Grover Beach councilmember resigns. Here’s why and how the city will fill the seat

The Grover Beach City Council will get a new member sometime this year following the resignation of once of its members.

Mayor Pro Tempore Anna Miller resigned from her position on the City Council at the March 13 meeting, leaving a vacancy that the council must fill.

Miller moved out of the area and is no longer a resident of Grover Beach, she said at the meeting, which disqualified her from serving on the council.

“It was unexpected, but I had to move out of the city,” Miller told The Tribune. “It was a hard decision to make, but I know that the council will be able to replace myself with someone just as qualified and will be able to further the goals of the city.”

Now, after losing an “excellent colleague,” the City Council will explore its options for filling Miller’s vacancy, mayor Karen Bright said.

“It’s a shame that the city lost her as a council person, because she really, truly was there for all the right reasons,” Bright told The Tribune.

Departure marks fourth resignation in as many years

Miller is the fourth Grover Beach City councilmember to resign in the past four years.

In 2019, then-councilmember Debbie Peterson resigned, accusing her colleagues of corruption, and was replaced via appointment by Desire “Desi” Lance.

Barbara Nicholls resigned in June 2020, citing increased complications with health issues as the city government’s meetings went virtual at the start of the pandemic.

Miriam Shah most recently resigned in March 2021 for similar reasons as Miller, as Shah moved to Arroyo Grande, disqualifying her from her seat.

Miller’s announcement appeared to take her fellow councilmembers by surprise, with Councilmember Robert Robert asking if it was her last meeting.

Regardless of who fills her seat, Miller said she hopes her successor will continue her work in expanding housing options in Grover Beach.

Miller’s background is in housing, having served as chief operating officer at People’s Self-Help Housing since 2015 and serving previously as board vice president for the 5Cities Homeless Coalition.

“I’m privileged to have worked with the colleagues that I have on the City Council,” Miller said. “It’s a very progressive city. We’ve shown that through the housing initiatives that we’ve passed and continuing to focus on housing and homelessness as a priority.”

Miller also previously served as board treasurer for the Grover Beach Community Library.

Miller’s departure leaves her District 3 seat — which includes much of the heart Grover Beach between Grand Avenue and Trouville Avenue as far west as South 6th Street — up for grabs as the City Council decides how to handle her departure.

What options does the Grover Beach City Council have?

The City Council can explore several options for filling Miller’s vacancy at its meeting on March 27, the staff report included in the meeting’s agenda said.

When vacancies occur in elected offices, the council must either call a special election or fill it by appointment, according to Grover Beach’s Government Code.

According to the March 27 meeting agenda, the council has three options. It can choose to appoint a new member by May 12, it can call a special election, or it hold a special election once a specific number of petition signatures are filed.

In whatever case, the person would serve out the remainder of Miller’s term — in this case, until December 2024.

“Historically, the Council has appointed the successor to a vacated Council seat including most recently the January 23, 2023, appointment of Clint Weirick to the Council seat vacated by Council Member Bright upon being sworn in as Mayor on December 12, 2022,” the staff report said. “There are no statutory requirements that define a specific process for how the Council may decide to appoint the successor as this is a policy decision of the Council.”

As Miller was also serving as mayor pro tempore, the council must appoint someone to fill that role for a one-year term.

“It’s sad, because I’ll miss the city, and I’ve really enjoyed working with each of my colleagues to shape policy and to better our community,” Miller said at the March 13 meeting.