Temporary Absence
When the Mayor is absent and inaccessible, or is unable for any cause to perform the duties of the Mayor, the Vice-Mayor shall be Acting Mayor, but shall not thereby cease to be a member of Council. If the Vice-Mayor is unable to assume the duties as Acting Mayor, then a person designated in a succession ordinance as adopted by Council shall become Acting Mayor, and in lieu of such ordinance then the Law Director shall be Acting Mayor.
Vacancy in the Office of Mayor
In the case of the death, resignation or removal of the Mayor or the Mayor ceasing to reside within the City, the Vice-Mayor shall become Acting Mayor until the Council meets and appoints, by a majority vote of its members, a person qualified to be an elective officer of this City to serve as Mayor, which appointment shall be made within sixty (60) days of such vacancy. The Vice-Mayor shall not cease to be a member of Council during such sixty (60) day period. When the successor Mayor is appointed by Council, the Acting Mayor shall again become the Vice-Mayor unless appointed as Mayor. If the Council has not filled such vacancy within said sixty (60) days, the Vice-Mayor shall become Mayor and his or her Council seat shall thereby become vacated.
The term of any person filling such a vacancy shall expire at the end of the unexpired term of the former Mayor or on the last day of December immediately following the next general election occurring more than one hundred twenty (120) days after such vacancy occurs, whichever is earlier. If any portion of the unexpired term in which the vacancy occurred remains after such last day of December, a person shall be chosen at such election to serve for the remaining portion of such unexpired term and shall succeed such appointee on the first day of January next following such election.
(Approved by voters 11-2-99.)