La Mesa Municipal Code Ch. 2.12 Mayor

The office of mayor shall be an elected office. The person elected as mayor shall hold office for four years from the Tuesday succeeding his election and until his successor is elected and qualified.

(Ord. 1280; 1962: Ord. 556; 1954)

The city council hereby finds, determines and declares as follows:

(a) It is the purpose of Section 2.12.012 to provide compensation to the mayor of the city in addition to that he receives as a councilman;

(b) The situation in Vietnam is such that a state of war exists within the meaning of the California Constitution and statutory provisions which suspend during time of war the prohibition against increase in compensation for any municipal officer after his election or during his term of office.

(Ord. 1755; 1969)

The mayor of the city shall receive such compensation as the council shall determine and fix in the annual budget as established by ordinance. Such compensation shall be in addition to that he receives as a councilman of the city.

(Ord. 2306; March 10, 1983)

The mayor shall assume the chair of the presiding officer immediately after his election. He shall state every question coming before the council, announce the decision of the council on all subjects and decide all questions of order, subject, however, to an appeal to the council, in which event a majority vote of the council shall govern and conclusively determine such question of order.

(Ord. 556; 1954)

The mayor shall preserve strict order and decorum at all regular and special meetings of the council.

(Ord. 556 § 4 (part); 1954)

The mayor is a member of the city council and has the powers and duties of a member of the city council. The mayor shall vote on all questions, his name being called last.

(Ord. 556 § 4 (part); 1954)

The mayor shall sign:

(a) All warrants drawn on the city treasury;

(b) All written contracts and covenants made or entered into by the city;

(c) All instruments requiring the city seal except resolutions. Resolutions shall be signed by the city clerk. Proclamations/commendations shall be signed in accordance with Section 2.12.065.

(Ord. 1586 § 1; 1967: Ord. 566 § 4 (part); 1954: Ord. 2558 § 1; April 17, 1990)

The mayor shall be the official head of the city for all ceremonial purposes, and he shall perform all other duties as may be prescribed by ordinance or by the council consistent with his office.

(Ord. 556 § 4 (part); April 13, 1954)

(a) Proclamations shall be reserved for those activities, events or declarations which are made on behalf of the citizens of the city.

(1) The city council hereby expressly authorizes the mayor to issue proclamations in his sole discretion on behalf of the entire city council.

(2) Proclamations on behalf of the city dedicating such things as special days, weeks, months, confirming events, or acknowledging, recognizing, referencing or involving any citizen, organization or businesses in La Mesa may be signed by any or all members of the council with the mayor as first signature, the vice mayor as second signature and the remaining members of the council in order of seniority. The mayor shall afford each council member the opportunity to sign each and every proclamation before issuance.

(3) All proclamations shall be prepared by the city clerk and shall have the official city seal affixed.

(4) All proclamations shall be physically delivered at a time and manner, as directed by the council.

(5) Both the mayor and council member, or council members, requesting the commendation or proclamation shall present the same at the meeting.

(b) Commendations specifically expressing appreciation of the city, its citizens and any individual member of the council, including the mayor, shall be requested and issued pursuant to the methods and procedures for issuing proclamations identified in this section.

(c) Nothing in this section precludes the mayor or any member of council from individually recognizing a group or organization for a particular purpose. Said recognition may be in writing on the individual letterhead provided by the city for the mayor or any member of council or on a certificate form, as provided by the city clerk. Otherwise, any stationary or writing used for said recognition purposes shall not contain the official city seal or the likeness of the same affixed thereto. [Please note that this section is existing — it has not changed, except to be relocated in Section 2.12.065].

(d) Notwithstanding any provision contained in this section, the entire city council (at a duly noticed public meeting) shall select council member/city-initiated awards, including, but not limited, to the citizen, business, and youth of the year and direct the issuance and form of that recognition.

(Repealed by Ord. 2004-2750 § 3: August 24, 2004: Ord. 2005-2757 § 1; June 14, 2005: Ord. 2005-2759 § 1; September 27, 2005: Ord. 2007-2777 § 1; April 24, 2007)

In the case of a vacancy in the office of the mayor for any reason, the council shall fill the vacancy by appointment. If the council fails to fill it within thirty days, it shall immediately cause an election to be held to fill the vacancy. A person appointed or elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired term of the former incumbent.

(Ord. 556 § 4 (part), as amended by Ord. 1280; March 13, 1962)

The office of the vice mayor will be rotated among all the members of the city council. The term of each member shall be one year beginning the second Tuesday of August one year and ending on the Monday before the second Tuesday the next August. The vice mayor will be the council member with the most seniority who has not been vice mayor in the last three consecutive years. In the event two or more council members have equal seniority and have not been vice mayor in the last three consecutive years, the council member with the most votes in their last regular election shall serve as vice mayor.

(Ord. 556 § 4 (part), as amended by Ord. 1280; March 13, 1962: Ord. 2377 § 1; March 12, 1985: Ord. 2588 § 1; August 27, 1991: Ord. 2630 § 1; September 14, 1993)

If the mayor is absent or unable to attend, the vice mayor shall serve until the mayor returns or is able to act. The vice mayor has all the powers and duties of the mayor when serving in the mayor's absence.

(Ord. 556 § 4 (part), as amended by Ord. 1280; March 13, 1962: Ord. 2004-2750 § 2; August 24, 2004)