HomeMy WebLinkAboutOB 1 ELEC CONSOL. 01-19-87OLD BUSINESS
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY ATTORNEY
SUSJ ECT: ELECTION CONSOLIDATION
Recommended Action:
Adopt attached Resolution 87-11 setting the matter of the
proposed consolidation of elections for a public hearing on
February 2, 1987, and prescribing notice.
Government Code Section 36503.5 permits a city to adopt an
ordinance consolidating its general municipal election with a
statewide (a) direct election, (b) general election, or (c) a
school district election.
Pursuant to request of the City Council, we have prepared the
resolution calling a public hearing on February 2, 1987, to
consider ,consolidation of the municipal election with the state-
wide general election held in November of even-numbered years.
Following the public hearing 'on February 2, the Council may
consider adoption of the attached ordinance requiring consolida-
tion of elections. This ordinance contains the recent amendment
to Government Code Section 36503.5(b) permitting a term of office
to be increased or decreased by no more than twelve months. The
next regularly scheduled election of council members is April,
1988. If the Council determines to consolidate with the
November, 1988 election, the terms of office for officeholders
would be increased less than the twelve months permitted.
Election Code Section 23302 requires, whenever a city election is
to be consolidated, that "the resolution requesting the consoli-
dation be ~d0pted and filed at the same time as the adoption of
the ordinance, resolution or order calling the election" (at
least eighty-eight days prior to the election). A draft resolu-
tion requesting consolidation is attached.
The re~olution calling the election will be adopted at a later
date closer to the time of the election.
Within thirty days after the Board of Supervisors has approved
the resolution requesting consolidation, the City Clerk must
notify the voters of the change of election date and the change
in officeholder's terms. The Clerk can make arrangements with
the Registrar of Voters office to secure mailing labels for all
of Tustin's registered voters in order to comply with this thirty
day requirement, as well as contacting the local postmaster to
determine any restrictions he would place on such a large/bulk
mailing.
Additional Matters for Council Consideration:
How much control should the City retain over its local election?
The County may be authorized to administer the entire election.
However, the Council may wish to continue to have nomination
papers pulled and filed at the City Clerk's office. The Clerk
would verify the petition signatures as in the past. An
advantage here would be the actual knowledge of who has requested
nomination papers, and who has signed those papers.
Additionally, the Council may wish to have the City Clerk retain
control of the "candidate statements". Election Code Section
10012.7 prohibits public inspection of these documents until
after the filing deadline. Again, the knowledge of who has and
has not filed a candidate statement may be a control the Clerk
should retain.
For such interest as it may have, we have been advised that the
cities of Orange, Anaheim, Irvine and Downey have been
disenchanted with their consolidated elections, due to loss of
city control. Orange was said to have considered a return to
former election time schedule, but they have not taken formal
action to accomplish that change back.
SDA: JGR: se :R: 01/12/87 (a76)
EncloSures
Page 2.
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RESOLUTION NO. 87-.11
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA,
DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO REQUIRE
ITS GENERAL MUNICIPAL ~.ECTION TO BE
CONSOLIDATED WITH THE STATEWIDE
GENERAL ELECTION AND FIXING A TIME
AND PLACE OF PUBLIC HEARING THEREON.
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the City Council of the
City of Tustin, California, to consider the consolidation of
the City of Tustin's general municipal election with the
statewide general election held in November of even-numbered
years.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Tustin,
California, does hereby resolve as follows:
1. It is the intention of the City Council to
consolidate its general municipal election with the
statewide general election held in November of even-numbered
years.
2. A public hearing is hereby set for February 2,
1987, at 7:00 o'clock p.m. in the Chambers of the City
Council at 300 Centennial Way, Tustin, California, for
hearing all persons interested in or objecting to the
proposed consolidation of elections.
3. The City C~erk is hereby directed to transmit a
copy of this resolution to the Tustin News for publication
at least ten days prior to the date set for public hearing.
PASSSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City
Council of the City of Tustin, California, held on the
day of , 1987.
ATTEST:
MAYOR
CITY CLERK
SDA:JGR:se :R: 01/12/87 (a77)
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ORDINANCE NO. 980
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA,
REQUIRING ITS GENERAL MUNICIPAL
ELECTION TO BE CONSOLIDAT.ED WITH
THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION HELD
IN NOVEMBER OF EVEN-NUMBERED XEARS,
PURSUANT TO SECTION 36503.5 OF THE
GOVERNMENT CODE.
