(a) 
Council Terms. There shall be a City Council consisting of five (5) members elected from the City by district, at the times and in the manner in this Charter provided. The term of office for members of the City Council shall be four (4) years, or in the case of an appointment or election to an unexpired term of office, the term of office shall be equal to the unexpired term of office, and until their respective successors qualify. No person shall serve more than three (3) consecutive terms of office as a member of the City Council, including any portion of an unexpired term of office to which such person has been appointed or elected. The term limit provisions of this section shall apply prospectively only and shall apply only to terms of office commencing on or after the date this amendment to the City Charter was approved by the City's electorate.
(b) 
Regular Election. The regular election of the City Council members shall be held on the first Tuesday, following the first Monday, in November of each even-numbered year. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. The term of all members shall commence at the first regular Council meeting following the certification of the election results and each member shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified. Any ties in voting shall be settled by the casting of lots.
(c) 
Council Districts. The City is hereby divided into five (5) Council districts, to be determined by the City Council in any manner provided by law. Candidates for Council seats shall be nominated and elected by such district and shall be residents of such district.
(d) 
Changes in Boundaries of Council Districts. The boundaries of said Council districts, but not the number thereof, may be changed by ordinance adopted by the Council by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of all its members; provided, that districts established by the Council shall be as nearly equal in population and as geographically compact as practical. Boundaries shall be evaluated within at least one (1) year subsequent to the availability of the information from each decennial United States census or on another basis adopted by three-fifths (3/5) vote of the total membership of the Council; however, the Council shall not change the boundaries of districts more than once in any two (2) year period and no such change shall be made within the period of one hundred eighty (180) days preceding a general municipal election. The preceding limitations shall not apply to changes made necessary by changes to the City boundaries. After the Council has once exercised its power to change the boundaries of districts, these changes shall immediately be reflected in the district boundaries specified by ordinance adopted by the Council.
(e) 
Current Office Holders. The five (5) members of the city council in office at the time this section takes effect shall continue in office until their terms expire.
(f) 
Council Elections Sequenced. The members of the Council of the second and fourth Council districts shall be elected commencing in the year 2018 to the Council seats then open, and in each fourth year thereafter. The members of the Council of the first, third and fifth Council districts shall be elected commencing in the year 2020 to the Council seats then open, and in each fourth year thereafter.
(Amended by the electorate of the city at an election held November 5, 1985; amended by the electorate of the city at an election held on November 5, 2002; repealed and replaced by the electorate of the city at an election held November 8, 2016)
No person shall be eligible to hold office as a member of the City Council unless he or she shall be a qualified elector at the time of his or her nomination, and shall have been a resident of the City for at least that minimum period provided for under State law for General law cities next preceding the date of his or her election or appointment. Each member of the Council must also be a resident of the Council district from which the member is nominated at the times the member is nominated and elected. In the event any member of the Council shall cease to be a resident of the district from which the member (or, in the case of an appointee, a predecessor) was nominated, the office shall immediately become vacant and shall be filled in the same manner as herein provided for other vacancies by a resident of that district. If a member of the Council ceases to be a resident of the district from which the member (or, in the case of an appointee, a predecessor) was nominated solely because of a change in the boundaries of any district as in this Charter provided, the member shall not lose office during that term by reason of such change.
(Amended by the electorate of the city at the election held April 3, 1976: amended by Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 96 Paragraph 1, ratified by the qualified electors of the city at a general municipal election held April 11, 1972; repealed and replaced by the electorate of the city at an election held November 8, 2016)
The Mayor and Members of the City Council shall receive one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) per month, as compensation for their services, and shall receive reimbursement for necessary travel and expenses when on official duty on order of the City Council.
(Amended by the electorate of the city at an election held April 8, 1980)
A vacancy in the City Council from whatever cause arising shall be filled by appointment by the City Council, such appointee to hold office until the first Tuesday following the next general municipal election and until his successor is elected and qualified. At the next general municipal election following any vacancy, a Councilman shall be elected to serve for the remainder of any unexpired term. As used in this paragraph, the next general municipal election shall mean the next such election at which it is possible under the law to place the matter on the ballot and elect a successor.
