HomeMy WebLinkAbout15 DESIGNATION OF AUTHOR FOR BALLOT ARGUMENTS1TY O
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AGENDA REPORI
MEETING DATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
JULY 17, 2012
JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER
Agenda Item 15
Reviewed:
City Manager
Finance Director N A
PATRICIA ESTRELLA, CITY CLERK SERVICES SUPERVISOR
DESIGNATION OF AUTHOR FOR BALLOT ARGUMENTS
SUMMARY:
On October 18, 2011, the City Council adopted Resolution 11 -76 to place the question
on the November 6, 2012 ballot whether City Council compensation salary and benefits
should be eliminated. The City Council has the option, if it wishes, to authorize the
submittal of an argument in support of the ballot measure by designating one or more
members of the Council to prepare the argument.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider authorizing one or more Council members to submit an argument in favor of
the ballot measure proposing to eliminate Council member salary and benefits, and
authorize the same Council member(s) to prepare a rebuttal to any argument submitted
in opposition to the measure.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
DISCUSSION:
Under the Elections Code, the City Council, any Council member, or any registered
voter may file a written argument for or against any City ballot measure that must be
distributed to voters along with each sample ballot. The ballot argument must be
accompanied by the names and signatures of the authors to be accepted, and the
argument must be 300 words or less.
Elections Code section 9287 requires that, if more than one argument is submitted for
or against the measure, the City Clerk must select only one such argument. The Clerk's
selection is based on the following priority:
The City Council, or any member or members of the Council authorized by the City
Council;
The bona fide sponsor of the measure;
Bona fide associations of citizens; and
Individual voters eligible to vote on the measure.
Arguments may be signed by up to five persons. Persons signing a ballot argument may identify
themselves by both name and affiliation. Council members may identify themselves as Council
members.
The City Council is not required to, but may, authorize one or more Council members to
compose and submit an argument in favor of the ballot measure.