This June, Carlsbad voters will decide whether to join the other 80 percent of California cities that hire or appoint city clerks rather having them elected by voters. Of the 18 cities in San Diego County, Carlsbad, Oceanside and National City elect their city clerks.
What’s a city clerk?
The city clerk is responsible for publishing notices for public meetings and hearings, posting agendas and taking meeting minutes to comply with state open meeting laws. The city clerk also responds to requests for public records. Other duties include:
Recording, publishing and certifying city ordinances and resolutions
Administering oaths of office
Taking and certifying affidavits and depositions relating to city affairs and business for use in court or administrative proceedings
Interacting with the Registrar of Voters office during all local elections to assure compliance with all election laws and regulations
Coordinating, recording and retaining the statements of economic interests of all elected and
appointed officials and staff, and for collecting and maintaining all candidate campaign finance forms
Why consider a change?
Over the years, the city clerk job duties, requirements and legal responsibilities have become more complex. In Carlsbad city staff with the proper training and certifications handle the day-to-day duties, and the part time elected city clerk position is ceremonial in nature. Since the resignation of City Clerk Barbara Engleson in August 2021, staff have continued to carry out all the duties of the clerk position.
Recent elections have attracted few city clerk candidates, with all running unopposed since 1970.
The elected city clerk salary is set by Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 2.04.020 at $1,070 a month, or $12,840 a year, plus benefits.
According to the staff report presented March 8, people in favor of making the city clerk part of a city’s professional staff cite the benefits of selecting someone with the professional training and experience needed who can be held accountable on a daily basis rather than every four years. Those in favor of an elected city clerk position often credit the electoral process for providing more checks and balances and a higher level of public accountability.
Next steps
City staff will start preparing the ballot text and will ask the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and the Registrar of Voters to add the measure to the June 7 primary election ballot.
The city will also notify the public about the measure by publishing information on the city’s website and legal notices in local newspapers.
Arguments in favor or against the measure are due at the City Clerk’s office by noon on March 17 and will be available for public examination between March 18-28. Rebuttal arguments are due by noon March 22 and will be available for public review between March 23-April 1.
More information
California Government Code 40801 — 40814