If a member of the City Council absents himself from all regular meetings of the City Council for a period of sixty (60) days consecutively from and after the last regular City Council meeting attended by such member unless by permission of the City Council expressed in its official minutes, or is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, or ceases to be an elector of the City, his office shall become vacant and shall be so declared by the City Council. In the event the City Council shall fail to fill a vacancy by appointment within thirty (30) days after such office shall have become vacant, it shall forthwith cause an election to be held to fill such vacancy.
In the event that a majority of the City Council offices are vacated, from whatever cause arising, the member or members of the Planning Commission with the longest continuous service on said commission shall automatically succeed to an office on the City Council until three (3) of the said offices have been filled and the procedure hereinabove set forth for filling vacancies by appointment can be followed. Longest continuous service shall be computed, for purposes of this section, from the date and sequence of appointment to the Planning Commission.
(a) 
MAYOR. At the meeting at which the City Council approves the certification of election results following any general or special municipal election at which members of the City Council are elected, and at any time when there is a vacancy in the office of Mayor, the City Council shall meet and shall elect one of its members as its presiding officer, who shall have the Title of Mayor. The Mayor shall have a voice and vote in all City Council proceedings. The Mayor shall be the official head of the City for all purposes including ceremonial. The Mayor shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or as may be imposed by the City Council consistent with the office. The Mayor shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the City Council.
(b) 
MAYOR PRO TEMPORE. The City Council shall also designate one of its members as Mayor Pro Tempore who shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the City Council. The Mayor Pro Tempore shall perform the duties of the Mayor during any absence or disability of the Mayor.
(Amended by the electorate of the city at an election held on November 5, 2002)
The City Council shall be empowered to levy a property tax on the assessed value of taxable property in the City for all municipal purposes.
The City shall not incur an indebtedness evidenced by general obligation bonds which shall in the aggregate exceed the sum of fifteen percent of the total assessed valuation, for purposes of City taxation, of all the real and personal property within the City.
No bonded indebtedness which shall constitute a general obligation of the City may be created unless authorized by the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the electors voting on such proposition at any election at which the question is submitted to the electors and unless in full compliance with the provisions of the State Constitution and of this Charter.
Every contract involving an expenditure of more than Twenty-Five Thousand ($25,000.00) Dollars for the construction or improvement (excluding maintenance and repair) of public buildings, works, streets, drains, sewers, utilities, parks and playgrounds, and each separate purchase of materials or supplies for the same, where the expenditure required for such purchase shall exceed the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand ($25,000.00) Dollars shall be let either to the lowest responsible bidder after notice by publication in the official newspaper by two or more insertions, the first of which shall be at least ten days before the time of opening bids, or by best value processes, including but not limited to use of design-build and construction manager at risk approaches, adopted by the City Council by ordinance in cases where the City Council finds such processes will reduce project cost, expedite project completion, or provide unique design features.
The City Council may reject any and all bids presented and may re-advertise in its discretion. After rejecting bids, or if no bids are received, the City Council may declare and determine that, in its opinion, the work in question may be performed better or more economically by the City with its own employees, or that the materials or supplies may be purchased at a lower price in the open market, and after the adoption of a resolution to this effect by a majority vote of the entire membership of the City Council, it may proceed to have said work done or such material or supplies purchased in the manner stated, without further observance of the provisions of this section.
When the City Council deems, by four affirmative votes, there is urgent necessity for the preservation of life, health or property, purchase of such materials or supplies and contracts for the construction or improvement of public buildings, works, streets, drains, sewers, utilities, parks and playgrounds may be let without advertising for bids. The City shall not be bound by the California Public Contracts Code except as expressly provided in this Charter or as expressly required by the City Council by ordinance.
(Amended by Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 96 Paragraph 2, ratified by the qualified electors of the city at a general municipal election held April 11, 1972; amended by the electorate of the city at an election held on November 5, 2002)
In the event that there is more than one newspaper of general circulation in the City, the City Council annually, prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, shall publish a notice inviting bids and contract for the publication of all legal notices or other matter required to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in said City during the ensuing fiscal year. In the event there is only one newspaper of general circulation in the City, then the City Council shall have the power to contract with such newspaper for the printing and publishing of such legal notices without being required to advertise for bids therefor. The newspaper with which any such contract is made shall be designated the official newspaper for the publication of such notices or other matter for the period of such contract.
