HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2b - Changing General Municipal Election Date
DATE: January 16, 2018
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager Stephen P. Deitsch, City Attorney
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: Adopt
SUMMARY
At its regular meeting on December 5, 2017, the City Council, by a vote of 5-0, introduced 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. Attached is a copy of Ordinance No. 2352, and the December 5, 2017, City Council staff report.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommend that the City Council adopt 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.
Ordinance No. 2352 Changing General Municipal Election Date January 16, 2018
Page 2 of 2
Attachments: Ordinance No. 2352
December 5, 2017, City Council Staff Report
Ordinance 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