Chapter 2.04
COUNCIL
Sections:
2.04.005 Council Elected by District.
2.04.010 Time of Regular Meetings.
2.04.020 Place of Regular Meetings.
2.04.030 Improper Conduct at Meeting.
2.04.040 Adoption of Procedures.
2.04.048 City Council Salaries.
2.04.060 Commission Appointments.
2.04.110 Notice of Appeal—Time Limit—Contents.
2.04.120 Appeals—Hearings—Notices.
2.04.005 Council Elected by District.
A. By-District Elections. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 34886, members of the City Council shall be elected by district in five (5) single-member districts.
1. Councilmembers 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 (1) 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 declared and established within thirty (30) days after the termination of residency.
4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, each Councilmember 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 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 may reside anywhere within the corporate boundaries of the City. A person appointed or elected to fill such a vacancy shall hold the office in accordance with general law and applicable provisions of the Santa Clarita Municipal Code.
B. Council Districts and District Elections. All five (5) Councilmembers shall be elected on a “by-district” basis from the council districts shown and numbered on the map titled “City of Santa Clarita District Map” 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 (4) years thereafter, the following two (2) Council districts shall be elected by district: District 1 and District 3. In 2026, and every four (4) years thereafter, the following three (3) Council districts shall be elected by district: District 2; District 4; and District 5. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Council vacancy prior to the 2024 election, the City Council shall reconsider this provision in light of the vacancy provisions of the consent decree.
C. Amendment of District Boundaries. Pursuant to Elections Code Section 21601, as it may be amended from time to time, the 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. 23-4 § 2, 6/13/23)
2.04.010 Time of Regular Meetings.
The regular meetings of the City Council shall be held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the hour of six p.m. Regular study session meetings of the City Council shall be held on the first Tuesday of each month at the hour of five-thirty p.m. (Ord. 87-2, 12/15/87; Ord. 88-51, 12/22/88; Ord. 89-19, 7/25/89; Ord. 98-19, 8/25/98; Ord. 01-4, 1/23/01)
2.04.020 Place of Regular Meetings.
The regular meetings of the City Council shall be held at a location to be designated by resolution of the City Council. (Ord. 87-2, 12/15/87)
2.04.030 Improper Conduct at Meeting.
Any member or other person using profane, vulgar, loud or boisterous language at any meeting or otherwise interrupting the proceedings, who refuses to be seated or keep quiet when ordered to do so by the Mayor or other presiding officer of the Council, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 87-2, 12/15/87)
2.04.040 Adoption of Procedures.
The City Council may, by resolution, adopt rules of procedure to govern the conduct of its meetings, any of its other functions and activities, and regulations pertaining thereto. (Ord. 87-2, 12/15/87)
2.04.048 City Council Salaries.1
The salary for City Councilmembers shall be increased as provided for in Government Code Section 36516 from the amount of two thousand two hundred seventeen dollars and forty-one cents ($2,217.41) to two thousand three hundred twenty-eight dollars and twenty-eight cents ($2,328.28) per month effective on January 1, 2023, or after the November 2022 election results are certified by the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder and the Santa Clarita City Clerk, whichever date is later. This salary increase represents a total pay increase of two and one-half percent (2.5%) (not compounded) for the calendar years 2021 and 2022, for a total increase of five percent (5%). Such salary shall be payable on a monthly basis and in the same manner as salaries are paid to other officers and employees of the City of Santa Clarita. (Ord. 99-11, 9/14/99; Ord. 02-4, 3/26/02; Ord. 03-16, 12/9/03; Ord. 05-16 § 1, 9/27/05; Ord. 07-9 § 1, 11/27/07; Ord. 11-14 § 1, 6/28/11; Ord. 13-10 § 1, 7/9/13; Ord. 16-2 § 1, 2/9/16; Ord. 19-6 § 1, 10/8/19; Ord. 22-4 § 1, 4/26/22)
2.04.050 Reimbursement.
When approved by the City Council, each member of the Council shall receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties for the City, pursuant to the provisions of Section 36514.5 of the Government Code. (Ord. 87-2, 12/15/87)
2.04.060 Commission Appointments.
Unless otherwise specifically provided in this code or by State law, all City board and commission appointments, except for ex officio members where applicable, shall be made by the City Council. (Ord. 87-2, 12/15/87)
2.04.100 Appeals to Council.
A. Except when an appeals procedure is otherwise specifically set forth in this code, any person excepting to the denial, suspension, or revocation of a permit applied for or held by him pursuant to any of the provisions of this code, or to any administrative decision made by any official of the City, if the denial, suspension, or revocation of such permit or the determination of such administrative decision involves the exercise of administrative discretion or personal judgment exercised pursuant to any of the provisions of this code, may appeal in writing to the Council by filing with the City Clerk a written notice of such appeal.