In no case shall the contract prices for such publication exceed the customary rates charged by such newspaper for the publication of legal notices of a private character.
In the event there is no newspaper of general circulation in the City or if no such newspaper will accept the rates permitted herein, then all legal notices or other matter may be published by posting copies thereof in at least three public places in the City, one of which places shall be the City Hall.
No defect or irregularity in proceedings taken under this section, or failure to designate an official newspaper, shall invalidate any publication where the same is otherwise in conformity with this Charter or law or ordinance.
(Amended by the electorate of the city at the election held April 11, 1978)
The City Council shall be responsible for the policy matters of the City government and the City Administrator for the administration thereof. The City Council shall give orders and instructions to the City Administrator by a majority vote of the City Council at a lawfully held meeting. No individual member of the City Council shall interfere with the execution by the City Administrator of his powers and duties, or order, directly or indirectly, or order or request, directly or indirectly, the appointment of any person to an office or employment, or his removal therefrom, by the City Administrator, or by any of the department heads in the administrative service of the City. Except for the purpose of inquiry, individual members of the City Council shall deal with the administrative service under the City Administrator solely through the City Administrator and shall not give orders, either public or privately, to any subordinates of the City Administrator.
The City Council shall hold regular meetings at least twice each month, at such times and in such places as it shall fix by ordinance or resolution, and may adjourn or readjourn any regular meeting to a date and time certain, which shall be specified in the order of adjournment; and when so adjourned, each adjourned meeting shall be a regular meeting for all purposes. If at any time any regular meeting falls on a holiday, such regular meeting shall be held on the next business day.
A special meeting may be called at any time by the Mayor, or by three members of the City Council, by written notice to each member of the City Council and to each local newspaper of general circulation, radio or television station requesting notice in writing. Such notice must be delivered personally or by mail at least twenty-four hours before the time of such meeting as specified in the notice. The call and notice shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted. No other business shall be considered at such meeting. Such written notice may be dispensed with as to any person entitled thereto who, at or prior to the time the meeting convenes, files with the City Clerk a written waiver of notice. Such waiver may be given by telegram. Such written notice may also be dispensed with as to any person who is actually present at the meeting at the time it convenes.
All meetings of the City Council shall be held in the Council Chambers or in such place to which any such meeting may be adjourned; provided, that if by reason of fire, flood, overcrowding, or other emergency it shall be unsafe or impractical to meet at the regular meeting place, the Council may for the duration of the situation or emergency meet at some other place designated in writing by the Mayor or, if he fails to act, by any three Council members.
A majority of the members of the City Council shall constitute a quorum to do business but a less number may adjourn from time to time. In the absence of all the members of the City Council from any regular meeting or adjourned regular meeting, the City Clerk may declare the same adjourned to a stated day and hour. The City Clerk shall cause written notice of a meeting adjourned by less than a quorum or by the City Clerk to be delivered personally or by mail to each councilman at least twenty-four hours before the adjourned meeting, or such notice may be dispensed with in the same manner as specified in this Charter for dispensing with notice of special meetings of the City Council. The City Council shall judge the qualifications of its members as set forth by the Charter. It shall judge all election returns. Each member of the City Council shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations in any investigation or proceeding pending before the City Council.
The City Council may establish rules for the conduct of its proceedings and punish any member or other person for disorderly conduct at any meetings. It shall have the power and authority to compel the attendance of witnesses, to examine them under oath, and to compel the production of evidence before it.
Subpoenas may be issued in the name of the City and be attested by the City Clerk. Disobedience of such subpoenas, or the refusal to testify (upon other than constitutional grounds), shall constitute a misdemeanor.
The City Council shall cause the City Clerk to keep a correct record of all its proceedings and at the demand of any member or upon the adoption of any ordinance. resolution, or order for the payment of money, the City Clerk shall call roll and shall cause the ayes and noes taken on any question, to be entered in the minutes of the meeting. Electromechanical displays may be used to indicate voting in lieu of voice vote.
