Amend City Charter for a directly elected full-time Mayor.

Initiative Charter Amendment to Establish a Directly-Elected and Full-Time Mayor's Office
Background Under the current City Charter, seven City Councilmembers are elected by City of San Buenaventura voters by seven geographic electoral districts. Every two years, the Council selects from among its members who shall be the City's Mayor and Deputy Mayor. This is done immediately following each general municipal election and the seating of Councilmembers for new terms. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor each serve a two-year term. The Mayor presides over, maintains order and enforces rules at Council meetings, may administer oaths, signs official documents when required by law and acts as the official head of the City on public and ceremonial occasions. The Charter currently provides that each Councilmember, including the Mayor, has one vote. The Deputy Mayor acts in the Mayor's absence. When both are absent from a meeting, the Council may choose another member to act as Mayor Pro Tem, who shall have the powers of the Mayor for that meeting.
Summary of This Measure This Measure would amend the City Charter to establish the position of a directly elected Mayor, in addition to the seven Councilmembers currently elected. Instead of being selected by the City Council every two years, the Mayor would be elected by all City of San Buenaventura voters at a general municipal election and serve a term of four years. As a Citywide office, the Mayor would be elected at-large, while the seven Councilmembers would continue to be elected by-districts. The Measure provides that the elected Mayor would be a full-time public position, with compensation and benefits established by City Council ordinance adopted in accordance with applicable law. The Measure provides that the Mayor would serve as the official head of the City and represent the City in civic, regional, and governmental matters and perform duties customarily associated with the office of mayor within a council-manager form of government. The Measure requires the Mayor to preside over, maintain order and enforce rules at Council meetings, administer oaths, and sign official documents when required by law. The Measure states that the Mayor would not exercise executive administrative authority over City departments, officers, or employees. The Measure provides that the Mayor would not be a regular voting member of the City Council. Legislative authority would remain vested in the seven-member City Council. However, in the event of a City Council tie vote, the Mayor would cast the deciding vote. This Measure provides that the City Council would select a Deputy Mayor from among its members, who shall perform the Mayor's duties when absent. The Measure also provides that, when both are absent from a meeting, the Council shall choose another member to act as Mayor Pro Tem for that meeting.
/s/ Javan N. Rad, City Attorney, City of San Buenaventura
May 5 2026
LYRK0512086