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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3a - Changing the General Municipal Election DateOrdinance No. 2352 (Introduce) Changing General Election Date (Senate Bill 415) December 5, 2017 Page 1 of 3 DATE: December 5, 2017 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager Stephen P. Deitsch, City Attorney Prepared By: Lisa Mussenden, Chief Deputy City Clerk/Records Manager SUBJECT: ORDINANCE NO. 2352 AMENDING SECTION 1700 OF CHAPTER 7 OF ARTICLE 1 OF THE ARCADIA MUNICIPAL CODE, CHANGING THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION DATE FROM APRIL OF EVEN- NUMBERED YEARS TO THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER OF EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS, COMMENCING WITH THE NOVEMBER 2022 ELECTION, IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 415 Recommendation: Introduce SUMMARY On September 7, 2017, the City Council considered a detailed report with respect to Senate Bill 415. SB 415 requires a local public agency with a non-concurrent election date (such as April of even-numbered years) to change it to either the statewide primary or general election if the agency’s voter turnout for a local non-concurrent election was at least 25% lower than its average voter turnout for the last four statewide general elections. Arcadia’s historical voting records demonstrate that there has been at least a 25% decline in voter turnout compared to statewide general elections. Therefore, the City is required to change its municipal election date to either the March statewide primary election or the November statewide general election in even-numbered years. The City Council directed Staff to prepare an ordinance that would move the City’s general municipal election to November of even-numbered years, starting with the November 2022 election. If approved, the ordinance would extend the terms of City Councilmembers and other elected officials by seven months in 2022 and 2024 (April to November) in order to match them with the new election cycle, which is permitted by State law. It is recommended that the City Council introduce Ordinance No. 2352. Ordinance No. 2352 (Introduce) Changing General Election Date (Senate Bill 415) December 5, 2017 Page 2 of 3 DISCUSSION On September 7, 2017, Staff presented a detailed report to the City Council with respect to Senate Bill 415 (Elections Code Sections 14050 – 14057). The intent of SB 415 is to improve voter turnout at local elections. SB 415 requires a local public agency with a non-concurrent election date (such as April of even-numbered years) to change it to either the statewide primary or general election if the agency’s voter turnout for a local non-concurrent election was at least 25% lower than its average voter turnout for the last four statewide general elections (November 2016, 2014, 2012, and 2010). The Attorney General issued an opinion earlier this year finding that SB 415 applies to charter cities (such as Arcadia) because improving voter turnout at elections is a “matter of statewide concern” rather than a “municipal affair”. Further, analysis of Arcadia’s historical voting records demonstrates that there has been at least a 25% decline in voter turnout compared to the four statewide general election average. Therefore, the City is required to change its municipal election date to either the March statewide primary election or the November statewide general election in even-numbered years. SB 415 does not require the City to immediately change its municipal election date in 2018. As long as the City has adopted a plan by January 1, 2018, to move its future municipal elections, it is not required to actually change its municipal election date until 2022. State law also allows a City to extend or decrease the terms of current elected officials by up to 12 months, in order to match their terms with a changed municipal election date [Elections Code Section 10403.5(b)]. After much discussion, the City Council directed Staff to prepare an ordinance that would move the City’s general municipal election to November of even-numbered years (the statewide general election), starting with the November 2022 election. If adopted, the ordinance would extend the terms of City Councilmembers and other elected officials by seven months in 2022 and 2024 (April to November) in order to match them with the new election cycle. If adopted, the ordinance would be in effect by January 1, 2018, in order to comply with SB 415. The City would conduct elections in April 2018 and April 2020 as usual, with the transition to the new November date occurring in 2022. Ordinance No. 2352 (Introduce) Changing General Election Date (Senate Bill 415) December 5, 2017 Page 3 of 3 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA. FISCAL IMPACT There are potential savings as a result of consolidating the City’s municipal election with the statewide general election; however, it is not expected to be significant. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council introduce Ordinance No. 2352 amending Section 1700 of Chapter 7 of Article 1 of the Arcadia Municipal Code, changing the general municipal election date from April of even-numbered years to the statewide general election in November of even-numbered years, commencing with the November, 2022 election, in order to comply with California Senate Bill 415. Attachment: Ordinance No. 2352