Shall the City of Oceanside establish term limits for the offices of mayor and city council members?
City of OceansideMeasure K Ordinance - Majority Approval Required
City of Oceanside
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Shall the Ordinance adding Article XVII, Section 2.94 to Chapter 2 of the Oceanside City Code establishing limits of three four year terms whether consecutive or not for the offices of mayor and city council member be adopted?
What is this proposal?
Pros & Cons — Unbiased explanation with arguments for and against
Information provided by League of Women Voters North County San Diego
The Question
The Situation
In Oceanside, the Mayor and City Council are elected positions with four-year terms. Under current law, the City of Oceanside does not impose term limits on any of its elected officials. There is no limit on the number of terms that a council member or mayor can serve.
Chula Vista, Coronado, and the City of San Diego limit council member terms, along with the cities of La Mesa, National City and San Marcos. All other San Diego cities have no term limits.
The Proposal
Voter approval of Measure K would establish term limits for the Mayor and City Council. California law requires voter approval of any local law to enact term limits.
Measure K was placed on the ballot by the Oceanside City Council and, if adopted, would amend the Oceanside City Code to limit Council Member service to three four-year terms over the course of an official's lifetime. The proposed amendment would cap the number of terms one could serve as Mayor to three four-year terms. The terms served as a member of the City Council would not count against the three-term limit for the Mayor. Similarly, the terms served as Mayor would not count against the three-term limit for a Council Member.
Measure K provides that a partial term of two years or more counts as a full term for both the Mayor and Council Member. Therefore, if an official is elected or appointed to fill a vacant position as either Mayor or Council Member, a partial term served for two years or more will count as a full term.
The proposed City Code amendment, if approved by the voters, would become effective immediately. As required by state law, the term limits measure would apply only to terms commencing after November 3, 2020. Measure K does not apply to the Offices of City Treasurer or City Clerk.
A Yes vote is in favor of adopting Oceanside City Code section 2.94 to establish limits of three four-year terms for the Mayor and City Council.
A No vote is in favor of the current system of having no term limits for the Mayor and City Council.
Fiscal effect
The estimated cost for placing this Measure on the Ballot is $115,000 to $160,000.
Supporters say
- The Oceanside City Council unanimously approved placing on the November ballot the establishment of term limits for elected officials.
- Measure K will encourage greater citizen involvement and allow new people the opportunity to contribute to their community.
- Throughout California, voters have overwhelmingly supported term limits for public officials. Oceanside is the largest City in San Diego County that does not have term limits.
- Term limits will improve our political process and open up our government.
The factual accuracy of these arguments has not been verified by any official entity.
Opponents say
No argument against Measure K was filed in the Office of the City Clerk.
Measure Details — Official information about this measure
YES vote means
A Yes vote is in favor of adopting Oceanside City Code section 2.94 to establish limits of three four-year terms for the Mayor and City Council.
NO vote means
A No vote is in favor of the current system of having no term limits for the Mayor and City Council.
Impartial analysis / Proposal
Source: Oceanside City Attorney / Oceanside City Clerk
CITY ATTORNEY'S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS
Voter approval of Measure K would add Section 2.94 to the Oceanside City Code to establish term limits for the Mayor and City Council. The Mayor and City Council are elected positions with four-year terms. Under current law, the City of Oceanside does not impose term limits on any of its elected officials. California law requires voter approval of any local law to enact term limits.
Measure K was placed on the ballot by the Oceanside City Council and, if adopted, would amend the Oceanside City Code to limit Council Member service to three fouryear terms over the course of an official's lifetime. Similarly, the proposed amendment would cap the number of terms one could serve as Mayor to three four-year terms over the official's lifetime. The terms served as a member of the City Council would not count against the three-term limit for the Mayor. Similarly, the terms served as Mayor would not count against the three-term limit for a Council Member. This means that if Measure K is passed by the voters, an elected official could serve a maximum three four-year terms as a member of the City Council and an additional three four-year terms as the Mayor.
Measure K provides that a partial term of two years or more counts as a full term for both the Mayor and Council Member. Therefore, if an official is elected or appointed to fill a vacant position as either Mayor or Council Member, a partial term served for two years or more will count as a full term.
The proposed City Code amendment, if approved by the voters, would become effective immediately. As required by state law, the term limits measure would apply prospectively only, meaning it will apply only to terms commencing after November 3, 2020.
Measure K does not apply to the Offices of City Treasurer or City Clerk.
A Yes vote is in favor of adopting Oceanside City Code section 2.94 to establish limits of three four-year terms for the Mayor and City Council.
A No vote is in favor of the current system of having no term limits for the Mayor and City Council.
The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure K. If you desire a copy of the ordinance, please call the City Clerk's office at (760) 435-3001 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you. The full text of Measure K can be accessed at the following website: https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=52791
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Transcribed from:
https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=53088
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Published Arguments — Arguments for and against the ballot measure
Arguments FOR
Argument in Favor of Measure K
The Oceanside City Council unanimously approved placing on the November ballot the establishment ofterm limits for elected officials. Pursuant to California Government Code section 36502(b), term limits must be approved by the voters.
In the history of Oceanside, like most other cities in the County, nothing prevents councilmembers from holding office for as many terms as they are able to be reelected. Measure K will encourage greater citizen involvement and allow new people the opportunity to contribute to their community.
Throughout California, voters have overwhelmingly supported term limits for public officials. Cities like San Diego, Chula Vista, Coronado, La Mesa, National City and San Marcos have all established term limits for their elected officials. Oceanside is the largest City in San Diego County that does not have term limits.
The City Council placed Measure Kon the ballot so that voters can decide if they want to limit councilmember and mayoral terms in Oceanside. Term limits for the Oceanside Mayor and City Councilmembers will give voters a real chance for fresh perspectives, new ideas and change.
Measure K will establish a reasonable limit of three four-year mayor or council terms for service beginning after the November 3, 2020 election.
Term limits will improve our political process and open up our government. Vote YES on Measure K.
/signed/
PETER WEISS,
Mayor
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Transcribed from:
https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=53089
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— Source: Oceanside City Clerk
Arguments AGAINST
NO ARGUMENT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
— Source: Oceanside City Clerk
Read the proposed legislation
More information
News (1)
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/oceanside/story/2020-08-16/oceanside-hotbed-of-local-polit — August 16, 2020 San Diego Union-Tribune
Videos (2)
Educational
— September 18, 2020 League of Women Voters of North County San Diego
Unbiased information about 7 local measures on the Nov 3, 2020 ballot in North County communities. Discussion of Measure K begins 4 minutes and 8 seconds into the video.
Educational
— October 5, 2020 League of Women Voters North County San Diego
Información no partidista sobre las 7 medidas locales para las comunidades de Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside y Solana Beach en el norte del condado de San Diego en la boleta para las elecciones generales, el 3 de Noviembre 2020. La sección sobre la medida K comienza a los 4:26.
Additional Resources (1)
More Campaign Finance Info
City of Oceanside Elections Public Portal for Campaign Finance Disclosure and Lobbyist Filings — City of Oceanside, Office of the City Clerk
Shows all filing activity supporting or opposing Measure K.
Additional Info
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Who supports or opposes this measure?
Yes on Measure K
Organizations (1)
- San Diego County Democratic Party
Elected & Appointed Officials (0)
No on Measure K
Organizations (0)
Elected & Appointed Officials (0)
