Where are the Residency Requirements ?

Posted byeccrgPosted inCity Council Meetings, City Staff, election 2024, Financial Mismanagement, PlanTags:, , ,
With no requirements for the Council to live here

Understanding the Council-Manager Government:

El Cerrito operates under a Council-Manager form of municipal government. This structure involves a five-member City Council, elected at-large for overlapping four-year terms, embodying the legislative responsibilities, while the managerial tasks are overseen by a City Manager.


Charter City Status – A Double-Edged Sword: The shift to a Charter City status bestowed El Cerrito with the autonomy to govern its municipal affairs. However, this freedom has also led to significant challenges, particularly in financial and operational management. This lack of governance and accountability further erodes public trust.


The Residency Debate: A crucial aspect of contention is the residency requirement for City Council members. Unlike the general law, which mandates specific criteria for council members, including U.S. citizenship, age, voter registration, and city residency, the Charter City framework of El Cerrito is conspicuously silent on these residency requirements. This has raised concerns, especially with reports of council members not residing within the city limits.


According to multiple sources, one of the Council Members no longer resides in El Cerrito. But there’s nothing to be done about it – at least not now. According to the Municipal requirements, Councilmembers are not required to live in the City they are responsible for serving and where they make policy decisions that impact El Cerrito residents.


Here is how you can help:


– Share this post with other residents.
– Attend the monthly City Council meetings in person.
– Post on Next Door
– Voice your concerns. Tell the City Council to require that all Councilmembers reside in the City of El Cerrito during their time on the Council.
– Council meetings are remote and in-person, but public comment is now limited to in-person attendees.

If you want to contact City Council Members. All their emails are below:


– Councilperson Gabe Quinto gquinto@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
– Councilperson Carolyn Wysinger cywysinger@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
– Councilperson Tessa Rudnick trudnick@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
– Mayor Lisa Motoyama lmotoyama@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
– Councilperson Paul Fadelli pfadelli@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us

15 thoughts on “Where are the Residency Requirements ?”

  1. OMG. Fake news. ALL council members live in El Cerrito. I know them, know their addresses, and occasionally visit. Where do you come up with ridiculous allegations?

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    1. The blog states that “reportedly,” a seated member no longer resides in the City, which is true. More than one source did report to EECRG. However, the City does not require that all Council Members live in EC. They need only be a resident as a candidate. Where’s the lie? We await your reply.

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      1. Believe what you want. All council members live in El Cerrito. I communicate with each on a regular basis. Your sources seem unreliable. In fact, illogical, when given some thought.

        I could knock on the door of every council member and they’d answer. Face to face.

        Where do your “sources” live? Possibly not in El Cerrito. Or they’re busy creating controversy making up stuff. Take it from a long time resident who knows where EVERYONE at the City lives.

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      2. The Sources live in El Cerrito and their addresses were independently verified. Moreover, unlike you they seem unbiased and therefore more credible. V

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  2. Of course your sources seem unbiased. That’s the blog’s take. Reality is, they are biased, as is everyone! It depends on what you choose to hear and believe. No problem with that.

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      3. Thank me anytime for pointing out your erroneous assertion that one council member (who you did not name) does not reside in El Cerrito. That claim is false. I personally know every one of them and—as of a few weeks ago—they were all EC residents.

        California law requires council members to live in the city they represent. See the Govt Code.

        When you post stuff like this the blog loses all credibility. Poor sources = poor information. Visit El Cerrito one day and check facts out for yourself. Or believe whatever you desire.

        It’s kind of amusing in a way. Council may have a good laugh. Thanks for promoting El Cerrito!

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      5. We are still awaiting proof that a policy requires the Council to be residents of EC. Otherwise, the only proof is the City lacks effective governance.

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