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Agenda Item: 13(e) |
Prepared By: Joan Taylor, City Clerk |
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Business: City Council Item |
Department: Executive |
Subject:
Title
Reappointment Process for City Council Vacancy - Joan Taylor, City Clerk
Body
BACKGROUND:
On May 16, 2024, Councilor Greg Folley announced his resignation to the City Clerk from the Marco Island City Council. His resignation was effective November 5, 2024.
Section 3.05(3) of the City Charter provides the following process for filling a council vacancy:
“If the remainder of the unexpired term is 28 months or less, the remaining Council Members shall, within sixty (60) days following the occurrence of such vacancy, by majority vote of the Council Members, appoint a person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.”
Councilor Folley’s term was set to expire in November 2026. Twenty-four (24) months of Councilor Folley’s term is left vacant based on his November 5, 2024, resignation. A replacement member shall be appointed by the City Council within sixty (60) days following the occurrence of the vacancy, which is no later than January 6, 2025.
Historically, vacancies were successfully filled through a candidate application process which included interviews by Council members with a vote for appointment.
To fill the vacancy, the following process is recommended:
• Utilize an application process based on eligibility to generate a pool of candidates: November 6 - November 19th, 2024
• At a Special Called City Council meeting on December 2nd, 2024, Councilmembers narrow down applications to 2 finalists (paper ballot voting)
• Individual appointments for councilors to interview the finalists. Interviews conducted from December 3rd - December 5th, 2024.
• Finalists invited to the December 9th, 2024, City Council meeting for final remarks and answer questions. Council members will vote by paper ballot. The City Clerk announces the results at that meeting. A majority vote shall determine the next appointed Councilor. If there is a tie, voting will continue until there is a majority vote.
• The newly appointed member will be sworn in during the December 9th, 2024 Council meeting
In anticipation that the vacancy will be filled through a similar application process successfully utilized when prior Council vacancies existed, on September 23, 2024, the previous City Council approved an application period from November 6-19, 2024 in order to establish the pool of candidates to fill the vacancy. However, the Council Elect is not bound by the process adopted by the prior City Council and may opt for a different approach to appoint an individual to the vacant seat.
FUNDING SOURCE / FISCAL IMPACT: N / A
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the process of filling the vacancy.
POTENTIAL MOTION: “I motion to approve the process for filling the vacancy on the City Council.”