WHEREAS, by Resolution 87- a public hearing was
called for , 1987, at 7:00 o'clock p.m., in
the Tustin City Council Chambers, to obtain public input in
the matter of consolidating Tustin's general municipal elec-
tion with the statewide general election held in November of
even-numbered years; and
WHEREAS, such hearing has been duly held and all
persons interested given the opportunity to be heard.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Tustin,
California, does hereby ordain as follows:
I. The general municipal election of the City of
Tustin shall be consolidated with the statewide general
election held in November of even-numbered years; and
II. This ordinance shall be effective upon the
approval of the Board of Supervisors of the County of
Orange; and
III. As a result of the adoption of this ordinance, no
term of office shall be increased or decreased by more than
twelve months; and
IV. The consolidated election shall be governed by
Elections Code Section 23300, et seq.; and
V. The County Clerk is directed to conduct the
municipal election, to canvass the returns of the general
municipal election, and conduct the election in all respects
as if there were only one election, using only one form of
ballot, in accordance with Section 22003 of the Elections
Code; and
VI. Recognizing that additional costs will be incurred
by the County by reason of this consolidation, the County
shall be reimbursed for additional costs; and
VII. Those City officers whose terms of office would
have, prior to the adoption of this ordinance, expired on
the Tuesday succeeding the second Tuesday in April of an
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even-numbered year, shall instead continue in their offices
until no later than the fourth Tuesday after the day of the
general municipal election, and until the successors are
elected and qualified; and
VIII. The period to file as a candidate for the general
election shall be the same as the nomination period to file
as a candidate for the statewide general election; and
IX. Within thirty days after this ordinance becomes
effective upon approval of the Board of Supervisors, the
City Clerk shall cause a notice to be mailed to all regis-
tered voters informing the voters of the change in the
election date, and that elected City officeholders' terms in
office will be changed; and
X. The municipal election following adoption of this
ordinance and each municipal election thereafter shall be
consolidated with the statewide general election held in
November of even-numbered years.
PASSSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City
Council of the City of Tustin, California, held on the
day of , 1987.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
SDA :JGR:R: 01/12/87 (a80)
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RESOLUTION NO. 87-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA,
REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF ORANGE TO CONSOLI-
DATE THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
W/TH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION
TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 8, 1988,
PURSUANT TO SECTION 23302 OF THE
ELECTIONS CODE.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Tustin,
California, desires that its general municipal election be
consolidated with the statewide general election and that
within the City of Tustin the precincts, polling places, and
election officers of the two elections be the same and that
the County Election Department of the County of Orange
canvass the returns of the Tustin general municipal election
and that the election be held in all respects as if there
were only one election.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Tustin,
California, does hereby resolve, declare, determine and
order as follows:
SECTION 1: That pursuant to the requirements of
Section 23302 of the Elections Code, the Board of
Supervisors of the County of Orange is hereby requested to
consolidate and agree to consolidation of the City of
Tustin's general municipal election with the statewide
election to be held on Tuesday, November 8, 1988, for the
purpose of electing three Council members for full terms of
four years.
~z~=CZ~J~Q_~L2: That the County Election Department is
authorized to canvass the returns of the City of Tustin's
general municipal election. That the election shall be held
in all respects as if there were only one election and only
one form of ballot shall be used.
SECTION 3: That the Board of Supervisors is requested
to issue instructions to the County Election Department to
take any and all steps necessary for the holding of the
consolidated election.
SECTION 4: That the City Council of the City of Tustin
recognizes that additional costs will be incurred by the
County by reason of this consolidation and agrees to reim-
burse the County for any additional costs incurred.
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~u~g~T~l~_5: That the City Clerk is hereby directed to
file a certified copy of this resolution with the Board of
Supervisors and the County Election Department of the County
of Orange.
SECTION 6: That the City Clerk shall certify to the
passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into
the books of original resolutions.
PASSSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City
Council of the City of Tustin, California, held on the
day of , 1987.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
SDA :JGR:se :R: 01/12/87 (a7 8)
DATE:
MAY 14, 1986
Inter -Corn
FROH:
S UBJ ECT:
THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE -
PROCEDURES FOR CONSOLIDATION OF MUNICIPAL AND GENERAL
ELECTIONS
You have recently requested that this office review those pro-
cedures which must be implemented in order to consolidate a
general municipal election with the statewide general election.
