Adopt Resolution #18-095 Accepting Resignation of Mayor, Declaring a Vacancy in the Office of Mayor and Calling for a Special Election to Fill the Vacancy AND Adopt Resolution #18-096 Declaring a Vacancy in the Office of Councilmember Ward 4, Due to Special Election of April 24, 2018, and Calling for a Special Election to Fill the Vacancy

Purpose:  To accept the resignation of Mayor Strommen, declare a vacancy in her Mayoral seat, and call for a special election  AND to declare a vacancy in the Councilmember Ward 4 seat, due to the election of Chris Riley for the At-Large seat in the Special Election of April 10, and call for a special election. 

Background:  As Council is aware, Councilmember Chris Riley, Ward 4, filed an affidavit of candidacy for the At-Large Council seat vacated by Kristine Williams, and in a special election held on April 10, 2018, won such seat.  Therefore, the Councilmember Ward 4 seat is currently vacant.  Mayor Strommen submitted her written resignation, effective May 1, 2018, due to relocation.  Therefore a vacancy currently exists in the seat of Mayor as well.  Councilmember At-Large LeTourneau will serve as Acting Mayor until an election can be held to fill the seat.  The City's Charter, Section 2.5, provides that upon a vacancy, the Council shall publicly declare the vacancy to exist.  Adopting the attached resolutions will affirm that action. 

Section 4.5 of the Charter directs how vacancies on the City Council are filled.  If there are 365 days, or more, remaining in the term of the vacated office, a special election is required to fill that vacancy.  Due to newly adopted uniform special election dates, a special election must be held on one of the following dates:  

• The second Tuesday in February
• The second Tuesday in April
• The second Tuesday in May
• The second Tuesday in August
• The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
• On another date if the special election is held in response to an emergency or disaster.

Due to the uniform timeline for elections, this special election, for both offices, shall be scheduled as follows:  The filing period for candidacy will coincide with the filing period for the seats that are up for regular election (May 22 through June 5).  The special election shall be scheduled to coincide with the regular elections - Primary August 14 and General - November 6.   With the scheduling working out this way, the cost for a special election will be very minimal.  Basically, the extra cost will be for a couple of printed lines on the ballots. 

The Resolutions attached for Council action takes care of the following mandatory actions:  Accepting the resignation, publicly declaring the vacancy, and calling for/scheduling a Special Election.

Following the adoption of Resolutions #18-095 and #18-096, staff will publish notices of the special election as well as a candidate filing notice in the City's official newspaper, according to the Statutory timelines.  As you are aware, the City's official newspaper is the Anoka County Union/Herald.

The City's Charter requires the City Council to declare by resolution a vacancy in the Mayor and/or Council office and schedule a Special Election to select a successor.  There are no alternatives to adoption of the vacancy resolutions as this is a mandatory Charter requirement.

Funding for Elections is taken from the City's General Fund Budget.

Staff recommends Council adopt Resolution #18-095 and #18-096 to proceed with the Special Election process.

Motion to adopt Resolution #18-095 Accepting Resignation of Mayor, Declaring a Vacancy in the Office of Mayor and Calling for a Special Election to Fill the Vacancy AND Adopt Resolution #18-096 Declaring a Vacancy in the Office of Councilmember Ward 4, Due to Special Election of April 10, 2018, and Calling for a Special Election to Fill the Vacancy.