Laguna Niguel Municipal Code Div. 9 By-District Elections

(a) Pursuant to California Government Code section 34886, members of the city council shall be elected by-district in five single-member districts.

(1) Members of the city council shall be elected in the electoral districts established by subdivision (b) of this section and subsequently reapportioned as provided by state law. Elections shall take place "by-district" as that term is defined in California Government Code section 34871, meaning one council member shall be elected from each district by the voters of that district alone.

(2) A council member 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 council member shall create a vacancy for that city council district unless a substitute residence within the district is immediately declared and established within 30 days after the termination of residency.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, each council member in office at the time this section takes effect shall continue in office until the expiration of the term to which he or she was elected. In the event a vacancy occurs before the expiration of the term of a council member in office at the time this section takes effect, a person who is appointed or elected by special election to fill such vacancy may reside anywhere within the corporate boundaries of the city. A person appointed or elected to fill such a vacancy shall hold the office in accordance with state law.

(b) All five council members shall be elected on a "by-district" basis from the council districts shown and numbered on the map titled 'City of Laguna Niguel District Map' attached as Exhibit A, a copy of which shall be on file in the city clerk's office. In 2024, and every four years thereafter, the following three city council districts shall be elected by-district: District 1; District 3; and District 5. In 2026, and every four years thereafter, the following two city council districts shall be elected by-district: District 2 and District 4.

(c) Pursuant to Elections Code section 21601, 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 decennial federal census to ensure that the districts are in compliance with all applicable provisions of law.

(Ord. No. 2023-226, § 2, 1-16-24)

Exhibt A [Figure: Exhibt A]