Lancaster Municipal Code Ch. 2.04 City Council

The permanent meeting place for the city council is established as the council chamber of the Lancaster city hall, or in such other place within the city limits to which said meeting may be adjourned. If by reason of fire, flood, or other emergency, including anticipated overcrowding of the council chamber, it shall be unsafe to meet in the regular council chamber, the meeting may be held for the duration of the emergency at such other place as is designated by the mayor, or, if he/she should fail to act, by three members of the city council.

(Prior code § 2-4.1)

At the first regular meeting following the presentation of the canvass of returns, the mayor shall appoint one (1) council member as vice mayor, subject to approval of a majority of the city council. The vice mayor shall serve at the pleasure of the mayor and may be removed from the appointed position at the discretion of the mayor, subject to approval of a majority of the city council. All vacancies for the position of vice mayor shall be filled in accordance with the appointment procedure set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. 717 § 1, 1995: prior code § 2-4.2)

(Ord. No. 922, § 1, 5-26-2009; Ord. No. 998, § 1, 6-24-2014; Ord. No. 1033, § 7, 9-26-2017; Ord. No. 1086, § 2, 9-14-2021)

According to the provisions of Government Code Section 36516, the city council salary is established at six hundred dollars ($600.00) per month and in accordance with provisions of Government Code Section 36516.1, the salary of the mayor is established at six hundred dollars ($600.00) per month inclusive of the amount received as member of the city council.

The mayor and each city council member shall be eligible to participate in any continuing education and/or tuition reimbursement program the city offers to city employees in the same manner and pursuant to the same rules as city employees, except that the mayor and each city council member shall be eligible for a maximum of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per fiscal year in reimbursements. Any amount reimbursed to or for the benefit of the mayor or a city council member pursuant to the city's tuition reimbursement program shall be in addition to the salary provided in the preceding paragraph and shall be considered compensation as authorized by Section 203 of the city's Charter.

(Ord. 717 § 2, 1995: Ord. 683 § 2, 1995: prior code § 2-4.3)

(Ord. No. 1031, § 1, 9-12-2017)

A. A vacancy shall exist on the city council or in the office of the mayor, and shall be declared by the city council, upon the occurrence of any of the events enumerated in the provisions of the California Government Code pertaining to vacancies in public offices.

B. Within ninety (90) days of the city council declaring a vacancy on the city council pursuant to this section, the mayor, with the consent of the city council, shall fill such vacancy by appointment. The person appointed to fill a vacant council seat holds office until the end of the former council member's term, at which time it will be filled by election.

C. In the event the office of the mayor is declared by the city council to be vacant, the powers and duties of the mayor shall immediately and automatically transfer to and vest in the council member serving as the vice-mayor pursuant to section 2.04.020, who shall serve as acting mayor until the next general municipal election that is at least ninety (90) days from the date the vacancy is declared. The acting mayor shall appoint a person, subject to approval of a majority of the city council, who shall serve as a council member until the next general municipal election that is at least ninety (90) days from the date the vacancy is declared. The powers and duties of the mayor shall remain vested in the acting mayor until the next general municipal election that is at least ninety (90) days from the date the vacancy is declared, at which time the office of mayor will be filled by election. The person elected to the office of mayor shall hold the office for a full term.

D. To the extent consistent with the terms of the city's charter and this Section 2.04.040, provisions of the California Government Code pertaining to filling vacancies in public offices shall apply.

(Ord. 734, § 1, 1997; Ord. 717, § 3, 1995; Ord. 683, § 3, 1995; prior code, § 2-4.4)

(Ord. No. 967, § 1, 7-12-2011; Ord. No. 998, § 2, 6-24-2014; Ord. No. 1119, § 2, 8-27-2024)

A. Amount. A filing fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) is established for candidates' nomination papers for elective offices at municipal elections held in the city.

B. Payment. The filing fee shall be paid to the city clerk by each candidate for an elective office at the time the candidate's nomination paper is filed with the city clerk.

C. Disposition. The city clerk shall pay to the city treasurer all fees received which shall be deposited in the general fund.

(Prior code § 2-4.5)

A statement authorized by section 13307 of the Elections Code that is submitted by a candidate for nonpartisan elective office shall be subject to the following:

A. A candidate shall not include a photograph of himself or herself wearing any uniform.

B. A candidate may include reference to an occupation from which he or she has "retired" only if it is designated as his or her primary occupation.

C. A candidate may designate his or her primary occupation to that of "business owner" only if his or her statement is accompanied by a certification, the form of which shall be provided by the city clerk, that is signed under penalty of perjury and states that the candidate owns a business.

The requirements of this section shall supplement section 13307 of the Elections Code; provided, however, that in the event of a conflict, this section shall control. This section shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, any other provision of the United States Constitution, or any provision of the California Constitution.

(Ord. No. 1118, § 2, 8-27-2024)

Members of the city council shall be entitled to receive seven hundred eighty dollars ($780.00) each month, as an allowance for expenses incurred when fulfilling the duties of the elected office, including using their personal automobile for local travel for official business. As used in this section, "local travel" means travel by personal automobile within the boundaries of the city and within fifteen (15) miles thereof. The city council hereby determines that such monthly allowance represents the actual and necessary expenses incurred by the mayor and city council members in the performance of official duties.

(Prior code § 2-4.14)

(Ord. No. 1017, § 1, 12-13-2016; Ord. No. 1134, § 1, 6-24-2025)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1068, § 2, adopted Nov. 12, 2019, repealed § 2.04.070, which pertained to election campaigns, voluntary expenditure ceiling and derived from Ord. 734 § 2, 1997.

The mayor, with the concurrence of the city council, may appoint a deputy mayor to assist the mayor in carrying out the mayor's public ceremonial functions and to attend, on behalf of the mayor, meetings of private, public and civic organizations and other entities. The deputy mayor shall not have any authority to take any official actions on behalf of the mayor or city council without specific written authorization from the mayor and/or council. The deputy mayor shall be paid a monthly honorarium of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) and eligibility for individual health insurance through the city's group health insurance plan. The deputy mayor shall not in any way supersede the authority of any council member present at a meeting of a civic organization or other entity. Any council member present at a meeting of a civic organization or other entity shall be the official representative of the city in the absence of the mayor or vice mayor.

(Ord. No. 944, § 1, 6-22-2010; Ord. No. 986, § 3, 2-12-2013;Ord. No. 1032, § 1, 9-12-2017)

The mayor, with the concurrence of a majority of the city council, may appoint one or more persons who have previously served as mayor of the city to act as a mayor emeritus. A mayor emeritus may represent the city during ceremonial and other events, when the mayor and/or city council members cannot attend. A mayor emeritus shall not have any authority to take any official actions on behalf of the mayor or city council without specific written authorization from the mayor and/or city council. A mayor emeritus shall serve for a term of two years from the date of appointment or until a successor has been appointed and approved. A mayor emeritus may be reappointed for additional terms.

(Ord. No. 1002, § 11, 2-10-2015)