Simi council wants feedback from neighborhood councils before deciding how to fill vacancy

The Simi Valley City Council wants feedback from its four neighborhood councils and the city's council on aging before deciding how to fill its vacancy, either through appointment or a special election.

The City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to delay its decision until it gets the feedback. The city is trying to schedule a meeting of the neighborhood councils and the council on aging for that purpose.

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The City Council normally has five members, but currently only has four.  

The vacancy was created when council member Keith Mashburn was elected mayor in the Nov. 5 election.

Until it fills the vacancy, the City Council can fully function.

It's under time constraints to make its decision.

Under the California Government Code, the City Council has 60 days from Dec. 10, when Mashburn was sworn in, to decide how to fill the vacancy.

If it chooses to make an appointment, it must do so within the 60-day period. A special election would be held Nov. 5, 2019. 

The person appointed or elected would sit on the council only until the November 2020 election, unless he or she was elected to a full four-year in the 2020 election.