LWV LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
Smart Voter
Stanislaus County, CA November 2, 1999 Election
Measure J
Charter Amendment/Vice Mayor
City of Modesto

11,773 / 63% Yes votes ...... 6,932 / 37% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures
Infomation shown below: Summary | Yes/No Meaning | Arguments | Full Text
Shall the Modesto City Charter be amended to change the current Charter provisions for the selection of Vice Mayor which typically results in the selection of the most recently elected Councilmember and, instead, provide that the City Council would annually elect one of its members, other than the Mayor, to serve as Vice Mayor during the ensuing calendar year?
Summary Prepared by the City Attorney:
Section 603 of the Modesto City Charter describes the process for the annual selection of a Vice-Mayor. The current method for the selection of the Vice-Mayor typically results in the selection of the most recently elected Councilmember who has not previously served as Vice-Mayor. This measure would eliminate the current selection process and substitute in its place a provision requiring the Council to annually, during the month of January, elect one of its members, other than the Mayor, to serve as Vice-Mayor during the ensuing calendar year.

s/Michael D. Milich
City Attorney

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote of this measure means:
You should vote "YES" on this measure if you want to amend the Charter to provide for the annual selection of the Vice-Mayor by the remaining members of the Council.

A NO vote of this measure means:
You should vote "NO" on this measure if you want to reject this change.

  
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Arguments For Measure J
The purpose of this proposed amendment is to allow all Councilmembers the opportunity to be considered for the position of Vice Mayor regardless of prior service or seniority. The Charter requires the Mayor and Council to designate a member to serve as Vice Mayor. Council designates as Vice Mayor "the member of the Council who has the greatest seniority and who has not previously served as Vice Mayor or for whom the longest period of time has lapsed since previously being eligible to be designated as Vice Mayor." Based on this provision, the newest member of the Council is typically designated as Vice Mayor. The demands placed on a new councilmember are considerable without the added responsibilities of being Vice-Mayor. The role of the Vice Mayor is very demanding. The proposed amendment would permit consideration of all members of Council for the position of Vice Mayor, regardless of prior service.
s/Richard A. Lang
Mayor

(No arguments against Measure J were submitted)

Text for Measure J
CITY OF MODESTO CHARTER AMENDMENT MEASURE J

SECTION 603. VICE MAYOR.

In odd-numbered years, at the second meeting of the Council following the election of a member to the Council, except members elected at special elections, and in even-numbered years at the regular Council meeting held most closely one (1) year thereafter, the Council shall designate as Vice Mayor the member of the Council who has the greatest seniority and who has not previously served as Vice Mayor or for whom the longest period of time has lapsed since previously being eligible to be designated as Vice Mayor. The member of the Council so designated shall serve as Vice Mayor until a successor is designated as provided above. The Vice Mayor shall act as Mayor during the absence or inability of the Mayor to act. In the case of the temporary absence or disability of both the Mayor and the Vice Mayor, the Council shall designate one of its members to act as Mayor Pro Tempore. If a vacancy shall occur during the term of a Vice Mayor, the Council shall designate the next eligible member of the Council to fill the remainder of the term. A member of the Council so designated to fill a vacancy shall remain eligible to be designated as Vice Mayor for the succeeding full term. Seniority shall be determined on the basis of continuous service as a member of the Council. If members of the Council have the same amount of service, the order in which such members shall be designated as Vice Mayor shall be determined by lot. A member of the Council may decline to be designated as Vice Mayor for a specific term. For purposes of determining future eligibility for designation as Vice Mayor, a member of the Council who so declines a term as Vice Mayor shall be considered as having served said term.

At the first Council meeting in January of each year, or sooner if required, the City Council shall elect one of its members, other than the Mayor, to serve as Vice Mayor during the ensuing calendar year. The member of the Council so elected shall serve as Vice Mayor until a successor is elected as provided above.

The Vice Mayor shall act as Mayor during the absence or inability of the Mayor to act. In the case of the temporary absence or disability of both the Mayor and the Vice Mayor, the Council shall designate one of its members to act as Mayor Pro Tempore.

Note: Any wording stricken would be deleted by this measure.

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Created: November 18, 1999 15:00
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