(a) When a vacancy occurs on the City Council, the Council shall either prescribe action to seek interested, qualified candidates for appointment to the vacancy, or simply elect to submit names to the Council for consideration. By a majority vote of its incumbent members present, held at the next regular Council meeting after occurrence of the vacancy, Council shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy until the next regular or special election, at which time a successor shall be elected to serve the balance of the term. If the vacancy occurs more than six months before the next regular election, the City Council, at the next Council meeting after the vacancy, may vote to schedule a special election to fill the vacancy.

(b) If a vacancy occurs within 90 days prior to a regular election, appointment may be waived by majority vote of the Council and the office shall be placed on the ballot for election to serve the remainder of the term. However, if at any time the membership of the City Council is reduced to fewer than a quorum, the remaining Councilmembers shall appoint at the next Council meeting the minimum number of qualified persons sufficient to constitute a quorum. [Ord. 19-03 § 2 (Att.), 2019. Code 1979 § 2.9. Formerly 2.20.090.]