All elective city offices shall be filled by the city electorate at a general municipal election to be held on the date of the statewide general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year.
(Ord. 1624 § 1; Ord. 2172 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2518 § 12, 2017; Ord. 2564 § 1, 2019; Ord. 2566 § 3, 2019)
Five city council districts are hereby established in the City of Davis. 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. 2566 § 3, 2019)
(a) 
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 Davis at the time nomination papers are issued to the candidate as provided in Section 10227 of the California Elections Code.
(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 terms of the office of each member elected to the city council shall be four years.
(d) 
References in this article to state statutes shall include any amendments thereto and any successor statutes.
(Ord. 2566 § 3, 2019)
Commencing with the general municipal election in November of 2020 and thereafter, the voters in Council Districts 2, 3, and 5 shall elect members of the city council by district for full four-year terms. At the general municipal election in 2022 and thereafter, the voters in Council Districts 1 and 4 shall elect members of the city council by district for full four-year terms. No term of any member of the city council that commenced on or prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this article shall be affected prior to its expiration date.
(Ord. 2566 § 3, 2019)
(a) 
The city council shall adjust the boundaries of any or all of the districts following each decennial federal census to ensure that districts are as equal in population as practicable and in compliance with all applicable provisions of law. The redistricting process shall be conducted in accordance with state law. Any adjustment of district boundaries shall be made by ordinance adopted by the city council.
(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 to which the annexed territory shall be a part.
(Ord. 2566 § 3, 2019; Ord. 2619 § 2, 2022)
Prior History: Former Article 12.02, Election Campaign Limits, adopted by Ord. 1624 § 1; Ord. 1926 §§ 1, 2; Ord. 2077, 2002; Ord. 2172 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2211 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2262 § 1, 2006; Ord. 2518 § 2, 2017; Ord. 2566 § 2, 2019.
The intent and purpose of the city council in enacting these regulations is to:
(a) 
Place realistic and enforceable limits on the amount individuals may contribute to city council candidates in municipal elections to avoid corruption or the appearance of corruption.
(b) 
Prevent the exercise of undue or improper influence, or its appearance, over elected officials by contributors to political campaigns.
(c) 
Inform the public of the sources and objects of campaign contributions and expenditures.
(d) 
Encourage wide participation in municipal elections.
(Ord. 2684, 3/3/2026)
(a) 
City Council Candidates. No person shall make and no candidate shall solicit or accept any contribution which would cause the total amount contributed by that person to that candidate, including contributions to all committees controlled by the candidate, to exceed one hundred fifty dollars for any single election.
(b) 
The provisions of this section shall not apply to a candidate's contribution of personal funds to the candidate's campaign.
(Ord. 2684, 3/3/2026)
(a) 
Whenever any local candidate or committee is required to file campaign statements, that candidate or committee shall file them in an electronic format. The electronic filing serves as the filing of record.
(b) 
In any instance in which the original statement is required to be filed with the Secretary of State and a copy is required to be filed with the City of Davis, the copy shall be submitted as an electronic filing.
(Ord. 2684, 3/3/2026)