To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Tiffany Carranza, City Clerk
Prepared By: Tiffany Carranza, City Clerk
TITLE:
Title
Appointment to fill Vacancy on City Council
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
1. Interview Candidates and identify an individual to fill the vacant City Council seat for the unexpired term of former Councilmember Liz Alessio, and direct staff to insert the name of the individual in the resolution to implement the appointment.
2. Adopt a resolution appointing an individual to fill the vacancy on the City Council for Councilmember - District 1 for the unexpired term ending in 2026.
3. Direct the City Clerk to administer the Oath of Office to the appointed member of City Council.
Body
DISCUSSION:
As a result of the March 5, 2024 Statewide Primary Election, Liz Alessio won election to and will be sworn in as Napa County Supervisor for County District 2 on January 4, 2025 for a term beginning January 6, 2025. She will be resigning her seat as City of Napa Councilmember -District 1 on January 3, 2025.
On October 15, 2024 City Council directed the City Clerk to begin recruitment efforts to accept applications to fill the vacancy. Applications were accepted from November 12, 2024 to December 20, 2024.
Nineteen applications were originally received. After qualifying all applicants, two names were removed due to residency requirements as both individuals resided outside of District 1; and one additional name was removed due to length of residency in Napa of under one year.
California Government Code Section 34882 requires that each member of Council reside in the district for which they are elected and to be a registered voter of the City.
City Charter Section 10 states that “no person shall be eligible to hold any elective office in the City of Napa unless he is and has been a resident therein for a period of one year immediately preceding the date of such election, and he must continue a resident of said City during the term of this office, and if he fails to so continue a resident of said City, his office shall, by reason thereof, become vacant,”
Additionally, two applicants withdrew their applications.
The following fourteen applicants are submitted to Council for consideration:
1. Jeffrey Zajas
2. Emilio Dorame-Martinez
3. Julianna Hart
4. Jose Llamas
5. Michael Pramuk
6. Chris Lundstrom
7. Kelley Thompson
8. Ifonia Gelin
9. Louis Calli III
10. Christopher DeNatale
11. Anthony Norris
12. Betsy Cooper
13. Michael Baldini
14. Wilfred "Will" Marcencia
At the December 17, 2024 City Council Meeting, City Council discussed the following interview process:
All applicants will be given five minutes to present their qualifications and experience that align with the role of a City Councilmember. This will be a timed presentation. Council will determine the order of presentations by random selection.
After the five-minute presentation, City Council will vote for applicants who they feel should be considered for the final interview process. Council will again determine the order of interviews by a random selection process.
City Council, will, by majority vote, appoint one individual to fulfill the responsibilities of a member of the City Council during the remaining unexpired term of the District 1 seat, ending after the results of the next General Municipal Election in November 2026.
The individual who is chosen to fill the vacancy will take oath of Office immediately after appointment.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
None.
CEQA:
The City Clerk has determined that the recommended action described in this agenda report is not subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Applications
ATCH 2 - Resolution
ATCH 3 - Certificate of Appointment and Oath
NOTIFICATION:
Applicants