COLUSA, CA (MPG) – The Colusa City Council in February will appoint an individual to fill the seat left vacant in December by the resignation of Councilwoman Julie Garofalo.
At the same time, the council called for a special election to be held on Nov. 5 so voters can select someone to fulfill the remaining two years that would have been left of Garofalo’s term.
The special election will be held in conjunction with the 2024 Presidential Election, when three other seats on the council become vacant, said City Manager Jesse Cain.
City Clerk Shelly Kittle said those who want to apply for consideration must have their applications to her no later than Jan. 30.
The council will interview applicants for Garofalo’s replacement and make their selection in an open meeting in February.
City Attorney Ryan Jones said the alternative to open interviews would be for the mayor to appoint an ad hoc committee to field applicants before the council approves the committee’s final selection, but he did not recommend the process.
“I would caution against it because it gives too much power to two council members,” Jones said.
Although the election is 10 months away, Jones recommended filling the vacancy as soon as possible to avoid an even number of members on the dais, which would create the potential for 2-2 votes, thus preventing the council from passing matters on the agenda.
Jones said more than 90 percent of jurisdictions fill vacant positions within 60 days, and then allow the citizenry to vote on a candidate at the next scheduled election.
The Nov. 5 Presidential Election, which will cost the city about $10,000, has three four-terms seats up, so the special election for the 2-year seat to replace Garofalo will not burden the city with additional costs, officials said.
The requirement for office is that the individual is a resident and registered voter of Colusa and is at least 18 years of age.
If the council does not find a suitable candidate to appoint, they could choose to leave the position vacant until November, when voters decide who sits on the council, Jones said.
The three four-year seats up for election in 2024 are currently held by first-term council members Daniel Vaca, mayor, and Denise Conrado, who were both elected in 2020, and Councilman Greg Ponciano, who was elected in 2012 and has served three terms on the dais.
During her general report at the Jan. 2 meeting, Conrado said the current City Council had many successes in 2023, including establishing a committee to oversee Measure B revenue, with citizens expected to see results in streets, parks, and trees in 2024; opening the long-awaited splash pad; overhauling the cannabis ordinance to keep dispensaries out of the downtown commercial district; receiving a 5-year grant to hire a code enforcement officer, approving two businesses to create renewable energy, which will help the city meet state mandates; purchasing the Pirelli building; increasing recreational opportunities, providing grants to nonprofits, sponsoring the Levitt Amp concert series, and receiving grants to upgrade water infrastructure, among others things.
“We are accomplishing stuff,” Conrado said.