Woodlake Municipal Code Ch. 2.04 City Council

The city council shall establish by resolution the day of the week, time and place of its regular meetings.

(Ord. 522 § 2, 1996)

A. The seat of a member of the city council shall become vacant upon the happening of any of the following events:

1. The death of the member;

2. Insanity of the member, when determined by a final judgment or final order of a court of competent jurisdiction;

3. Resignation of the member;

4. The member is no longer eligible, under any of the applicable provisions of this part to hold the office;

5. Removal of the member from office;

6. The member is convicted of a felony or of any offense involving a violation of his or her official duties;

7. The refusal or neglect of the member to file an official oath or bond, if it is required by law, within the time prescribed by law;

8. The decision of a court of competent jurisdiction declaring void the member's election or appointment;

9. The making of an order vacating the member's office or declaring the office vacant when the member fails to furnish an additional or supplemental bond if it is required by law;

10. The commitment of the member to a hospital, by a court of competent jurisdiction, but in that event the office shall not be deemed vacant until the order of commitment has become final;

11. The member fails to meet attendance requirements and is deemed to have automatically resigned.

B. In the event a vacancy should occur in the office of any member prior to the expiration of a term, the city council, or the mayor if authorized by the city council, shall appoint a successor for the unexpired portion of the member's term.

(Ord. No. 618, § 3, 1-14-2019)

A. A member of the city council shall be deemed to have automatically resigned from office if the member has unexcused absences from either:

1. Any three consecutive regular meetings of the city council; or

2. More than fifteen (15) percent of the total number of scheduled meetings in any calendar year, or if the city council member was appointed to fill a vacancy, more than fifteen (15) percent of the total number of remaining scheduled meetings in that calendar year.

B. Excused absences shall be limited to those which meet both of the following requirements:

1. The absent city council member provided written notice to the mayor and the city clerk, of their intended absence prior to the scheduled meeting. (Failure to provide written notice to the mayor or the city clerk prior to the meeting shall result in an unexcused absence, unless extenuating circumstances prevent advance notice), and

2. The absence is due to one of the following:

a. An absence due to an illness of the member, or illness or death of the member's spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, sibling or dependent; or

b. An absence because the member is away on authorized city business; or

c. An absence because of required military service; or

d. An absence from which the majority of the city council has found to be for good cause.

C. Within a reasonable period, but not exceeding ten days after a city council member has been deemed to have resigned pursuant to this section, the city clerk shall thereupon notify the city council member that the member is deemed to have resigned pursuant to this section. The city clerk shall simultaneously notify the city council that the vacancy exists as a result of the automatic resignation.

D. For purposes of this section, a member shall be deemed absent from a meeting if the member fails to be in attendance at a regular meeting for at least one-half of the duration of the regular meeting.

E. A member whose seat has become vacant by virtue of the above provisions may be reappointed to his or her former office for the balance of the member's unexpired term if the council finds there was good excuse for the member's absence from meetings or finds that the reappointment will be in the best interests of the city.

F. In the event of a reappointment, the previous unexcused absences of the reappointed member shall not be considered in determining any future resignation of the member under this section.

G. The city clerk shall report on the attendance record of each member of the city council for the meetings held during the six-month period immediately preceding each January 1st and July 1st.

(Ord. No. 618, § 3, 1-14-2019)