Pomona Municipal Code § 2-44 Councilmember-elect information and training

This division sets forth the procedure and timeline for the installation of elected city council officials and redirects celebratory activities of elected officials leaving office. Within this division, any reference to officers, council or city councilmembers shall include the mayor.

(Ord. No. 4252, § 3, 10-2-2018)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 4252, § 4, adopted Oct. 2, 2018, renumbered the former § 2-41 as § 2-45 and enacted a new § 2-41 as set out herein. The historical notation has been retained with the amended provisions for reference purposes.

(a) The city clerk shall, upon receiving the official canvass of election results from the county registrar of voters for an election pertaining to one or more councilmembers, immediately notify the city council.

(b) The meeting for the administration of oaths of office and seating of new councilmembers shall occur no later than 7:30 p.m. on the second Monday in December of each even-numbered year. The actual meeting date shall be specified in the city council resolution setting the annual meeting dates, pursuant to City Charter Section 503.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), the city council shall receive certification of the official canvass and declare the election results as the first item of business at their next regularly scheduled city council meeting.

(d) Immediately after the city council receives and declares the election results, the newly elected and re-elected councilmembers shall take the oath of office.

(e) A recess will be placed on the agenda following the swearing-in of new and incumbent councilmembers. Refreshments may be served in the chamber foyer. When the meeting recommences, newly sworn-in councilmembers shall take their respective district seats on the city council dais to conduct any business remaining on the agenda.

(f) during the meeting at which the city council receives the certification of the official canvass, there shall be no presentation of awards, proclamations or conduct of other business at any time by city councilmembers who will no longer be seated after the certified election results have been received by the city council.

(1) Nothing in subsection (f) shall preclude a special meeting being called for such purposes, provided such special meeting is concluded prior to the time of the regularly scheduled meeting in which the canvass of election is received.

(g) In the event that the certification of the official canvass has been received by the council and all newly and re-elected councilmembers have taken the oath of office prior to the second Monday in December, and no other business is required, such meeting may be cancelled by the mayor.

(h) In the event a special election is required to fill a vacant council seat, the procedure set forth in this division shall be followed with the certification of the canvass and oath of office to occur at the next scheduled city council meeting, as set by city council resolution.

(Ord. No. 4252, § 3, 10-2-2018)

(a) The oath of office shall be administered at the time set forth in this division by the city clerk or other officer duly authorized to administer oaths. If administration of the oaths of office is conducted at the council meeting at which the canvass results are received, the order of the oaths of office shall begin with the mayor, when applicable, and then councilmembers, in ascending order by council district. (Ref. Gov. Code secs. 1225, 1362, 3104, 24000).

(b) If a newly elected or re-elected councilmember cannot attend the regularly scheduled meeting established by this article, he/she may make arrangements with the city clerk to take the oath of office no later than the beginning of the next regular council meeting, as set forth in the adopted resolution setting the annual council meeting schedule.

(c) A special council meeting shall not be called for the sole purpose of a newly elected or re-elected councilmember taking the oath of office.

(Ord. No. 4252, § 3, 10-2-2018)

(a) The city manager, city attorney, and city clerk shall jointly prepare and maintain a councilmember handbook to inform and guide, to the most reasonable extent possible, new and/or returning councilmembers as to duties of their office. The handbook will address appointment of commissioners, required and recommended training opportunities, mandated individual reporting and filing requirements, budgetary/finance material, and personal compensation. Pertinent city policies will either be included or referenced in the handbook.

(b) Immediately after election of any new councilmember, the city manager shall reserve attendance at an appropriate training session for such newly elected councilmember. Attendance at such training shall be at the discretion of the newly elected councilmember and payment for such training shall be made from the councilmember's expense fund.

(Ord. No. 4252, § 3, 10-2-2018)