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)
A. 
Notwithstanding any state law to the contrary, the city imposes an unlimited campaign contribution limit on candidates to elective office within the city.
B. 
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to exempt any person from complying with applicable provisions of any other laws of this state.
(Ord. 1362 § 2, 2021)
A. 
Required Use of Electronic Filing System.
1. 
Except as set forth in subsection B of this Section 2.38.070, any elected officer, candidate, committee, other person required to file specified statements, reports, forms, or other documents with the city clerk as required by Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 84100 of Title 9 of the California Government Code, also known as the Political Reform Act), and that has received contributions or made expenditures of two thousand dollars or more in a calendar year, may electronically file such statements using the city's online system according to procedures established by the city clerk. However, to ensure reporting continuity, once a statement, report, form, or other document is filed electronically on behalf of any elected officer, candidate, committee, or other person, all future statements, reports, forms, and other documents filed on behalf of that officer, candidate, committee, or other person must be filed electronically.
2. 
An elected officer, candidate, committee, or other person may choose not to use the electronic filing system by filing all original statements, reports, forms, or other documents in paper format with the city clerk, until such time as the city council determines that electronic filing is mandatory for all filers.
B. 
Paper Filing Not Required After Electronic Filing. Any elected officer, candidate, committee, or other person who has electronically filed a statement, report, form, or other document using the city's online system is not required to file a copy of that document in a paper format with the city clerk.
C. 
Filing Options When a Copy Must Be Filed with the City Clerk. In any instance in which an original statement, report, form, or other document must be filed with the Secretary of State or other agency, and a copy of that document is required to be filed with the city clerk, the filer may electronically file a copy with the city clerk or may file in a paper format.
D. 
Paper Filing When Cannot File Electronically. If, for technical reasons, the city's system is not capable of accepting a particular type of statement, report, form, or other document, an elected officer, candidate, committee, or other person shall timely file that document in paper format with the city clerk.
E. 
Internet Posting of Data. The city clerk shall ensure that the city's system makes all electronically filed statements, reports, forms, or other documents available on the internet in an easily understood format that provides the greatest public access. The data shall be made available free of charge and as soon as possible after receipt/deadline. The data made available on the internet shall not contain the street name of the persons or entity representatives listed on the electronically filed forms or any bank account number required to be disclosed by the filer. The city clerk's office shall also make a complete, unredacted copy of the statement, report, form, or other document available to the Fair Political Practices Commission for Government Code Section 87200 filers.
F. 
Records Retention. The city clerk's office shall maintain records according to the city's records retention schedule and applicable state law commencing from the date filed, a secured, official version of each online or electronic statement, report, form, or other document, which shall serve as the official version of that record.
(Ord. 1414, 5/23/2024)