Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/16/1993, 3 - CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSAL FOR MAJORITY ELECTIONS y III AIT`�IIy� MEETS/'D�:: ? �I��h��9���lYIIIII��IIII�I��IIWII Citi/ o San f .-AIS OBISPO ITEM NUMBER: COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT FROM: The Campaign Regulations Committee PREPARED BY: Diane R. Gladwell, City Clerk SUBJECT: Charter Amendment Proposal for Majority Elections RECOMMENDATION: Take no action to place the proposal on the November, 1994 ballot. DISCUSSION: On September 7, 1993, the City Council referred a proposal from the Good Government Committee to the Campaign Regulations Committee (CRC) for analysis. The proposal would amend the Charter to provide for majority elections, using a consolidated primary election/run-off election structure. The CRC began discussing the proposal on October 11, 1993. Robert Griffin, member of the Good Government Committee, and Roger Picquet, Consultant to that committee, spoke to the CRC at their meeting of October 25. The CRC also reviewed results of the past 12 municipal elections, city election costs, and voter turn-out figures for primary and general elections over the past 10 years. Also considered was election information from other cities, most notably Modesto (Pop. 180,000) and Stockton (Pop. 226,255) that hold two elections in order to obtain a majority vote. The proposal from the Good Government Committee was complicated by recent State legislation moving the 1996 primary to the last Tuesday in March (3/26/96). This would .be the first election in San Luis Obispo to which the majority approval concept would apply. Under this new scenario, the nomination period for the "primary' March election would begin December 3, 1995 with the possible run-off election held on November 5, 1996. The CRC considered the following negative community impacts: • Expense to the community, candidates and city administration of holding two elections. • Increa"sed "politicalization" and "professionalization" due to the protracted campaign period. • Waning community and media interest levels • "Lameduck" seated Council Members and/or Mayor as well as Council-Elect and Mayor-Elect • Impact on attracting qualified, willing candidates The primary concern of the CRC was the burden on the community and candidates which is created by such a lengthy campaign period. While acknowledging that the majority vote philosophy has merit, the committee unanimously agreed that any community value in this proposal was not justified by the various impacts. ATTACHMENT: Proposal from the Good Government Committee J'a2 August 26, 1993 Honorable Mayor and City Council City Hall P.O. Box 8100 San Luis Obispo, CA 93403 r Dear Mayor and Council Members: Attached is a substitute proposal for that previously submitted to you April 1, by the "Good Government Committee." While the goal is still obtaining a majority of votes for election to the position of Council Members and Mayor, this proposal abandons the so-called "Modesto Plan" of an optional mail ballot run-off and provides that "should no candidate receive a majority of the votes at an election held in June at the same time as the statewide primary, a second election would be held in early November between the top two candidates for each office." The establishment of each Council position as a separate office for election purposes only (NOT the creation of separate districts) as previously proposed remains the same. We request that the necessary City Charter amendments to Charter Sections 301, 302, and 404 be placed on ' the next available agenda, and be presented for voter approval at the next available election. We believe this to be a good government issue that will ensure majority representation, increase participation in local government and increase voter turnout. We have found a broad based interest in our concern and only ask for the privilege of it being given to the voters for consideration. Sincerely, The Good Government Committee John A. Payton, Spokesperson (See attached partial list of committee supporters) Attachments: Committee Supporters �� � "Goal/Means" == Legislative draft showing requested changes _ RUG 2 7 1993 Cin COUNCIL SRN LUIS OBISPO.CA Draft T7 •Goal: Chance Council election procedures so that a majority of votes must be obtained, rather than a mere plurality, in order to be elected Council/Mayor. •Means: 1. Amend Charter section 302 "General Municipal Elections" to provide that should no candidate receive a majority of the votes at an election held in June at the same time as the statewide primary, a second election would be held in early November between the top two (2) candidates for each office. This would make the City elections the same as for the County Supervisors except there would not be districts dividing the City. - 3. Amend Charter section 404 'Terms of Office" to establish that, for election purposes only, each Council position is a separate office. (Note: Acain, this is Q the creation of separate districts, but the way to allow for a majority vote to happen.) The above chanes to the City Charter would require approval by the electorate. I SECTION 301 PROCEDURE FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS Unless othen;rise provided 399or by ordinance, all elections shall be held in accordance with the provisions of the Elections Code of the State of California, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended. SECTION 302 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS General Municipal Elections to fill elective offices and>fQr;succ'1ot11ez p? posesN4:t) e ,2Yvi:5.