Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 48-2015 RESOLUTION NO. 48-2015 CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESOLUTION CALLING A GENERAL ELECTION, SETTING CANDIDATE STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS PURSUANT TO SECTION 13307 OF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE, REQUESTING: (1) THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SAN MATEO COUNTY CONSOLIDATE THE GENERAL ELECTION WITH THE REGULAR ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015; AND (2) THAT THE COUNTY REGISTRAR PERFORM CERTAIN ELECTION SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ELECTION INCLUDING CONDUCTING THE NOVEMBER 3,2015 ELECTION FOR THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO WHOLLY BY MAIL PURSUANT TO THE PILOT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED BY ASSEMBLY BILL 2028 IF ALL OTHER AFFECTED JURSIDCITIONS ALSO REQUEST PARTICIPATION IN THE PILOT PROGRAM AT THAT ELECTION,AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO REIMBURSE THE COUNTY FOR ELECTION SERVICES. WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of South San Francisco desires to call a General Municipal Election for the purpose of submitting to the voters the election of two(2)members of the City Council for four(4) year terms; and WHEREAS, pursuant to California Elections Code Section 13307,the City Council desires to set a filing fee for the purpose of funding the cost of candidate statement printing and a word limit for such statements; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires that the Board of Supervisors of San Mateo County consolidate the General Municipal Election with the Regular Election to be held on November 3,2015 pursuant to the requirements of Section 10403 of the California Elections Code; and WHEREAS,in 2014 the California Legislature and Governor approved Assembly Bill 2028 ("AB 2028"), which is a pilot program permitting certain elections in San Mateo County to be conducted wholly by mail if specific conditions are met; and WHEREAS,pursuant to AB 2028,each jurisdiction may determine whether to participate in this pilot program and whether to authorize its election on a given date to be conducted by mail, provided, however, that election in question shall not be conducted by mail pursuant to the pilot program unless all overlapping jurisdictions with elections on that same date so request; and WHEREAS, if the election is authorized by all affected jurisdictions to be conducted pursuant to the AB 2028 pilot program,various actions shall be taken to ensure that voter access and turnout is protected, including but not limited to the following: • At least one ballot drop-off location shall be provided in each city; • A ballot drop-off location shall be open during business hours to receive ballots beginning 28 days prior to the election through 8 p.m. on the night of the election; • At least one polling place shall be provided per city between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on election day for voters to request a ballot who did not receive a ballot or who need a replacement ballot for any reason; • At the request of any city,county,or district,the Chief Elections Officer may provide additional ballot drop-off locations and polling places; • All elections materials, including a prepaid return envelope for the ballot, shall be provided to each voter; • A list of ballot drop-off locations and polling places shall be delivered to each voter; and • Polling places shall be located at an accessible location and equipped with voting machines that are accessible to individuals with disabilities; and WHEREAS, in general, the cost of conducting an election pursuant to the pilot program described above is expected to be significantly less overall than a typical election, and this cost reduction should translate to lower costs to each jurisdiction that participates in the pilot program election compared to the typical election costs borne by each jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, the San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer has reported that in San Mateo County, 57% of registered voters are permanently registered to vote by mail, in the November 2013 Consolidated Municipal, School, and Special District Election over 76% of the ballots were cast by mail, and in the June 2014 Primary Election over 77% of the ballots were cast by mail; and WHEREAS,the Chief Elections Officer has stated an intention to have the November 3,2015 Consolidated Municipal, School, and Special District Election be the first mail election conducted pursuant to the AB 2028 pilot program in San Mateo County; and WHEREAS,the South San Francisco City Council has considered the merits of the proposed pilot election program and desires to participate in the pilot program given the protections for voter access and participation in the election and anticipated cost savings to the City of South San Francisco provided that at least two (2) Polling Places operate within the City on Election Day; and WHEREAS,the City Council desires to have the San Mateo County Registrar of Voters render certain services in connection with the General Municipal Election and authorize the City Manager to reimburse the County for Election Services. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of South San Francisco as follows: 1. The City Council hereby calls a General Municipal Election to be held on November 3, 2015 to elect two (2) members of the City Council to respective four year terms. 2. As permitted by Section 13307 of the Elections Code, all candidates shall be required to pay $600.00 simultaneously with the submission of a candidate statement, which represents his or her estimated pro rata share of the cost of printing, handling, translating,and mailing the candidate statement. A candidate who submits a statement and qualifies as indigent under Section 13309 of the Elections Code shall not be required to pay his or her pro rata share of the cost of printing, handling, translating, and mailing the statement until after the Election. The City Clerk is authorized to require payment in any reasonable form deemed appropriate to ensure collection. 3. Candidate statements shall not exceed 200 words and shall be submitted to the Office of the City Clerk with nominating documents, as required by Section 13307 of the California Elections Code. 4. Pursuant to Sections 10400 and 10403 of the California Elections Code, the City Council of the City of South San Francisco hereby requests that the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors direct the Registrar of Voters to conduct all necessary services related to the General Municipal Election, and to bill the City for the costs of conducting said Election. 5. The County Elections Department is authorized to canvass the returns of the General Municipal Election. The Election shall be held in all respects as if there were only one election, and only one form of ballot shall be used. 6. The City Council of the City of South San Francisco authorizes the November 3,2015 Election for the City of South San Francisco to be conducted wholly by mailed ballots pursuant to AB 2028 pilot program, if at least two (2) polling places are operated in South San Francisco on Election Day,it being understood that the Election shall occur wholly by mail on that date only if all overlapping jurisdictions with elections on that date make the same request. If all overlapping jurisdictions with elections on that date do not so request, the City of South San Francisco election shall occur as normal on that date pursuant to the other provisions of the Elections Code. 7. The City Clerk of the City of South San Francisco is hereby directed to notify the Secretary of State no later than August 6, 2015, of the City's intent to conduct an all- mailed ballot election as outlined above. 8. The City of South San Francisco shall separately send information regarding the specifics of its November 3,2015 Election to the San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer. 9. The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute a Service Agreement for the Provision of Election Services between the City of South San Francisco and the San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer. 10. The City Manager is authorized to reimburse San Mateo County in full for such services actually performed upon presentation of an invoice from the County. 11. The timing of the submission of nomination documents for candidates shall be governed by Section 10407 of the California Elections Code and submitted to the Office of the City Clerk no later than 5 p.m., 88 days prior to the date of the General Election,which is November 3,2015. The extension period specified in the California Elections Code shall apply if and only if an incumbent does not file by 5:00 p.m. on August 7h. Nomination documents shall be available in the office of the City Clerk during the hours that City Hall is normally open to the public. 12. The Office of the City Clerk is hereby directed to file a certified copy of this resolution with the Board of Supervisors and the Registrar of Voters of San Mateo County. 13. Notice of the time and place of holding the Election is hereby given and the office of 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. I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was regularly introduced and adopted by the City Council of the City of South San Francisco at a regular meeting held on the 10t1i day of June 2015 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Karyl Matsumoto, Pradeep Gupta, and Liza Normandy Vice Mayor Mark N. Addiego and Mayor Richard A. Garbarino NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None r A T mor///' 'eta Martinelli, C y Clerk