A. In an election year for city elected officers, the city council shall, as part of the annual city budget process or by a budget amendment as may be necessary, consider appropriating funds from the general fund balance or another funding source to assist with the cost of transition to a newly elected mayor and council members.
B. The proposed budget for transition costs shall identify funds that may be used to accomplish the following:
1. Funding to operate the office of the mayor-elect, if more than fifty percent (50%) of the appropriated annual budget for the mayor's office is spent and unavailable to the mayor-elect as of the induction date;
2. Funding to provide salaries and benefits for:
a. Council members-elect equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of a current council member's salary,
b. The mayor-elect equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of the current mayor's salary,
c. Two (2) staff positions equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of the current salary of mayor's chief of staff and a mayoral assistant, and
d. Benefits for all of the above named positions at one hundred percent (100%) of current benefits;
3. Funding for expenses during the transition period, including, but not limited to, the following:
a. For the mayor-elect and mayor-elect's staff identified in subsection B2 of this section:
(1) Office space in city hall or another city owned location within a reasonable distance from city hall;
(2) Expenses for computer and telephone equipment for use during the transition period;
(3) Expenses to set up the office of the mayor-elect, once the mayor takes office; and
b. For council members-elect:
(1) Costs associated with providing mobile device to access meeting and agenda materials;
4. Funding that may be required to allow a person serving in an appointed position, which is terminated by the mayor-elect, to return to a position previously held by that person so long as such return is allowed by applicable law and civil service rules;
5. Funding for a portrait of the outgoing mayor;
6. Funding for benefits of appointed employees who are not retained by the mayor-elect; and
7. Funding to fully cover costs associated with the induction ceremony for newly elected officials and an event for outgoing officials. (Ord. 73-15, 2015)