Shafter Municipal Code Ch. 2.04 City Council

Two council seats shall be voted upon on the date of the statewide general election in November, 1986, and thereafter every four years. Three council seats shall be voted upon on the date of the statewide general election in November, 1988, and thereafter every four years. The person having the highest number of votes, consistent with the number of seats up for election, shall be elected. The elected members of the council shall hold office until their successors are elected or appointed and qualified.

(Prior code § 1-22-2)

All official meetings of the council will be held in the city hall, 336 Pacific Avenue, Shafter, California. Regular meetings of the council will be held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the hour of six p.m.

(Ord. 531 § 1, 2001; Ord. 452 § 1, 1993: Ord. 418 § 1, 1989: prior code § 1-5-1)

(Ord. No. 720, § 1, 9-1-2020)

Meetings shall be held at the city hall and shall be public.

(Prior code § 1-15-1(D))

The council shall hold regular meetings at times fixed by ordinance. It may adjourn any regular or adjourned meeting to a date specified in the order of adjournment. When so adjourned, the adjourned meeting is a regular meeting for all purposes.

(Prior code § 1-15-1(A))

When an order of adjournment of a regular meeting fails to state the hour at which the adjourned meeting is to be held, it shall be held at the hour specified for regular meetings.

(Prior code § 1-15-1(E))

At any time the mayor or three councilmen may call a special meeting by delivering written notice to each member at least twenty-four hours before the meeting. Written notice may be dispensed with if all councilmen give their written consent to the meeting, and the consent is filed in the clerk's office when the meeting is held. A councilman may give consent by telegram.

(Prior code § 1-15-1(B))

At any special meeting the council shall act only on matters referred to in the notice or consent.

(Prior code § 1-15-1(C))

A majority of the council shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business. Less than a majority may adjourn from time to time, and compel attendance of absent members.

(Prior code § 1-15-1(F))

The council may establish rules for the conduct of its proceedings. It may punish a member or other person for disorderly behavior at a meeting.

(Prior code § 1-15-2)

The council shall cause the clerk to keep a correct record of its proceedings. At the request of a member, the clerk shall enter the ayes and noes in the journal.

(Prior code § 1-15-3)

The city council adopts California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6, which defines the time period in which judicial review may be requested for certain final administrative decisions and orders under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.5. Pursuant to Section 1094.6(f), the City Clerk shall provide notice to any party to a final decision indicating that the time within which judicial review must be sought is governed by California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6.

(Ord. 440 §§ 1, 2, 1992)

A. Commencing the first day of the month immediately following certification of the results of the November, 2026, municipal election of the Shafter City Council and every first of the month thereafter, members of the city council shall receive nine hundred fifty dollars ($950.00) per month.

B. The compensation set forth herein shall be paid without regard to the number of city council meetings attended by the mayor, mayor pro tem, or council members.

C. The mayor, mayor pro tem and council members may waive their own compensation on an annual basis by giving written notice to the city manager after December 1 and prior to December 31 in the year immediately preceding the year for which compensation will be waived. For members appointed or elected to serve less than a full four-year term those members must give written notice of waiver no later than the administration of the oath of office.

D. Per Diem Meal Compensation.

1. The mayor, mayor pro tem, and each council member shall also receive a daily salary for meals and incidentals when traveling for city-related business. The amount of such daily salary shall be set by ordinance. The daily salary shall be treated as wages, and will be subject to state and federal income and employment tax withholdings.

2. Notwithstanding, Section 2.04.120(D)(1), if the mayor, mayor pro tem, or a council member has made an annual election to waive his or her monthly salary, pursuant to Section 2.04.120(C), he or she shall not receive a daily salary for meals and incidentals when travelling for city-related business. Instead, he or she shall submit his or her expenses for meals and incidentals incurred while traveling for city-related business pursuant to the terms of the Resolution No. 2640 (or its successor). Such reimbursements will not be treated as wages because they are made pursuant to an accountable plan.

E. The compensation set forth herein is exclusive of any amounts payable to the mayor and each member of the city council for reimbursement of actual and necessary expenses incurred for city-related business.

F. The mayor and council members shall be eligible to receive the same health insurance benefits provided to the city's general employees. The mayor and council members shall also be eligible for business travel accident plan benefits that are provided through the city's self-insured risk management authority.

(Ord. No. 707, § 3, 10-2-2018; Ord. No. 711, § 3, 3-5-2019; Ord. No. 764, § 1, 3-18-2025)