That the City Council conduct interviews for an expected vacancy on the La Habra City Council.

At the Regular City Council Meeting of February 5, 2024, Councilmember Simonian announced his resignation from City Council effective April 5, 2024, and subsequently provided written confirmation of such to the City Clerk's Office on February 7, 2024.  On February 20, 2024, City Council directed staff to advertise the expected vacancy in order to fill the seat by Council appointment through an application and interview process. Notices regarding the expected vacancy were posted at City Hall and the City Council Chamber, and were advertised on the City's website, Channel 3, social media, and in the Orange County Register. Applications were accepted by the City Clerk's Office until Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.     

A total of nine applications were received by the 6:00 p.m. deadline on March 7, 2024.  Staff verified with the Orange County Registrar of Voters that all nine applicants meet the State's eligibility requirements for the City Council seat. 

On March 13, 2024, the City Clerk conducted a random draw, witnessed by the City Attorney and Assistant City Clerk, that determined the order in which applicants would be interviewed. Interviews were then scheduled as follows:

 

	Applicant	Date Application Received
3:00 p.m.	James (Jimmy) Andreoli II	3/7/2024
3:00 p.m.	Guadalupe A. Vargas	3/7/2024
3:15 p.m.	Patricia M. Hikida	3/7/2024
3:15 p.m.	Carrie Surich	3/4/2024
3:30 p.m.	Henry Madrid	3/7/2024
3:30 p.m.	Minerva Sigüenza Gómez	3/5/2024
3:45 p.m.	Thomas (Tom) Ludwinski	2/28/2024
3:45 p.m.	Mohammad Raza	3/7/2024
4:45 p.m.	Delwin Lampkin	3/7/2024

 
Because City Council chose to fill the expected vacancy by appointment, the term of office for an appointee would only extend until the end of City Councilmember Simonian's current term, which is December 16, 2024. On that date the City Council will hold its annual reorganization and the newly elected City Councilmembers who successfully run in the November 2024 General Election for the three four-year seats (including the seat that City Councilmember Simonian currently holds) will be sworn-in to office to fill those seats for full-terms ending on December 18, 2028.  It should be noted that the City Council will need to appoint a new Chair of the Successor Agency that is currently held by City Councilmember Simonian after the expected vacancy occurs on April 5, 2024.

City Councilmembers earn a monthly stipend of $500 per month, which is a budgeted General Fund expense.