Chapter 4.02
ELECTIONS GENERALLY
Sections:
4.02.010 City council districts established.
4.02.020 Election of city council members by district.
4.02.030 Commencement of district elections.
4.02.040 Adjustment of council district boundaries.
4.02.050 Procedure for holding elections.
4.02.010 City council districts established.
Five city council districts are hereby established in the city of Covina. 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. 22-01 § 2, 2022.)
4.02.020 Election of city council members by district.
A. City council members 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 city council member 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 Covina 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 city council member shall be residents of the geographical area making up the district from which the city council member is to be elected.
C. The terms of the office of each city council member shall be four years.
D. References in this chapter to state statutes shall include any amendments thereto and any successor statutes. (Ord. 22-01 § 2, 2022.)
4.02.030 Commencement of district elections.
Commencing with the general municipal election in June 2022 and thereafter, the voters in Council Districts 1, 3, and 5 shall elect city council members by district for full four-year terms. At the general municipal election in 2024 and thereafter, the voters in Council Districts 2 and 4 shall elect city council members by district for full four-year terms. No term of any city council member that commenced on or prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be affected prior to its expiration date. (Ord. 22-01 § 2, 2022.)
4.02.040 Adjustment of council district boundaries.
A. Pursuant to Elections Code Section 21601 the city council shall adjust the boundaries of any or all of the districts following the release of the 2030 Census and every subsequent decennial federal census thereafter. Using the census as a basis, the city council shall adjust the boundaries in accordance with the standards and provisions of Elections Code Sections 21600 to 21609, as they now exist or may hereafter be amended, and in compliance with all applicable provisions of law. Any adjustment of district boundaries shall be made by ordinance or resolution adopted by the city council. The city council shall hold public hearings and comply with the procedures for adoption of the proposed district boundaries as required by Elections Code Sections 21607 and 21607.1, as those sections now exist or may hereafter be amended.
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 and shall amend the district boundaries if necessary in accordance with Elections Code Section 21603.
C. Pursuant to Elections Code Section 21606 the term of office of any city council member who has been elected and whose term of office has not expired shall not be affected by any change in the boundaries of the district from which he or she was elected. At the first election for council following adjustment of the boundaries of the districts, a person meeting the requirements of Government Code Section 34882 shall be elected to the city council for each district under the readjusted district plan that has the same district number as a district whose incumbent’s term on the council is due to expire. (Ord. 22-01 § 2, 2022.)
4.02.050 Procedure for holding elections.
All city municipal elections shall be held in accordance with the election laws of the state of California, as the same now exists or hereafter may be amended, for the holding of municipal elections. References in this chapter to state statutes shall include any amendments thereto and any successor statutes. (Ord. 22-01 § 2, 2022.)