Morgan Hill Municipal Code Ch. 1.16 Elections

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 2258 N.S., § 1, adopted Sep. 6, 2017, repealed the former Ch. 1.16, §§ 1.16.010—1.16.040, and enacted a new chapter as set out herein. The former Ch. 1.16 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. 790 N.S., §§ 1—3, adopted in 1987; and Ord. No. 2225 N.S., § 1, adopted Jan. 18, 2017.

The general municipal election of the city shall be held on the same day as the statewide general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years.

(Ord. No. 2258 N.S., § 1, 9-6-2017)

A. As established by measures D and E, enacted by the voters on March 26, 1996, the mayor shall be elected directly by the electors for a term of two-years.

B. Beginning with the November 2018 general municipal election, a person elected as a member of the city council other than the mayor shall be a resident of his or her respective council district as set forth in Section 1.16.030 (and as subsequently reapportioned as provided by applicable law.) Elections shall take place on a by-district basis as that term is defined in California Government Code Section 34871; meaning one member of the city council shall be elected from each district, by the voters of that district alone, except for the mayor, who shall be elected citywide. Each council member shall serve a four-year term until his or her successor has qualified, except for the Mayor, who shall serve a two-year term as authorized by measure E, enacted by the voters on March 26, 1996.

C. Except as provided in subsection C of Section 1.16.040, the council member elected to represent a district must reside in that district and be a registered voter in that district, and any candidate for City Council must live in, and be a registered voter in, the district in which he or she seeks election at the time nomination papers are issued, pursuant to California Government Code Section 34882 and California Elections Code Section 10227. Termination of residency in a district by a Council Member shall create an immediate vacancy for that council district unless a substitute residence within the district is established within 30 days after the termination of residency.

(Ord. No. 2258 N.S., § 1, 9-6-2017)

A. As established by measures D and E, enacted by the voters on March 26, 1996, and as amended by the voters on November 5, 2024, the mayor shall be elected directly by the electors for a term of four years.

B. Once a person reaches the combined consecutive elective terms provided in subsection A, the former councilmember, mayor, or treasurer is not eligible to be a candidate for election or appointed to serve again on the city council until the expiration of four years following the end of the officer's elective service.

C. If a person has only two available years of service remaining under the combined term limit provided in subsection (A), that person is not eligible to be a candidate for a four-year seat until the expiration of four years following their last service. The person may thereafter serve as mayor, councilmember, or treasurer as provided in subsection (B).

(Ord. No. 2360 N.S., § 1, 11-5-2024; Ord. No. 2361 N.S., § 1, 11-5-2024)

Boundaries for each of the four districts and their letter designations are as shown on the attached Exhibit A entitled "City of Morgan Hill District Boundary Map," a copy of which shall be posted on the city's website and on file in the city clerk's office.

(Ord. No. 2258 N.S., § 1, 9-6-2017)

A. Except as provided in subsection C, council members shall be elected in council districts B and D at the general municipal election in November 2018, and at the general municipal election every four years thereafter. [Sequence subject to change depending on final map selection]

B. Council members shall be elected in council districts A and C at the general municipal election in November 2020, and at the general municipal election every four years thereafter. [Sequence subject to change depending on final map selection]

C. Any member of the city council in office at the time this chapter takes effect (or any person selected by appointment or election to fill a vacancy created by a council member elected prior to the effective date of this chapter) shall continue in office until the expiration of the respective term to which he or she was elected and until his or her respective successors are qualified. At the end of the term of each council member, that member's successor shall be elected on a by-district basis in the districts established in Section 1.16.030. A vacancy in a councilmember office elected by-district shall be filled by a person qualified to hold the office, who is a resident and registered voter in the district.

(Ord. No. 2258 N.S., § 1, 9-6-2017)

A. Any elected officer, candidate, committee, or other person required to file statements, reports or other documents described by Chapter 4 (Campaign Disclosure) of Title 9 (Political Reform) of the California Government Code that has received contributions or made expenditures of two thousand dollars or more in a calendar year shall electronically file such statements using procedures established by the city clerk.

B. Once an elected officer, candidate, committee, or other person files a statement, report, or other document electronically pursuant to subsection A, all future statements, reports, or other documents on behalf of that filer shall be filed electronically.

C. In any instance in which an original statement, report, or other document must be filed with the California Secretary of State and a copy of that statement, report, or other document is required to be filed with the city clerk, the filer may, but is not required to, file such copy electronically.

D. If the city clerk's electronic filing system is not capable of accepting a particular type of statement, report, or other document, an elected officer, candidate, committee, or other person shall file that document with the city clerk in an alternative format.

(Ord. No. 2258 N.S., § 1, 9-6-2017)