Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Ch. 16 District-Based Elections

The City's at-large voting system used to elect members of the City Council was challenged under the California Voting Rights Act. In response, the City Council voted to voluntarily transition from at-large elections to district-based elections. The purpose of this chapter is to establish the respective districts; set forth the schedule for district elections; and set forth the other procedures applicable to the City's transition from at-large elections to district-based elections.

(Part 2, Ord. 1715-NS, eff. July 18, 2023)

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 34886 and the schedule established in Section 1-16.03 of this chapter, beginning in November 2024, members of the City Council shall be elected on a district-based electoral system from five (5) single-member City Council Districts. For purposes of this chapter, the term 'district-based electoral system' shall mean the election of members of the City Council by the voters of the district alone. The City's district-based electoral system shall be conducted in accordance with California Government Code Section 34871(a).

(Part 2, Ord. 1715-NS, eff. July 18, 2023)

(a) Pursuant to Section 1-16.02 of this chapter, Members of the City Council shall be elected on a district-based electoral system, from the five City Council Districts described as follows, which shall continue in effect until they are amended or repealed in accordance with law:

(1) City Council District 1 shall comprise all that portion of the City reflected in Exhibit A (attached to Ordinance 1715-NS and incorporated herein by reference).

(2) City Council District 2 shall comprise all that portion of the City reflected in Exhibit A.

(3) City Council District 3 shall comprise all that portion of the City reflected in Exhibit A.

(4) City Council District 4 shall comprise all that portion of the City reflected in Exhibit A.

(5) City Council District 5 shall comprise all that portion of the City reflected in Exhibit A.

(b) Members of the City Council shall be elected in the electoral districts established by this section and subsequently reapportioned pursuant to applicable State and federal law.

(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d) herein and notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, once the ordinance codified in this chapter is fully phased in, the member of the City Council 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 Elections Code Section 10227. Termination of residency in a district by a Member of the City Council shall create an immediate vacancy for that Council district unless a substitute residence within the district is established within thirty (30) days after the termination of residency.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, and consistent with the requirements of California Government Code Section 36512, the members of the City Council in office at the time the ordinance codified in this chapter takes effect shall continue in office until the expiration of the full term to which he or she was elected and until his or her successor is qualified. At the end of the term of each member of the City Council, that member of the City Council's successor shall be elected on a district-based system in the districts established in Section 1-16.02 of this chapter.

(Part 2, Ord. 1715-NS, eff. July 18, 2023)

Except as otherwise required by California Government Code Section 36512, the members of the City Council shall be elected in Council Districts Nos. 4 and 5 beginning at the General Municipal Election in November, 2024, and every four years thereafter, as such Council Districts shall be amended. Members of the City Council shall be elected from Council Districts Nos. 1, 2, and 3 beginning at the General Municipal Election in November, 2026, and every four years thereafter, as such Council Districts shall be amended.

(Part 2, Ord. 1715-NS, eff. July 18, 2023)