Although not required by law, other cities submitted the question
of consolidation of the elections to the voters prior to initi-
ating proceedings to consolidate. Another method of ascertaining
voter sentiment concerning the question of consolidation would be
to schedule a public hearing on this issue, and provide notice of
the public hearing to all registered voters. Although such a
public hearing could prove costly if mailed notice is provided,
the expense should prove to be less costly than a special elec-
tion.
After having submitted the question of consolidation of elections
to the voters, at a public hearing or in a special election, or
after determining to proceed to consolidate without submitting
the question of consolidation to the voters, the City Council may
enact an Ordinance requiring its general municipal election to be
held on the same day as the statewide general election. The
City's Ordinance would become operative upon approval by the.
Board of Supervisors. Such an Ordinance would be approved by the
Board 'of Supervisors unless the ballot style, voting equipment,
or computer capability is such that additional elections or
materials cannot be handled. As the result of the adoption of an
Ordinance consolidating elections, no term of office shall be
increased or decreased by more than ten (10) months.
At the same time that the City Council adopts an Ordinance to
consolidate the general municipal election with the general
statewide election, the City shall, file with the Board of Super-
visors (and a copy with the County Clerk), at least 88 days prior
to the date of the election, a Resolution of the City Council
requesting consolidation and setting forth the exact form of any
question, proposition, or office to be voted upon at such elec-
tion, as the same is to appear on the ballot. A question or
proposition to appear on the ballot shall conform to the pro-
visions of the Elections Code .governing the wording of proposi-
tions submitted to the voters of a statewide election. (Elec-
tions Code Section 23302.)
Within thirty (30) days after the Ordinance requiring the City's
general municipal election to be held on the same day as the
statewide general election becomes operative, the City Clerk
shall-mail a notice to all registered voters informing the voters
of the change in the election date. The notice shall also inform
the voters that as a result in the change in the election date,
elected City officeholders terms in office will be changed. If
the general municipal election is held on the same day as the
statewide general election, those City officers whose terms of
office would have, prior to the adoption of the Ordinance, ex-
pired on the. Tuesday succeeding the second Tuesday in April of an
even numbered year, shall instead, continue in their offices
until no later than the fourth Tuesday after the day of the
general municipal election, and until their successors are
elected and qualified. (Government Code Section 36503.5.) The
names of the candidates to appear upon the ballot where City
offices are to be filled shall be filed with the County Clerk no
later than 81 days prior to the election. (Elections Code Sec-
tion 23302.)
Whenever a municipal election is consolidated with a regularly
scheduled election, the period for the filing of nomination
documents by candidates shall commence on the ll3th day prior to
the election. The nomination documents shall be filed not later
than 5:00 P.M. on the 88th day prior to the regularly scheduled
election in the office of the appropriate officer during regular
office hours~ -(Elections Code Section 23302.5.)
In .case of the consolidation of any election called by the City
Council with an election held in the County in which the City is
situated, the City Council may authorize the Board of Supervisors
to canvass the returns Of the election. If this authority is
given, the election shall be held in all respects as if there
were only one election, only one form of ballot shall be used,
and the return for the election need not be canvassed by the City
Council. (Elections Code Section 23306.) The precincts used at
the c~nsolidated election shall be those used for the statewide
election, and where necessary, the County Clerk may adjust pre-
cinct lines to coincide with the boundaries of the particular
jurisdiction. (Elections Code Sections 23303, 23314.)
If the City adopts an Ordinance consolidating its general
municipal election with the statewide general election, the
municipal election following the adoption of the Ordinance, and
each municipal election thereafter, shall be conducted on the
date specified in the Ordinance unless the Ordinance in question
is later repealed by the City Council. If the date of the
general municipal election is consol-idated or .is changed to be
held on the same day as the statewide general election, at least
one election shall be held before the Ordinance, as approved by
the Board of Supervisors, may be subsequently repealed or
amended. ..
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the
under si gned.
~ SUZ ANNE ATKINS
'~ITY ATTORNEY DEi~TY CITY ATTORNEY
SDA: cj :D:05/13/86(22)
SDA:cj :R: 05/13/86 (22)