A CHARTER ORDINANCE EXEMPTING THE CITY OF BUFFALO, KANSAS, FROM THE PROVISIONS OF K.S.A. 15-201, RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS, THEIR TERMS OF OFFICE, TRANSITIONS TO NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, THE FILLING OF GOVERNING BODY VACANCIES, AND NOMINATION PETITIONS; AND, PROVIDING SUBSTITUTE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS ON THE SAME SUBJECT.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO, KANSAS:

Section 1. The City of Buffalo, Kansas, by the power vested in it by Article 12, Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution hereby elects to and does exempt itself and make inapplicable to it the provisions of K.S.A. 15-201, which applies to this city, but is part of an enactment which does not apply uniformly to all cities.

Section 2. The governing body shall consist of a mayor and five council members to be elected to terms as set forth herein. The mayor and council members shall be residents and qualified electors of the City of Buffalo, Kansas.

Section 3. Those governing body positions with terms expiring in April 2017, shall expire on the second Monday in January of 2018, when the city officials elected in the November 2017 general election take office.

Section 4. On the Tuesday succeeding the First Monday in November 2017, there shall be elected a mayor and five council members. The mayor shall be elected for a term of four years. The two candidates for council members receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared to be elected for a term of four years. The three candidates receiving the next highest number of votes shall be declared elected for a term of two years. Succeeding elections for such officers shall be for four year terms, or until successors are elected and qualified, and shall be held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November in each odd numbered year thereafter.

Section 5. In case of a vacancy in the council occurring by reason of resignation, death, or removal from office or from the city, the mayor, by and with the advice and consent of the remaining council members, shall appoint an elector to fill the vacancy until the next election for that office. In case any person elected as a council member neglects or refuses to qualify within 30 days after election, the council member shall be deemed to have refused to accept the office and a vacancy shall exist. The mayor may, with the consent of the remaining council members, appoint a suitable elector to fill the vacancy.

Section 6. In case of a vacancy in the office of mayor, the president of the council shall become mayor until the next regular election for that office and a vacancy shall occur in the office of the council member becoming mayor.

Section 7. In accordance with K.S.A. 25-205, and amendments thereto, any person may become a candidate for city office elected at large by having had filed on their behalf, a nomination petition or a declaration of candidacy, accompanied by any fee required by law. The nomination petition must be signed by voters equal in number to not less than 3% of the qualified electors of the City of Buffalo.

(11-02-2015)