Wasco Municipal Code Ch. 2.09 Elections

Sections: 2.09.010 City council districts established. 2.09.020 Election of members of the city council by district. 2.09.030 Commencement of district elections. 2.09.040 Adjustment of council district boundaries.

Five city council districts are hereby established in the city of Wasco. The boundaries and identifying number of each district shall be as described on the official "Council District Map" on file in the office of the city clerk. (Ord. 692 §2, 2018).

A. Commencing with the November 2018 general municipal election, members of the city council shall be elected "by district" as defined in California Government Code Section 34871. A person shall not be eligible to be elected to be a member of the city council unless he or she is otherwise qualified as required by law, resides in the geographical area making up the district from which he or she is nominated to be elected and is a registered voter of the city of Wasco at the time nomination papers are issued to the candidate as provided in California Elections Code Section 10227. No term of any member of the city council that commenced on or prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be affected prior to its expiration date.

B. Registered voters signing nomination papers or voting for a member of the city council shall be residents of the geographical area making up the district from which the member is to be elected.

C. The term of the office of each member elected to the city council shall be four years. (Ord. 692 §2, 2018).

Commencing with the general municipal election in November of 2018 and thereafter, the voters in Council Districts 1 and 3 shall elect members of the city council by district for full four-year terms. At the general municipal election in 2020 and thereafter, the voters in Council Districts 2, 4, and 5 shall elect members of the city council by district for full four-year terms. (Ord. 692 §2, 2018).

A. Pursuant to Elections Code Section 21601, following each decennial federal census, and using that census as a basis, the city council shall adjust the boundaries of any or all of the council districts of the city so that the council districts shall be as nearly equal in population as may be and shall comply with all applicable provisions of law. Any adjustment of district boundaries shall be made by ordinance adopted by the city council before the first day of November of the year following the year in which each decennial federal census is taken commencing with the 2020 federal census. The city council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed district boundaries as required by Elections Code Section 21607 prior to the introduction of an ordinance adjusting the district boundaries.

B. At the time of any annexation of territory to the city, the city council shall designate, by resolution adopted by a vote of at least a majority of the city council, the contiguous district of which the annexed territory shall be a part and shall amend the district boundaries if necessary in accordance with Elections Code Section 21603.

C. Pursuant to Elections Code Section 21606 the term of office of any council member who has been elected and whose term of office has not expired shall not be affected by any change in the boundaries of the district from which he or she was elected.

D. At the first election for council following adjustment of the boundaries of the districts, a person meeting the requirements of Government Code Section 34882 shall be elected to the city council for each district under the readjusted district plan that has the same district number as a district whose incumbent’s term on the council is due to expire. (Ord. 692 §2, 2018).