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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/13/1994, 3 - SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION iIIIINIyIII�I�IlllllllNMI �lu,ll� city f MEETING DATE• RI I��u�I�1ul o san tins oBIspo /z-�3-� us COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM NUMBER: FROM: Diane R. Gladwell, City Clerk SUBJECT: Special Municipal Election ` RECOMMENDATION: 1) Adopt a resolution calling a Special Municipal Election on March 28, 1995; and 2) Adopt a resolution requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Luis Obispo to conduct the election, 3) By motion, appropriate $75,000 from the General Fund, Unappropriated Fund Balance to conduct the election. 4) By motion, direct the City Clerk to concurrently take steps to prepare for conducting the election "in-house" in the event the County declines the City's request. DISCUSSION: Section 406 of the Charter provides for the filling of Council vacancies. At the Council Meeting held December 6th, the Council requested a resolution calling a Special Municipal Election to fill the current Council vacancy be placed on the agenda for December 13th as an alternative, if required. The first resolution (Attachment #1) calls the special election and sets forth the regulations for the conduct of the election. Because the Charter requires the special election be held within 90 - 120 days from the date of the vacancy, the dates normally required by the Elections Code for both the nomination period and publication of the notice of election cannot be met. As a result, we are recommending a nomination period of the same time allowed by the Election Code, held December 28th through January 18th. The resolution also calls for a minimum of three advertisements to be placed to more widely publicize the Special Election. The resolution requesting the Board of Supervisors conduct the election (Attachment #2) is recommended, as has been the City's past practice. The services provided by the County include printing and mailing of sample ballots, computer tabulation, precinct workers, polling places and canvassing of the resolutions. Other election requirements including additional municipal regulations and filings (i.e., Statement of Qualifications, conflict of interest, State and City financial reporting) will be provided by the City Clerk's Office. It is in the Board of Supervisors power to decline to conduct the election. I have been communicating with the County Clerk's office, and they have stated that there should not be problems with the turnaround times of the March election, but there are no other elections scheduled until next Fall. If the Council adopts the resolution on December 13th, it will be scheduled for the Board's next meeting,January 3rd. In the event that the Council selects alternative #1, or the Board declines to conduct the election, I am obtaining bids from election suppliers to enable us to conduct the election "in-house". With Council concurrence, I will take other preliminary steps to assure that there will be no disruption in the timetable if we pursue an "in-house" election. The Council has adopted policies allowing candidates to submit 400 word statements, to be printed at no charge in the candidate statements. In most jurisdictions, a 200-word statement is allowed and the candidate is charged approximately $500 for sample ballot printing. If the Council wishes to change this policy, it will need to be done prior to December 28th. A draft election calendar is attached. If the Council selects alternative #3, we recommend the nomination period be shortened to two weeks (1/4 through 1/18). CONCURRENCES: The City Administrative Officer concurs with the recommendation. FISCAL IMPACT: $75,000, based upon previous special election expenses and increased postage rates. In 1991, the Special Election cost $60,859 for 22,116 registered voters with 32 consolidated precincts. The City now has 26,983 registered voters and utilized 27 consolidated precincts in the November election. Since this is unbudgeted, the funds would need to be provided from the General Fund Unappropriated Fund Balance. The recommended $75,000 will be adequate to support the cost of conducting an "in-house" election if necessary. