Rocklin City Council to appoint interim member

After Rocklin Councilman Joe Patterson's resignation last month, the remaining City Council members voted last week to appoint an interim council member to serve until the Nov. 8 election. Patterson left after six years on the council to run for State Assembly. Rocklin had the option to continue with only four council members until the November special election. With concerns over possible 2-2 deadlocks, the council decided during a special meeting July 5 to appoint someone to fill the seat until November. "The purpose of the council has to continue," said Rocklin Councilwoman Jill Guyaldo. "It's historically been our process." Said Rocklin Councilman Greg Janda, "I think we can make an appointment fairly quickly." . Staff said the person appointed holds office until the next general election scheduled 130 or more days after the date that City Council was notified of the vacancy (Nov. 8), and until the elected person has been qualified. The resident elected holds office for the unexpired balance of the office term. The estimated cost of holding a special election (extra contest) is approximately $1,209 according to the Placer County Registrar of Voters. As of April 8, 2022 the California Secretary of State reports there are 45,853 total registered voters in the city of Rocklin and the cost to add the additional two-year seat is approximately $0.01/voter, with a base fee of $750. As part of the vote July 5, City Council did not yet specify a schedule for interviewing and appointing an interim council member. The council only had to decide whether to appoint an interim council member and deliver the decision to the county elections office by July 6, staff said. Rocklin City Council held another special meeting two days later to fill three vacancies on the Rocklin Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission. After interviewing 11 candidates during two sessions, council voted 3-0 (with one absence) to reappoint incumbents Nancy Hartwell and Allison Winter to four-year terms. Newcomer Mathew Duarte was chosen for the open two-year term. "There's a lot of great candidates, a lot of great experience here in our community," said Rocklin Mayor Bill Halldin. Traffic-safety committee town hall meeting Thursday Meanwhile, the city will host a bi-annual traffic safety committee town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Rocklin City Council Chambers at 3970 Rocklin Road. The town hall meeting offers an opportunity for Rocklin residents to learn more about traffic planning and to share traffic safety concerns. "As Rocklin has developed and the population increased, the city's 550 'lane miles' of road have become busier with people commuting to work, taking kids to school, and just walking or biking to the numerous parks in the area," according to the town's website. The July 21 agenda will include an overview of city traffic-safety concerns, information about speed limits, how to submit traffic related concerns, updates on traffic projects, and more. A list of answers to frequently-asked traffic safety questions and information on where to report neighborhood traffic issues can be found online at Rocklin.ca.us/trafficsafety.