Staff outlines public interview process, timeline and tie‑breaking rules for council vacancy

Glenn (staff) presented the public, code‑driven process the council will use to fill an upcoming at‑large council vacancy. He said the application window is open through 5 p.m. next Wednesday, that staff will vet applicants for residency and voter registration and post qualifying names daily, and that interviews are scheduled for July 21.

Glenn reviewed state code constraints: interviews and deliberations must be public; the council conducts an initial roll‑call vote after interviews and, if no candidate receives a majority, state code lays out tie‑breaking steps. He cited a recent Salt Lake City example and said the code includes tie‑breaking procedures that have, in practice, been resolved by drawing lots. "That was decided by coin toss," he noted when describing the precedent.

Council members asked about question formats and fairness; staff said the panel will display questions on a screen when each candidate appears, applicants will have four minutes total (they may divide that time as they choose), council will receive applicants’ materials prior to interviews, and the council will vote without deliberation following interviews to limit perceived campaigning or ex parte influence. The resignation effective date in the recorded resignation letter is July 31; the new member would take office Aug. 1 if appointed.

Staff noted a resolution or ordinance addressing tie‑breaking procedure will be adopted before the meeting where the council takes the appointment vote. No appointments occurred during the work session; the briefing was procedural and informational.