Applicants for City Council Wanted

The City Council is taking applications to fill a vacancy left on the dais following the resignation of Pete Aguilar, the former Redlands mayor who has been elected to Congress. Aguilar's resignation was effective as of Dec. 15 as he prepares to represent California's 31st Congressional District and the council intends to fill the vacancy at their Jan. 20, 2015 meeting. The new council member would serve the remainder of Aguilar's term, through Dec. 6, 2016. All applicants for the vacant seat must submit a completed application packet to the city clerk's office no later than 5 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2015. All applicants must also be present at the Jan. 20 meeting to be considered. After the City Council on Dec. 11 called a special meeting to discuss filling the vacancy by a special mail ballot election or by appointment, the council unanimously voted to fill the vacancy by appointment after it was found that a special mail ballot election would cost the city $88,000. The Council declared Mayor Paul Foster and Harrison as the two members of an ad hoc committee that would provide a recommendation to the Council at the Dec. 16 regular meeting outlining the process, timeline and materials for filling the open seat. Applicants must provide a completed application, which may be obtained from the city clerk's office or the city's website, a cover letter no longer than two pages, a current resume and completed written responses to the questions listed on the applicant questionnaire. During the Jan. 20 meeting, applicants will be given five minutes to make a presentation to the city council regarding his/her interest in, background and qualifications for the seat. Applicants may also receive questions from the Council. The city clerk's office is located at City Hall, 35 Cajon St., Suite 4. The mailing address is P.O. Box 3005, Redlands, CA 92373-1505. Applications may be downloaded online at www.cityofredlands.org.