The Stockton City Council on a 7-0 vote approved a staff-recommended process to appoint a successor to the District 5 council seat vacated by Councilmember Eggman after her election to the Thirteenth Assembly District.

The appointment procedure, presented by City Clerk Bonnie Paige, opens the application period Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 a.m. at City Hall and closes Thursday, Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m. Paige said the city will advertise the vacancy with a press release, an ad in the Record, messages on Channel 97 and notices to the boards-and-commissions email list. An orientation workshop for candidates is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m.; interviews are set for Jan. 8, with Jan. 9 reserved if additional time is needed.

"It is staff's recommendation that by motion the council approves this process to fill the vacant council seat of District 5," Paige told the council as she summarized eligibility and filing requirements. She said applicants must be registered voters in District 5 and meet the residency requirement of 30 days prior to filing. Applicants must submit the application packet, a resume, supporting materials, a nomination form signed by 10 registered voters of District 5, and a Form 700 statement of economic interests required by state law.

Paige described the selection procedure: the mayor will prepare two opening questions to be asked of all applicants, and each councilmember may submit one to three additional questions confidentially to the clerk. Councilmembers' rankings of applicants will be collected and announced; the highest-ranked applicant would be appointed subject to council ratification. Paige said the ranking follows Council Policy 102, the policy the council uses for appointments to boards and commissions.

Council discussion focused on fairness and transparency. Councilmember Canapa asked how private meetings between applicants and individual councilmembers would be handled. City staff and counsel warned that such meetings must be disclosed to avoid Brown Act violations; Miss Paige said any applicant meetings with councilmembers must be reported publicly at the Jan. 8 meeting. Legal counsel cautioned against meetings that would produce a quorum in private and stressed that email and phone communications can also create reportable ex parte contacts.

Several councilmembers suggested the application and interview materials make clear how much time the role requires and whether appointees can attend outside-agency meetings. Vice Mayor Miller said she wants to know how long applicants have lived in District 5 because it bears on knowledge of district issues. Ms. Paige said the packet includes a listing of council committees and outside agencies and that staff will discuss those responsibilities at the orientation.

Two members of the public spoke during the public-comment period. Anthony Berger of Western Ranch, addressing the council before the staff presentation, said, "elections have consequences and the city of Stockton has chosen a path that I personally don't agree with." Diana Butner urged the council not to change rules mid-process, saying a longer residency requirement could be considered for future appointments but should not be imposed now because the application period opens the next day.

After brief final remarks and a motion to approve the staff-recommended process, the council voted unanimously. Mayor Johnston closed the meeting by urging residents who meet the requirements to apply: "If you don't make it by then, you snooze, you lose."