AGENDA REPORT
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
DATE: 11/20/2019
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Mitchell Lansdell, Interim City Manager
SUBJECT: Discussion and direction on Council term limits.
End
Government Code Section 36502(b) - Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the City Council of a general law or charter City may adopt or the residents of the city may propose, by initiative, a proposal to limit or repeal a limit on the number of terms a member of the City Council may serve on the City Council, or the number of terms an elected mayor may serve. Any proposal to limit the number of terms a member of the City Council may serve on the City Council, or the number of terms an elected mayor may serve, shall apply prospectively only and shall not become operative unless it is submitted to the electors of the City at a regular scheduled election and a majority of the votes cast on the question favor the adoption of the proposal. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, the provisions of any City charter that, on January 1, 1996, impose limitations on the number of terms a member of the City Council may serve on the City Council, or the number of terms an elected mayor may serve, shall remain in effect. Unless otherwise prohibited by a City charter, any City charter may be amended pursuant to this section or pursuant to the procedures specified in the charter, to include the limitation authorized in this subdivision.
Pursuant to this section, the City Council can determine if a ballot measure should be placed on ballot at the General Election. The City Council can determine for purposes of the measure the limitation on number of terms and if a cooling off period will apply.