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Conduct the election "in-house", utilizing City resources, an election supplier and County voter information. For consistency from the voters' perspective, we would maintain the same polling places and precincts as would be used if the County conducted the election. Ballot counting would be conducted in the Council Chambers, with the canvass of the absentee ballots (including those submitted at the polls) commencing at the close of polls. Estimated Cost': Additional Staff: $15,000 Printing, etc.: $33,000 Postage: $6,400 County: $1,500 Estimated Total: $55,900 'Based upon 5 candidates "1 2. Schedule another Council meeting in December and endeavor to appoint a fifth Council Member or call the Special Election. To accommodate the proposed nomination period and the County's agenda deadlines for the Board's meeting of January 3rd, we recommend this meeting be scheduled prior to December 23rd. 3. Continue this item until January 3rd. In this event, we would recommend a shorter nomination period (two weeks: 1/4 through 1/18), and the risk of delaying election preparations if the County declines to conduct the election is increased. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution calling for a Special Election 2. Resolution requesting the County conduct the election 3. Draft Election Calendar 4. Statement of Costs from 1991 Special Election 3-3 RESOLUTION NO. (1994 Series) . A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE HOLDING OF A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 19959 FOR AN ELECTION AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER SECTION 406 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A COUNCIL MEMBER WHEREAS, under the provisions of the Charter of the City of San Luis Obispo Section 406, a Special Municipal Election shall be conducted to fill a vacancy on the Council; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo may be unable to fill said vacancy within the time prescribed by the Charter; and WHEREAS, Charter Section 406 does not allow the City to meet the requirements of Elections Code sections 22836 providing for the method of nomination, or 22830 for publication of the notice of election; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo, State of California, does resolve, declare, determine, and order as follows: SECTION 1. That pursuant to the requirements of the laws of the State of California regarding Charter Cities and Charter Section 406, there is called and ordered to be held in the City of San Luis Obispo, California, on Tuesday, March 28, 1995, a Special Municipal Election for the purpose of electing a Council Member to a two-year term to end December 1, 1996. SECTION 2. That the ballots to be used at the election shall be in form and content as required by law. SECTION 3. That the City Clerk is authorized, instructed, and directed to procure and furnish any and all official ballots, notices, printed matter and all supplies, equipment and paraphernalia that may be necessary in order to properly and lawfully conduct the election. SECTION 4. That the polls for the election shall be open at seven o'clock a.m. of the day of the election and shall remain open continuously from that time until eight o'clock p.m. of the same day when the polls shall be closed, except as provided in Section 14301 of the Elections Code of the State of California. SECTION 5. That the dates set by the City Council for the nomination period will be January 4, 1995 through January 18, 1995; and SECTION 6. That notice of election will be published at least three times from January 4, 1995 through January 18, 1995; and SECTION 7. That in all particulars not recited in this resolution, the election shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections. SECTION 8. That notice of the time and place of holding the election is given and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed, and directed to give further or additional notice of the election, in time, form and manner as required by law. SECTION 9. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions. On motion of , seconded by , and on the following roll call vote: AYES: .�s NOES: ABSENT: The foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this day of 91993. Mayor Allen Settle City Clerk Diane R. Gladwell Approved as to form: ity Atto ey Pff Jorgensen RESOLUTION NO. (1994 Series) A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TO RENDER SPECIFIED SERVICES TO THE CITY RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 1995 WHEREAS, a Special Municipal Election is to be held in the City of San Luis Obispo, California on Tuesday, March 28, 1995; and WHEREAS, in the course of conduct of the election it is necessary for the City to request services of the County; and WHEREAS, all necessary expenses in performing these services shall be paid by the City of San Luis Obipso; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo, State of California, does resolve, declare, determine, and order as follows: SECTION 1. That pursuant to the provision of Section 22003 of the Elections Code of the State of California, the City Council requests the Board of Supervisors of the County issue instructions to the County