\fnVYviiY):iw'iti}:f"}v}.'i0in8i}%f..ii:i:.V..:+.•F.'::.uv': .. a} oncjl "rte y:'pecfe"shall be held with the statewide primary at which candidates for Governor or President are nominated. In the event that City offices are not filled by a candidate getting a majority of the votes cast for a given office this election shall be deemed a primaryelection and a general Municipal Election shall be held with the statewide general election to select City officials. SECTION 404 TERMS OF OFFICE (A) The term of the Mayor shall be two years, and the terms of the Council- members shall be four years. (B) Terms shall commence on the first day of December at twelve o'clock noon ^ �iyn'.,'(c,.wu.Y•m•.;ii•bw,e.+?}.n,:6,,t,,j.iw�l...a.$�.Yw.Mo•nr}isia:`:.z:.i�d....imn.!ye:^i:m'xYb•wen:Pr.:n[:o:^f..yCfollowing theGmeEach . s shall serve until a successor is elected or appointed and qualified. Ties in voting shall be settled by the casting of lots. (C) Any other provisions in this Charter to the contrary notwithstanding: 1. The terms of office of the Mayor elected at the November 7, 19S9 General Municipal Election and the Councilmembers elected at the November 3, 1937 General Municipal Election shall be extended from two years and four years respectively, until a successor is elected or appointed and qualified following the November 3, 1992 General Municipal Election; 2. The terms of office of the Councilmembers elected at the November 7, 1959 General Municipal Election shall be extended from four .years until a 3-s i successor is elected or appointed and qualified following the November 8, 1994 General Municipal Election; 3. The approximate twelve-month periods of term extension set forth in subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall not be counted in determining the disability to sen7e set forth in Section 405 of this Charter. . tix"[..... ..:nYs''^..,.,,. :..:.:.rp[..:.w;x.x.. .;m�r...r..,yn.. ..a:;`:,`.:;..:[[;;✓:x::x�;:::"'.'x,,.,;;m:n...........,....;�:;y,.. .a.:nw.v.::.::x:.' r Eacb elec#ire office•shalle deemed a separate once to be filleQ �t z?tt� ..,....a.�,..,.,:.a.,yr ,+..,..,r ,:. .,,..'.:;:+:y- >:aw.ar o::;;ar'3•.'g>'^,_... ' .y^^':`A:A'R +.::::`!...... ....""::L.:7;..':S""'rog".... :y^tt."3]c"":.)x:::F,.ty'`X'+R`iN ..S(+'S"•..a:.•d°:...1f..'i ... '""I,.;.::........:.;...:,+::.`;>;.::::Fy:.y'.`• ,... 'y Q ele, ,c#,a�;�#t1a; [flesh aIl�.r]esi�nated j�a;o�rY and��e C:ou,�c �f�ces uey,�nate,d �g:'` .o�nan��.urger,Y.� ��T;�l��fi;x�Svc�i,des3gnatto:rzha��be��sede anall��o�inai7on.Pa,Pea`-:a „�,.. ..,.,•.,•. vyr,,,,y,,:,,„,...-.::.„...,.,i..: ex o+;:•.;a; ;..»:[:m[;+•.;»w5:`x; ":i?o-:": ':RYi r.y. ,�„wv,y,�•.. .,>'�. `ia:::.:i;::^'y:,,...yy:y xay:,.xc:6x'a'•,n[ ;nw...ary.,�.....•....::,-:.'�:`Ca„Y[..:.::...:t.y..,..>xt... ,y,:t... ....Y,7„:. .� ...�..o 3arat l:aye:;>zo>[.�tiitrier<.: i ficances.. e�.ce.n,:<:.for.�:ttie '}•.ti;. :ose«.p:#'�;%<...s.. :.:,::.:..:... �;:._.::::::.:.:::.:b....::::�°�::>:..:..::... ....w..<+.,•.•iw;o-YC,�YSx[<w9fix:,...,:..:s::wo:Gxrw7`�'R;.:.:y:w..::::�.:n..w.w.'.n.2.,cy:y.. ... .:A::.yn,..::::...:..n... , uxxx[x r>;'aaRy'C'+`. M•.:Ar:: x[er.;g[en:::nsge...,.apmra'.?»gaxxa::;...:..:p;... ;.,,:.:r.+:.;,.n:...,:v..a;^;+•r[_s.;a•:.., .>a:e...v.;a,y.•y:::;yy:y;':e>y;...+rw»y:. ... ,caru'td�t���ule f,��,o=,�`o•,re�th�an:one�(i)Melecu�e office,,and no tncumbenf;riember of thz COM i ,.m; +,,.'•:yxa<:[g': >;::'C:•;"x,'y`:' nxroxwa r:y„ay,:..•.v:�[a.::s[• a::+w.::.:a..[. COunc:l Shall run for a office oi}ter than d3at Which the rtiem'be 'lioe 'cep"t that ahy S[,xsmir,.u0'AAy'SWft:.w,:"i�5.<aeJF.,.v.wa::>., ...uw,3'+b.:,.nA.v.w+. •.•t,.�:,�...:.,,.vy.,.:.w,. .v..w.,. .. ...,�,•..s,,:,�,,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,, ,, .. ... . .albryH..w72:.2a1,,+ 'Y;AM:9a:. .9.SS1:�' `.RS:ee\b�»:'n::'[:y3�+3ft:y�c}k,;•»i:F;y w..¢+:",:: .ay[::r;:,..,x•.p>i:.•».:.r':...:/.:2:.., . 1ncum'~ient.mem'ber,of';13eg:MQ�c�7:°rrtay run f6i.it fn of �a,or, and an-Aricumbent ........ .................... .v...::.......:.::.:..:.. ,:.[;[[';:•...':.a.n:,.x: ;.;.:.,.::xc;n..:..:: ).cy_;^.•:•;.:;S.y...,, �.y,.;.:.•..,.g;::;::;,y...:': 12y�oac ay run`o,�r4�ihe pff�ee ofµ?+?t2tinbi�r for any giber office on #be Council.