(A) In the event of a vacancy on the City Council occasioned by the death of a council member or some other circumstance, and the vacancy occurs on or after the first day to file affidavits of candidacy for the next regular city election or when less than two years remain in the unexpired term, the City Council, or the Mayor in the event of a tie vote, shall first appoint a person to fill the vacancy who shall then serve until the qualification of a successor, all pursuant to M.S. § 412.02, subd. 2a. At any time after the qualification of the appointed person, the City Council may, but need not, call a special election to fill the vacancy and the appointed person shall serve until a successor is duly elected and qualified.
(B) The election officials for a special election shall be the same as for the most recent municipal general election unless changed according to law. Otherwise, special elections shall be conducted and the returns made in the manner provided for the municipal general election as provided in M.S. §§ 205.10, 205.13, 205.16, 205.17, and 205.175, as from time to time amended. These cited statutes are hereby adopted and incorporated herein and made a part of this section by reference as completely as if set out in full herein.
(C) No special election shall be authorized under this section in the event that the vacancy occurred at a time when less than six months remained in the unexpired term.
(Ord. 242, passed 10-6-2003)