Clerk and Registrar of Voters to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of a Special Election for the City of San Luis Obispo on Tuesday, March 28, 1994 and said Board is hereby authorized to canvass the returns of the election and certify the results of the canvass of the returns of the Special Municipal Election to the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo, which shall thereupon declare the results thereof. SECTION 2. That the City shall reimburse the County for services performed when the work is completed and upon presentation to the City of a properly approved bill pursuant to Section 51350 of the Government Code. SECTION 3. The office of Council Member is to be voted on at said Special Munipcal Election pursuant to Charter Section 406. SECTION 4. The City Clerk is hereby directed to file certified copies of this resolution with the Board of Supervisors, the County Clerk and the Registrar of Voters of the County of San Luis Obispo. SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution. On motion of , seconded by , and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: The foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this day of 91994. Mayor Allen Settle City Clerk Diane R. Gladwell �r� y Approved as to form: ty for Jef y Jorgensen CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 1995 Wednesday, 12/21: Last day to adopt regulations for Candidates Statements (if change to current.policy is desired). . Tuesday, 12/13/94: Council to adopt resolutions calling election. Wednesday, 12/28/94 - Wednesday, 1/18/95: Publish Notice of Election. Wednesday, 12/28/94: First day to obtain nomination papers from City Clerk. Wednesday, 1/18: Last day to file nomination papers. Thursday, 1/19: Candidates Statements open for review. 12:00 Noon Thursday, 1/19: Secretary of State to determine order of names on ballot. Thursday, 1/19: Publish Notice of nominees. Thursday, 1/26: Last day to submit precinct consolidations to County. Thursday, 1/26:. Suggested last day to appoint election officers &polling places. Monday, 1/30 - Tuesday, 1/14: Filing period for write-in candidates. Thursday, 2/16: First State Disclosure Statement (Form 400's) due under the provisions of the Fair Political Practices Act. Filing includes all reportable items through Saturday, February 11, 1995. (G.C. S 84200.7 and 5 84200.5). Monday, 2/27: Last day to register to vote. Monday, 2/27 - First day to request Absentee Ballot. Tuesday, 3/7: Last day to mail sample ballots and polling place notices. Wednesday, 3/8: Last day to publish Notice of Election A Polling Place notices. Thursday, 3/16: Second State Disclosure Statement due (Form'400's) under the provisions of the Fair Political Practices Act. Filing includes all reportable items from Sunday, February 12 through Saturday, March 11, 1995. (G.C. § 84200.7 and § 84200.5). Saturday, 3/18: Publish notice of central counting place. Tuesday, 3/21: Last day to obtain absentee ballot. Tuesday, 3/21: First City Disclosure Statement due (form 101) under the 12:00 Noon provisions of the City's Campaign Election Regulations. Filing includes all reportable items through Monday, March 20, 1995 at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, 3/22 - Tuesday, 3/28: Emergency absent voting period. Friday, 3/24: Suggested last day to post notice - absentee canvass. Saturday, 3/25: Legal ad published disclosing contributions (SLOMC §2.40.070(E). Monday, 3/27: Last day to order canvass by City Clerk. Monday, 3/27: Last day for Council to adopt procedures to resolve tie vote. Tuesday, 3/28: Election Day Tuesday, 3/28: Last day to receive absent voter ballots. CLOSE OF POLLS Tuesday, 3/28:, Clerk to canvass absent voter ballots CLOSE OF POLLS Saturday, 4/1: Last day to submit report on measures to Secretary of State. Tuesday, 4/4: Clerk to canvass returns. . Thursday, 5/4: Last day to file Statement of Economic Interests. Monday, 7/31: Final State and City disclosure statements due. State filing includes all reportable items. from Sunday, March 12, 1995 through Friday, June 30, 1995. (G.C. 84200.7) City filing includes all reportable items from Tuesday, March 21, 1995 through Friday, June 30, 1995. (SLOMC 5 2.40.070) ELECTION COST STATEMENT CITY'S SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION - 4/9/91 LABOR t Temporary Employees 31709.36 County Labor Cost 26.753.68 SUBTOTAL 30,463.04 PRINTING Ballot, sample ballot, absentee ballots, etc. 13,754.77 POSTAGE Sample ballots, absentee ballot, etc. 9,275.32 OTHER DIRECT CHARGES FROM COUNTY Computer Support OTS (from SLO County) 5,79550 Copies and Supplies 793.92 Advertising 544.35 Charges for Polling Places 120.00 Car/Garage/Vehicle 112.46 SUBTOTAL 7,366.23 TOTAL ELECTION EXPENDITURES $60,859.36