(Amended by the electorate of the city at the election held April 11, 1978)
With the sole exception of ordinances which take effect upon adoption, hereinafter referred to, no ordinance shall be adopted by the City Council on the day of its introduction, nor within five days thereafter, nor at any time other than at a regular or adjourned regular meeting. At the time of introduction or adoption, an ordinance or resolution shall be read in full, unless, after the reading of the title thereof. the further reading thereof is waived by unanimous consent of the Councilmembers present. The reading of titles may be satisfied by printing the full title on the meeting agenda. In the event that any ordinance is altered after its introduction, the same shall not be finally adopted except at a regular or adjourned regular meeting, held not less than five days after the date upon which such ordinance was so altered. The correction of typographical or clerical errors shall not constitute the making of an alteration within the meaning of the foregoing sentence.
No order for the payment of money shall be adopted or made at any other than a regular or adjourned regular meeting.
The affirmative votes of at least three members of the City Council shall be required for the enactment of any ordinance or resolution, or for the making or approving of any order for the payment of money.
EMERGENCY ORDINANCES. Any ordinance declared by the City Council to be necessary as an emergency measure for preserving the public peace, health or safety and containing a statement of the reasons for its urgency, may be introduced and adopted at one and the same meeting if passed by at least four affirmative votes.
(Amended by the electorate of the city at an election held April 8, 1980)
In addition to such acts of the City Council as are required by statute or by this Charter to be by ordinance, every act of the City Council establishing a fine or other penalty or granting a franchise shall be by ordinance.
The enacting clause of all ordinances shall be substantially as follows: "The City Council of the City of Placentia does ordain as follows:"
The City Clerk shall cause each ordinance to be published at least once in the official newspaper or pursuant to Section 609 of this Charter, within fifteen days after its adoption. The publication of ordinances, as required by this section, may be satisfied by the City Clerk publishing a summary of the ordinance and posting in the office of the City Clerk a certified copy of the full text of such ordinance along with the names of those Councilmembers voting for and against the ordinance, within fifteen (15) days after its adoption.
(Amended by the electorate of the city at an election held April 8, 1980)
Any and all ordinances of the City which have been enacted and published in the manner required at the time of their adoption. and which have not been repealed, may be compiled, consolidated, revised, indexed, and arranged as a comprehensive ordinance code, and such code may be adopted by reference by the passage of an ordinance for such purpose. Such code need not be published in the manner required for other ordinances, but not less than three copies thereof shall be filed, for use and examination by the public, in the office of the City Clerk, prior to the adoption thereof. Such code shall be amended only by ordinance and shall be kept up to date annually.
Detailed regulations pertaining to any subject, such as zoning, the construction of buildings, plumbing, wiring or other subjects which require extensive regulations, after having been arranged as a comprehensive code, may likewise be adopted by reference in the manner hereinabove provided. Maps, charts, and diagrams also may be adopted by reference in the same manner.
No ordinance shall become effective until thirty days from and after the date of its adoption, except the following, which shall take effect upon adoption:
(a) 
An ordinance calling or otherwise relating to an election;
(b) 
An improvement proceeding ordinance adopted under some special law or procedural ordinance relating thereto; or
(c) 
An ordinance declaring the amount of money necessary to be raised by taxation, or fixing the rate of taxation;
(d) 
An emergency ordinance adopted in the manner herein provided.
Except as otherwise designated by an ordinance adopted by the City Council, a violation of any ordinance of the City shall constitute a misdemeanor which may be prosecuted in the name of the people of the State of California or may be redressed by civil action. The maximum fine for any violation of a City ordinance shall be the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1000.00), or a term of imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or both such fine and imprisonment. Any person either convicted of a violation of any ordinance of the City, or, in a civil action determined to have violated any ordinance of the City, shall also be liable, and shall reimburse the City, for all costs incurred by the City in the investigation of the violation and enforcement of the City's ordinances.
(Amended by the electorate of the city at the election held April 11, 1978; amended by the electorate of the city in an election held November 5, 2002)