B. No appeal may be taken to any such administrative decision made by an official of the City pursuant to any of the provisions of this chapter unless such decision to appeal has been first taken up with the department head concerned and with the City Manager, and each such official has not adjusted the matter to the appellant’s satisfaction.
C. No right of appeal to the Council from any administrative decision made by an official of the City pursuant to any of the provisions of this code shall exist when such decision is ministerial and thus does not involve the exercise of administrative discretion or personal judgment exercised pursuant to any of the provisions of this code, whether the administrative decision involves the denial, suspension, or revocation of a permit or any other administrative decision. Also, there shall be no such right of appeal with regard to law enforcement activities involving State law. (Ord. 87-2, 12/15/87)
2.04.110 Notice of Appeal—Time Limit—Contents.
A. Any such notice of appeal shall not be acted upon unless filed within ten (10) days after service of written notice of such action appealed from; provided, that if such notice of action has not been served in writing the appellant may, within ten (10) days after being apprised of such action, demand service of written notice thereof, and shall have ten (10) days following such service in which to file the notice of appeal.
B. The notice of appeal shall set forth (1) the specific action appealed from, (2) the specific grounds of the appeal, and (3) the relief or action sought from the City Council. In the event any notice of appeal fails to set forth any information required by this section, the City Clerk shall return the same to the appellant with a statement of the respects in which it is deficient, and the appellant shall thereafter be allowed five (5) days in which to perfect and refile the notice of appeal.
C. Except in those instances where an appeal is filed by the City Manager or other public official in pursuance of official duties, the written notice of appeal from the action of an administrative official or from an administrative body of the City, as the case may be, shall be accompanied by such fee as may have been established by resolution of the City Council. (Ord. 87-2, 12/15/87)
2.04.120 Appeals—Hearings—Notices.
Upon the timely filing of a notice of appeal in proper form, the City Clerk shall schedule the matter promptly upon the City Council agenda at a subsequent regular meeting and shall cause notice thereof to be given to the appellant not less than five (5) days prior to such hearing, unless such notice is waived in writing by the appellant. The City Clerk shall also cause a copy of the notice of appeal to be transmitted to the official or body whose action has been appealed from. (Ord. 87-2, 12/15/87)
2.04.130 Appeals: Hearings.
A. The City Council at the hearing may limit participation in the hearing to the directly interested parties, or may allow participation by the public. Such public participation, however, shall only be appropriate when the Council deems the same necessary in the public interest. If a hearing is ordered open to public participation, notice thereof shall be given by publishing notice of the same in a newspaper of general circulation in the City not less than five (5) days prior to the date of such hearing, and by such other means as the City Council deems necessary.
B. At the time of consideration of the appeal by the City Council the appellant shall be limited to a presentation on the specific grounds of appeal and matters set forth in his notice of appeal and shall have the burden of establishing cause why the action appealed from should be altered, reversed or modified. The Council may continue the matter from time to time; and at the conclusion of its consideration may affirm, reverse or modify the action appealed from and may take any action which might have been legally taken in the first instance by the official or body from whose action the appeal has been taken. In ruling on the appeal the finding and action of the Council shall be final and conclusive in the matter. (Ord. 87-2, 12/15/87)
Code reviser’s note: Section 2 of Ord. 22-4 reads: “This ordinance shall take effect as set forth in Government Code section 36937, but the date set forth in section 2.04.048 reflects that the change in salary will not apply to any Councilmembers during their current term of office. Instead it shall apply after one or more members of the council has become eligible for such change in salary by virtue of commencing a new term of office, at which time it shall apply to all Councilmembers.”