the Council Chambers located on the first floor of City Hall.

(`78 Code, § 2.08.010.) (Ord. 3411 § 1, 2025; Ord. 3026 § 1, 2010; Ord. 2308 § 1, 1997.)

Special meetings of the Council may be held at a location and called in the manner provided by State law, including the Ralph M. Brown Act.

(`78 Code, § 2.08.020.) (Ord. 3026 § 2, 2010)

If, by reason of fire, flood, earthquake or other emergency, it is unsafe to hold any meeting of the Council in the Council chambers at the civic center, any such meeting may be held for the duration of such emergency at such place as shall be designated by a majority of the Council. In the event the Council chambers shall be determined by a majority of the Council to be too small to conveniently accommodate the persons in attendance at any meeting, the Council may, either before or during such meeting, adjourn such meeting to such place within the city as designated by a majority of the Council.

(`78 Code, § 2.08.030.)

All reports, communications, ordinances, resolutions, contract documents and other matters to be submitted for consideration by the Council at any meeting thereof shall be submitted to the City Manager at a time, date and place designated by the City Manager. The City Manager shall have the discretion to determine whether and when an item is placed on a Council agenda; provided, however, that any Council Member can add an item to a City Council agenda if his or her request meets the deadline established by the City Manager. Once a vote by the City Council is taken on a matter added by a Council Member, such matter shall require a majority vote of the entire City Council to be placed on another City Council agenda. The City Manager shall arrange matters upon a written agenda according to state law, including the Ralph M. Brown Act, and shall furnish a copy thereof to each member of the Council, the City Attorney and the City Clerk, as far in advance of such meeting as possible. Copies shall also be made available to the public pursuant to state law, including the Ralph M. Brown Act.

(`78 Code, § 2.08.040.) (Ord. 3026 § 3, 2010; Ord. 2308 § 2, 1997; Ord. 2288 § 1, 1996.)

The Mayor (or in his or her absence, the Mayor Pro Tempore) shall preside at each meeting, shall preserve order and decorum, shall state each question coming before the Council, call for the vote, announce the decision of the Council upon all subjects and decide all questions of order subject to an appeal to and the approval and decision of a majority of the Council.

(`78 Code, § 2.08.050.) (Ord. 2308 § 3, 1997.)

(A) Annually, at a Special Meeting of the City Council prior to the first regularly scheduled City Council meeting in December, the City Council shall select a member of the City Council to serve as Mayor for the upcoming year. Absent an express motion to the contrary, the current Mayor Pro Tempore is presumed to be nominated and fill the position of Mayor for the upcoming year. Immediately after the Mayor's selection, the newly elected Mayor shall conduct a City Council vote to select a Mayor Pro Tempore for the upcoming year. The selection of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore shall be by a majority vote of those Council Members present.

(B) The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore shall serve in their positions at the will and pleasure of the City Council. At any regular or adjourned regular meeting of the City Council, the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tempore, or both, may be removed from their position by a majority vote of the entire City Council. If removed, the successor(s) shall be selected by a majority vote of those Council Members present.

(C) The terms Mayor Pro Tempore and Vice-Mayor may be used interchangeably by the City, including throughout this code. As provided for in § 1.04.020 of this code, both terms shall have the meaning, duties and obligations provided for in the California Government Code.

(Ord. 3133 § 2, 2013; Ord. 3026 § 4, 2010.)

(A) The presiding officer may debate. The Mayor or other presiding officer may move, second and debate from the chair, subject only to the limitations of debate as are by these rules imposed upon all members. He or she shall not be deprived of any of the rights and privileges of a Councilmember because of his or her position as presiding officer.

(B) Each member desiring to speak shall address the chair and, upon recognition by the presiding officer, shall confine himself or herself to the question under debate, avoiding personalities and indecorous language.

(C) Each member, once recognized, shall not be interrupted while speaking, unless it be to call him or her to order or as otherwise provided in this chapter. If a member, while speaking, be called to order, he or she shall cease speaking until the question of order be determined and, if in order, he or she shall be permitted to proceed.

(D) A motion to reconsider any action taken by the Council may be made only on the day such action was taken. It may be made immediately during the same session or at a recessed or adjourned session thereof. Such motion must be made by one of the prevailing side, but may be seconded by any member and may be made at any time and have precedence over all other motions or while a member has the floor. It shall be debatable. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any member of the Council from making or remaking the same or other motion at a subsequent meeting of the Council.

(E) Subject to the approval of a majority of the Council, any Councilmember’s remarks upon any subject under consideration shall, upon his or her request, be entered in the minutes.

(F) Each member present when a roll is called shall vote for or against the questions, unless excused by a majority of the members present prior to the calling of the roll on such question. The presiding officer must call for a poll of the Council upon any question when requested by any member. Determination by a member to abstain from voting on any action does not indicate, and shall not be counted as, either an "aye" or "no" vote on that action.

(`78 Code, § 2.08.070.) (Ord. 1818 § 1, 1986.)

Any person desiring to address the Council shall first secure the permission of the presiding officer so to do and may address the Council by oral or written communication on any matter concerning the city's business or any matter over which the Council has control; provided, however, that preference shall be given to those persons who have notified the City Manager in advance of their desire to speak in order that the same may appear on the agenda.

(`78 Code, § 2.08.080.)

Each person addressing the Council shall stand, give his or her name and address in an audible tone of voice and shall address his or her remarks to the Council as a body and not to any individual member. No person other than the members of the Council and the person having the floor shall be permitted to enter into any discussion either directly or through a member of the Council without the permission of the presiding officer.

(`78 Code, § 2.08.090.)

The rules of decorum for the City Council meetings shall be as provided for in § 2.12.020 of this code.

(`78 Code, § 2.08.100.) (Ord. 2633 § 1, 2003.)

