§ 2-162. Filling of vacancies.

In the event the office of a member of the city council becomes vacant in accordance with subsection 5.09(a) of the City Charter, when less than six (6) months remain prior to the next regularly scheduled election, and to ensure continuity of government, the city council may appoint, by majority vote a qualified person to fill the vacancy until the person elected takes office. In the event the vacancy occurs in the office of the mayor, the vice-mayor shall assume the duties of the mayor and city council shall appoint a qualified person to serve in the vice-mayor's seat until either the vice-mayor returns to the seat after serving as mayor or the individual elected to that seat takes office. The vice-mayor shall not vacate his/her council seat by assuming the duties of mayor and has the right to return to his/her council seat after serving as mayor for the balance of the term of that council seat. The vice-mayor shall also assume the duties of mayor when a special election is called to fill the vacancy in the office of mayor, but the council shall not appoint a person to fill the vice-mayor's temporary vacancy. The city council shall appoint from among its members a temporary vice-mayor to serve while the vice-mayor assumes the duties as mayor, who shall re-assume the role as vice-mayor upon no longer serving as mayor.

(Ord. No. 86-10, § 4, 5-27-86; Ord. No. 10-02, § 1, 4-27-10)