La Mirada Municipal Code Ch. 2.02 City Council Elections

The city council hereby declares that the change of method of electing members of this council hereby enacted is being made in furtherance of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001.

(Ord. 684, § 1, 2016)

City Council districts modified. The boundaries of the five City Council districts established by the passage of Ordinance No. 684 of this Council hereby are reestablished and modified as described on the Council District Map attached as Exhibit "A" to Ordinance No. 721 of this Council and incorporated by this reference.

(Ord. 721, § 1, 2021; Ord. 684, § 1, 2016)

(a) Following the effective date of this chapter and upon the commencement of "by district" elections in the order established in § 2.02.040 of this code, members of the city council shall be elected "by district" as defined in California Government Code Section 34871 or any successor statute. A person shall not be eligible to be elected to be a member of the city council unless he or she is otherwise qualified as required by law and both resided in the geographical area comprising the district from which he or she is nominated to be elected and was a registered voter of the city at the time nomination papers are issued to the candidate as provided for in Section 10227 of the California Elections Code and continue in that resident and registered voter status through the subject election. 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 chapter shall be affected by the adoption of this chapter.

(b) 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 member is to be elected.

(c) The terms of the office of each member elected to the city council shall remain four (4) years.

(Ord. 684, § 1, 2016)

Commencing with the general municipal election in June of 2022, and thereafter, the voters in districts 1 and 2 shall elect members of the city council by district for four (4) year terms. Commencing with the general municipal election in March of 2024 and thereafter, the voters in districts 3, 4 and 5 shall elect members of the city council by district for full four (4) year terms. All such elections shall be held on the same date as the applicable statewide primary.

(Ord. 718 § 2, 2021; Ord. 701 § 4, 2017; Ord. 684, § 1, 2016)

Pursuant to Elections Code Section 21601, as it may be amended, the city council shall adjust the boundaries of any or all of the districts following each decennial federal census. Using the census as a basis, the city council shall adjust the boundaries so that the districts shall be as nearly equal in population as practicable and in compliance with all applicable provisions of law. Any adjustment of district boundaries shall be made by ordinance adopted by the city council before the first day of November of the year following the year in which each decennial federal census is taken. Prior to the public hearing approving the adjustment of the district boundaries, the city council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed district boundaries as required by Elections Code Section 21607.

At the time of any annexation of territory to the city, the city council shall designate, by resolution adopted by a vote of at least a majority of the city council, the contiguous district to which the annexed territory shall be a part and shall amend the district boundaries if necessary in accordance with Election Codes Section 21603, as it may be amended.

Pursuant to Elections Code Section 21606, the term of office of any council member who has been elected and whose term of office has not expired shall not be affected by any change in the boundaries of the district from which he or she was elected. At the first election for council following adjustment of the boundaries of the districts, a person meeting the requirements of government code section 34882 shall be elected to the city council for each district under the readjusted district plan that has the same district number as a district whose incumbent's term on the council is due to expire.

(Ord. 684, § 1, 2016)