A motion to adjourn shall always be in order and decided without debate.

(`78 Code, § 2.08.110.)

(A) Current compensation. Pursuant to Government Code § 36516, each member of the City Council shall be compensated in the amount of $800 per month.

(B) Increase. Pursuant to Government Code §§ 36516 and 36516.5, on the first day of the calendar month following the beginning of a new term of office for any member of the City Council, the compensation for all members of the City Council shall be increased to $1,900 per month.

(C) Certain other legislative bodies. The City Council may provide, by a resolution, for up to $100 per month in additional compensation for Council Members who are appointed by the City Council to serve and represent the City on a joint powers authority or other legislative body. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the City Council shall not provide for such additional compensation if either of the following are applicable:

(1) A Council Member's compensation would exceed the maximum amount then provided for in Government Code § 36516(A) (currently $2,550); or

(2) The joint powers authority or other legislative body already provides compensation for their service, other than reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses as authorized by state law.

(`78 Code, § 2.08.120.) (Ord. 3397 § 3, 2024; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1984.)

The signature authority for all warrants drawn on the city treasury; all written contracts and conveyances made or entered by the City; and all instruments requiring the City Seal is hereby delegated to the City Manager. In the City Manager's absence, an Assistant City Manager, acting as the City Manager, shall have the authority to sign all warrants, written contracts, conveyances, and all instruments requiring the City Seal.

(Ord. 2615 § 1, 2002; Ord. 2512, § 1, 2001.)

(A) Following the effective date of the ordinance enacting this section and upon commencement of elections by districts in the order established in § 2.08.170 below, City Council Members shall be elected by districts, as defined in California Government Code § 34871 or any successor statute.

(B) Applicable provisions of federal and state laws regarding the election of Council Members by district shall apply to the election of Council Members, including without limitation, California Government Code §§ 34879 and 34881 through 34883, or any successor statutes. Accordingly, the term of office of each Council Member shall be four (4) years, one City Council Member shall be elected from each district, and no City Council Member may hold office in more than one district. Also, a person is not eligible to hold office as a Council Member for a particular district unless he or she is otherwise qualified, resides in the district, and both resided in the district and was a registered voter in the district at the time nomination papers were issued to him or her. Finally, registered voters signing nomination petitions or voting for a City Council Member shall be residents of the district from which the Council Member is to be elected.

(Ord. 3236 § 1, 2016.)

The City Council shall consist of five (5) members elected by districts within the City, at the times and in the manner provided by Section 2.08.170 below and state law.

(Ord. 3236 § 2, 2016.)

Five (5) City Council districts are hereby established in the City, with their original boundaries and identifying numbers being as described on the City of Corona 2016 Council District Boundary Map attached to the ordinance enacting this section. The map, which shall be updated only by a duly adopted ordinance of the City Council following the United States federal census and in accordance with applicable federal and state law, shall be maintained on file with the City Clerk and posted on the City's website.

(Ord. 3236 § 3, 2016.)

The City Council Members in office at the time the ordinance enacting this section takes effect shall continue in office until the expiration of their terms and until their successors are elected and qualified. Commencing with the general municipal election in November of 2018, the voters in District 1, District 4 and District 5 shall elect their City Council Members by district. Commencing with the general municipal election in November of 2020, the voters in District 2 and District 3 shall elect their City Council Members by district.

(Ord. 3236 § 4, 2016.)

Pursuant to Government Code § 36502(b), term limits are imposed upon persons serving on the City Council as follows:

(A) As further provided in section (B) below, no person shall be eligible for nomination and/or election to more than three (3) terms of office as a City Council Member, whether by election or appointment and whether served consecutively or not.

(B) As used herein, a term of office shall include any term as City Council Member which commences on or after November 3, 2020, whether by election or appointment, and which lasts for two (2) years and one (1) day or more. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any person who resigns their office as a City Council Member shall be deemed to have served a full term of office regardless of when during their term of office their resignation becomes effective.

(C) If a person is ineligible to hold office as a City Council Member pursuant to this section, the City Clerk must reject, refuse to accept for filing, and otherwise refuse to process any nominating papers or other equivalent declaration of candidacy that is required or authorized by law for that person, including, without limitation, as a write-in candidate.

(D) As provided for in section (B) above, this section applies prospectively only, meaning that only terms of office commencing on or after November 3, 2020 shall be counted towards the term limit calculation.

(E) The City Council may, by majority vote of its membership, make non-substantive revisions to this Section 2.08.180 in order to implement its substantive provisions, provided that such revisions are consistent with and further the purposes and intent of the voters in approving the ordinance which adopted this section.

(Ord. 3317 § 1, 2020)

(A) Any elected officer, candidate, or committee that is required to file with the City Clerk campaign statements, reports or other documents pursuant to Chapter 4 of the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 84100 et seq.) and that receives a total of $2,000 or more in contributions or makes a total of $2,000 or more in expenditures, shall electronically sign, under penalty of perjury, and file such statements, reports or documents in an electronic format prescribed by the City Clerk.

(B) An elected officer, candidate or committee that has filed an electronic statement, report or document pursuant to this section is not required to file a paper copy.

(C) Once a candidate or committee is subject to the electronic filing requirements imposed by this section, the candidate or committee will remain subject to the electronic filing requirements until the candidate or committee files a termination statement pursuant to the Political Reform Act and, thus, is no longer subject to the filing requirements set forth in the Political Reform Act.

(D) Any candidate or committee not required to file an electronic statement or report by this section may voluntarily opt to file such statement or report in an electronic format prescribed by the City Clerk by submitting written notice to the City Clerk’s Office. A candidate or committee that opts to file a statement or report in an electronic format prescribed by the City Clerk is not required to file a paper copy.

(Ord. 3339 § 3, 2022.)