AGENDA TITLE:
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Adopt a Resolution Approving Amendments to Section 3.3 of the City Council Protocol Manual Regarding the Selection of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore and 3.1 Regarding the Mentorship of Newly-Elected Members (CA)
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MEETING DATE:
October 21, 2026
PREPARED BY:
Taryn Jones, City Attorney
recommendation
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a Resolution approving revisions to section 3.3 of the City Council Protocol Manual regarding the selection of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore and 3.1 regarding the mentorship of newly-elected members.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On January 28, 2026, the City Council provided feedback on proposed changes to the City Council Protocol Manual. At the meeting, the City Council addressed appointments of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore, changes to the meeting requirements under SB 707, and general cleanup matters. On July 1, 2026, the City Council approved a resolution adopting a policy regarding disruptions of telephonic or internet services during City Council meetings consistent with SB 707. This report now addresses the discussed appointment process. Staff will return with comprehensive cleanup for City Council consideration near the end of 2026.
Regarding the appointments of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore, the City Council directed staff to revise the language to introduce a rotation by district. In accordance with this direction staff updated the language in section 3.3 of the City Council Protocol Manual as reflected in Attachment 1 (redline) and Exhibit 1 (clean).
As revised, section 3.3a provides that the Councilmember representing the district of the existing Mayor Pro Tempore position shall be appointed as Mayor. Additionally, under section 3.3c, the Councilmember representing the next District in the numerical sequence (District 1 through District 5) shall be appointed to the position of the Mayor Pro Tempore. Therefore, a standard rotation would be as follows:
During its January discussion, the Council expressed concern about appointing a Mayor with less than one year of experience and provided direction that the Mayor be required to serve for this minimum period prior to appointment. This exception is addressed in section 3.3b. Under this section, if the Councilmember representing the district of the existing Mayor Pro Tempore position has not served the minimum twelve (12) consecutive months, the Councilmember representing the next district in the numerical sequence who has served for the minimum period shall be appointed Mayor.
Because the 3.3b process can impact the Mayor Pro Tempore appointment, section 3.3d clarifies that in the event that the Councilmember representing the next District in the numerical sequence cannot fill the role of Mayor Pro Tempore because they have been appointed Mayor under 3.3b or the District is otherwise vacant, the Councilmember representing the next District in the numerical sequence shall be appointed Mayor Pro Tempore.
By way of example, if in 2031 the District Four representative is a new appointment with less one year of experience but the District Five representative had at least one year of service, the rotation would be as follows:
Notwithstanding the above, the City Council may override the requirements of section 3.3 by a super majority (4/5) vote and appointment any member to either position.
Additionally, during the January 28, 2026, meeting Mayor Yepez requested, with Council support, that the duties of the Mayor Pro Tempore position be updated to include providing mentorship to newly-elected members. Accordingly, section 3.1 of the City Council Protocol Manual, “Newly-Elected Members,” has been revised to include this responsibility. The proposed revision is reflected in Attachment 2 (redline) and Exhibit 1 (clean).
FISCAL IMPACT:
Not applicable.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
Not applicable.