A. In accordance
with Section 36503.3 of the California
Government Code, the city changes
the date of the general municipal election from November of odd-numbered
years to be consolidated with the Statewide General Election held
in November of even-numbered years.
B. The
terms of officeholders shall be extended as necessary, but no more
than twelve months.
(Ord. 281 § 1, 1981; Ord. 740 § 1, 1994; Ord. 896 §§ 1, 2, 1999)
The first general municipal election to which this chapter shall
apply is the one to be held in the year 1995.
(Ord. 281 § 2, 1981; Ord. 740 § 2, 1994)
The city council shall meet at the next regularly scheduled
meeting following presentation of the twenty-eight-day canvass of
the returns of the most recent municipal election and shall declare
the results thereof and install newly elected officers, pursuant to
Sections 10262 and 10263 of the California
Elections Code, and, following
such declaration and installation, at the same meeting choose one
of its members as mayor and one of its members as mayor pro-tempore,
pursuant to Section 36801 of the California
Government Code.
(Ord. 1095 § 1, 2005)
A. By-District Elections. Pursuant to California
Government Code Section
34886, members of the city council of the city of Palm Desert shall
be elected by-district in five single-member districts.
1. Members of the city council shall be elected in the electoral districts established by subsection
B of this section and subsequently reapportioned as provided by state law. Elections shall take place "by-district" as that term is defined in California
Government Code Section 34871, meaning one councilmember shall be elected from each district, by the voters of that district alone.
2. A councilmember elected or appointed to represent a district must
reside in that district and be a registered voter in that district,
and any candidate for city council must reside in, and be a registered
voter in, the district in which he or she seeks election at the time
nomination papers are issued.
3. Termination of residency in a district by a councilmember shall create
a vacancy for that city council district unless a substitute residence
within the district is immediately declared and established within
thirty days after the termination of residency.
4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the councilmembers
in office at the time this section takes effect shall continue in
office until the expiration of the term to which he or she was elected.
In the event a vacancy occurs in District 1 before the expiration
of the term of a councilmember in office at the time this section
takes effect, a person who is appointed or elected by special election
to fill such vacancy must reside within the boundaries of District
1 as constituted when the councilmember creating the vacancy was elected.
In the event a vacancy occurs in District 2 before the expiration
of the term of a councilmember in office at the time this section
takes effect, a person who is appointed or elected by special election
to fill such vacancy must reside within the boundaries of District
2 as constituted when the councilmember creating the vacancy was elected.
A person(s) appointed or elected to fill such a vacancy(ies) shall
hold the office in accordance with state law.
B. City Council Districts and District Elections. All five councilmembers
shall be elected on a "by-district" basis from the council districts
shown and numbered on the map titled "City of Palm Desert District
Map - Map 109 Renumbered B" attached to the ordinance codified in
this section as Exhibit A, a copy of which shall be on file in the
city clerk's office. In 2024, and every four years thereafter, the
following three city council districts shall be elected by-district:
District 1; District 2; and District 3. In 2026, and every four years
thereafter, the following two city council districts shall be elected
by-district: District 4 and District 5.
C. Amendment of District Boundaries. Pursuant to
Elections Code Section
21601, as it may be amended from time to time, the city council shall
adjust the boundaries of any or all of the districts following each
decennial federal census to ensure that the districts are in compliance
with all applicable provisions of law.
(Ord. 1356 § 2, 2020; Ord. 1406, 1/25/2024)