CHAPTER 4. Alternative Forms of Government

Heading of Chapter 4 renumbered from Chapter 7 by Stats. 1977, Ch. 1253.

§§ 34851–34906 · 34 sections

1. ARTICLE 1. City Manager §§ 34851–34859 · 9 sections

   • § 34851 An ordinance establishing a city manager form of government may be: (a) Enacted by the legislative body; or (b) Submitted to the electors by the legislative…
   • § 34852 The ordinance shall define the powers and duties of the city manager and may fix the city manager’s compensation or the minimum amount the city manager is to…
   • § 34853 Where the ordinance is submitted by the legislative body, the proposition shall be printed on the ballots substantially as follows: “Shall Ordinance No. ____…
   • § 34854 If a majority of the votes cast at the election is in favor of the ordinance, it shall go into effect on the tenth day after the canvass of votes.
   • § 34855 Within sixty days after the effective date of the ordinance, the legislative body shall appoint a city manager, who need not be a resident of the city at the…
   • § 34856 The city manager may appoint and dismiss the chief of police and other subordinate appointive officers and employees except the city attorney. When the offices…
   • § 34857 Upon appointment of the city manager, the terms of subordinate officers over whom the city manager has power of appointment and removal cease, unless they are…
   • § 34858 Any city adopting the city manager form of government may abolish it in the manner in which it was adopted.
   • § 34859 All ordinances establishing a city manager form of government, enacted prior to September 19, 1947, are confirmed, validated, and declared legally effective.
2. ARTICLE 2. Election of Legislative Body By or From Districts in Cities §§ 34870–34886 · 18 sections

   • § 34870 This article applies only to cities.
   • § 34871 At any municipal election, or special election held for that purpose, the legislative body may submit to the registered voters an ordinance providing for the…
   • § 34872 An ordinance shall state the number of legislative districts and whether members of the legislative body shall be elected by districts, from districts, by…
   • § 34873 An ordinance enacted pursuant to this article may be amended or repealed in the same manner; provided, the term of office of any council member elected shall…
   • § 34874 (a) An amendatory ordinance altering the boundaries of the legislative districts established pursuant to this article shall not be submitted to the registered…
   • § 34875 The amendatory ordinance shall not be submitted to the voters if (a) one or more of the legislative districts do not close, (b) one or more entire legislative…
   • § 34876 The planning commission of the city or, in absence of such body, the legislative body of the city shall make findings as to the matters set forth in Section…
   • § 34876.5 (a) (1) If an ordinance is submitted to the voters pursuant to Section 34871, there shall be printed on the ballots substantially as follows: “Shall members of…
   • § 34877 The proposition of altering legislative districts shall be printed on the ballots substantially as follows: “Shall members of the legislative body of the City…
   • § 34877.5 (a) After an ordinance is passed by the voters pursuant to Section 34876.5, or after an ordinance is enacted by the legislative body pursuant to Section 34886,…
   • § 34878 If a majority of the registered voters of the city, who vote, vote in favor of the ordinance, at the expiration of the terms of office of the members of the…
   • § 34879 The term of office of members of the legislative body elected pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be four years, unless otherwise expressly…
   • § 34880 (a) If the petition or proposal developed by the commission for submission to the electorate for incorporation or special reorganization of a city provides for…
   • § 34881 One member of the legislative body shall be elected by or from each district, or, if applicable, one member of the legislative body shall be elected by or from…
   • § 34882 A person is not eligible to hold office as a member of a municipal legislative body unless he or she is otherwise qualified, resides in the district and both…
   • § 34883 Registered voters signing nomination petitions or voting for a member of the legislative body shall be residents of the geographical area making up the…
   • § 34884 (a) If, at the time a vote is held on the subject of incorporation of a new city, a majority of the votes cast is for incorporation and, if, in accordance with…
   • § 34886 Notwithstanding Section 34871 or any other law, the legislative body of a city may adopt an ordinance that requires the members of the legislative body to be…
3. ARTICLE 3. Elective Mayor §§ 34900–34906 · 7 sections

   • § 34900 At any general municipal election, or at a special election held for that purpose, the city council may submit to the electors the question of whether electors…
   • § 34901 The questions shall be printed on the ballots used at the election in substantially the following form: “Shall the electors elect a mayor and four city council…
   • § 34902 (a) If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition is for it, the office of mayor shall thereafter be an elective office, except as provided in subdivision…
   • § 34903 The mayor is a member of the city council and has all of the powers and duties of a member of the city council.
   • § 34904 A person is not eligible to hold office as mayor unless he or she is at the time of assuming that office an elector of the city, and was a registered voter of…
   • § 34905 A mayor pro tempore shall be chosen in the manner provided by Section 36801.
   • § 34906 Notwithstanding Section 36503, if a city has an elected mayor and the election of the remaining members of the city council for four-year terms is not evenly…