Seaside council opens appointments process for two vacancies, aims to trigger 2026 ballot

City staff briefed the council on charter provisions governing vacancies and how the timing of any appointment controls whether an appointee’s seat will appear on the next general election ballot. Under the charter, an appointment made more than 100 days before a general election triggers that seat to be placed on the ballot.

Staff outlined two options: appoint on or before July 26 to place the seats on the November 2026 ballot, or appoint after that date and leave the seats to be filled at the 2028 election (preserving current staggering of terms). Councilors discussed trade-offs: earlier appointment gives voters quicker say but increases the risk of large turnover on a single ballot; later appointment preserves continuity and gives appointees more time to learn the role.

Council consensus was to open the application process immediately and compress the selection timeline with a firm application deadline so appointments can be made before the July date and the seats appear on the 2026 ballot. Staff will publish a Q&A and application timeline, and the council signaled intent to use a tightened interview/selection procedure similar to the boards and commissions process used previously.

The council noted operational impacts on committee assignments and the budget committee and committed to coordinate outreach to residents and community channels about the process.