NOVEMBER 5, 2024 – Districts 2 and 4 City Council Seats

City Council Authority

The City Council is the legislative body of the City of Redlands. It decides policy for the municipal government, enacts laws, and oversees all activities of the City. The City Council also serves as the governing body of the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Redlands. It has significant control of the administrative function because it appoints the City Manager, the City Attorney, the City’s independent auditors, and all board and commission members who serve as unpaid advisors to the City Council. The City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

How Are Council Members Elected?

The Council consists of five members who are elected by-district in November of even-numbered years. All are non-partisan positions serving four-year terms. The five Council Members are voted into office by electors in each of the City’s five Districts. Registered voters cast ballots for City Council candidates only for the District in which they reside. Following a municipal election, Council Members select one of their members as Mayor and another as Mayor Pro Tempore for two-year terms. Beginning January 2023, Council Members are paid $1,400.00 per month for their service

Who Can Run?

A citizen who wants to run for office must be a registered voter and reside within the District for which he or she is running. Nomination papers are issued only by the City Clerk or her deputy during normal office hours. The nomination petition must be signed by at least 20, no more than 30, registered voters within the District. Any person registered to vote within the District at the election may circulate the nomination paper. The circulator must sign the “Declaration of Circulator” and the candidate must sign the “Affidavit of Nominee and Oath/Affirmation of Allegiance.”

Candidate Reporting Requirements

A candidate must complete and file with his or her nomination papers a Statement of Economic Interests (also known as a conflict of interest filing). This document, required by State law, informs voters of the candidate’s investments, interests in real property, and income. There is no filing fee.

A candidate may prepare a candidate’s statement for inclusion in the sample ballot. The statement may include name, age, and occupation of the candidate, and a brief description of no more than 200 words of the candidate’s education and qualifications. This statement must be filed with the nomination papers; it may be withdrawn, but not changed, during the filing period and until 5:00 P.M. the next working day. Payment of a deposit to cover the costs of translation and printing of the candidate’s statement must accompany the statement. This deposit is an estimate of the cost. If the deposit exceeds the cost, a refund will be made following the election. If the cost exceeds the deposit, the candidate will be billed.

The Political Reform Act was adopted by voter initiative in 1974 and requires that campaign disclosure reports provide the public with the identity of contributors and the amounts they give; and the amount officeholders, candidates, and committees spend. A Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501) must be filed with the City Clerk’s Office before you solicit or receive any contributions. No political contributions may be solicited in support of the candidate until the Form 501 is filed. A Statement of Organization (Form 410) must be filed with the Secretary of State, Political Reform Division in Sacramento within 10 days of receiving $2,000.00 in expenditures or contributions. These forms are available through the City Clerk’s office and will be provided at the time the nomination paper is issued. Forms are also available through the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).

Campaign Contribution Limits for City and County Candidates

Redlands has not enacted a contribution limit on candidates running for office in the City, however, pursuant to Assembly Bill 571 (Stats. 2019, Ch. 556, AB 571 Mullin), beginning January 1, 2021, a state campaign contribution limit will by default apply to candidates in the City of Redlands. AB 571 governs campaign contribution limits when the city or county has not already adopted a contribution limit on such candidates. Along with the new campaign contribution limit, there are also other related provisions that formerly applied only to state level candidates that will now apply to city and county candidates. The contribution limit that now applies to city and county candidates pursuant to AB 571 is updated biennially for inflation. Contribution limits can be found in Regulation 18545(a)2 and on the FPPC website.

2023-2024 Default Contribution Limit

The default limit for contributions to city and county candidates subject to AB 571 for 2023-2024 is set at: $5,500 per election.