HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 6684
CITY OF PALO ALTO OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
June 20, 2016
The Honorable City Council
Palo Alto, California
Adoption of a Resolution Calling a General Municipal Election for
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Adopt the attached Resolution calling for a General Municipal Election for four Council
seats for November 8, 2016. Move that the Clerk use the random name order set by the
Secretary of State to determine the order of candidates’ names on the ballot.
BACKGROUND:
Attached is a Resolution calling a General Municipal Election for four Council Member
seats on November 8, 2016, requesting the services of the Santa Clara County
Registrar of Voters (Registrar), and requesting consolidation of the General Municipal
Election with any other election called for this jurisdiction for this date.
The Charter requires that the order of candidates’ names on the ballot be determined by
lot (Charter Art. VII, Sec. 3). The City Clerk recommends that Council direct that that
requirement be implemented by using the random name order set by the Secretary of
State.
Council Member seats subject to election on November 8, 2016 are those currently held
by Council Members Berman, Burt, Kniss and Schmid.
The Registrar estimates that this election will cost approximately $150,000. There are
additional costs of approximately $7,500 that the City Clerk will incur for public notice.
These costs can be absorbed within the Clerk’s FY 2017 budget.
The attached Resolution and proposed motion are not projects subject to review under
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Resolution 2016 GME final (DOC)
Department Head: Beth Minor, City Clerk
Page 2
1
Resolution No.
Resolution of the Council of the City Of Palo Alto Calling a
General Municipal Election of Four Council Member Seats,
Requesting the Services of the Registrar of Voters, and
Ordering the Consolidation of the Election
R E C I T A L S
A. Article III, Section 3, of the Palo Alto City Charter requires that a general municipal
election for election of council members be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
November of each even-numbered year, that is, November 8, 2016; and
B. A statewide election is scheduled to be held on November 8, 2016; elections in
certain school districts and special districts in Santa Clara County are also scheduled to be held on
that date; and
C. Under Part 3 of Division 10 of the Elections Code, beginning at Section 10400, and
Education Code Section 5342, elections called by various governing bodies may be partially or
completely consolidated;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto RESOLVES as follows:
SECTION 1. Call of Election. A general municipal election is called for the City of
Palo Alto to be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, for the purpose of electing four (4) council
members for full terms (four years).
SECTION 2. Request to Consolidate. The Council of the City of Palo Alto requests
the governing body of the state and any other political subdivision, or any officers otherwise
authorized by law, to partially or completely consolidate such elections and the City Council
consents to such consolidation. The Council acknowledges that the election will be held and
conducted according to procedures in the Elections Code, including Section 10418.
SECTION 3. Request for County Services. Under Section 10002 of the California
Elections Code, the Council of the City of Palo Alto requests the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara
County to permit the Registrar of Voters to render services to the City of Palo Alto relating to the
conduct of Palo Alto’s General Municipal and Special Elections which are called to be held on
Tuesday, November 8, 2016. The services shall be of the type normally performed by the Registrar
of Voters in assisting the clerks of municipalities in the conduct of elections, including but not
limited to checking registrations, mailing ballots, hiring election officers and arranging for polling
places, receiving absentee voter ballot applications, mailing and receiving absent voter ballots and
opening and counting same, providing and distributing election supplies, and furnishing voting
machines.
SECTION 4. Consolidation of Measures. The Council of the City of Palo Alto
2
requests the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County to include on the ballots and sample
ballots, all qualified measures submitted by the City Council to be ratified by the qualified electors
of the City of Palo Alto.
SECTION 5. Duties of City Clerk. The Palo Alto City Clerk shall do all things
required by law to effectuate the November 8, 2016, general municipal election, including but not
limited to causing the posting, publication and printing of all notices or other election materials
under the requirements of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto and the California Elections and
Government Codes.
SECTION 6. Contract Authority. Subject to approval of the Board of Supervisors of
Santa Clara County, the City Clerk may engage the services of the Registrar of Voters of the County
of Santa Clara to aid in the conduct of the November 8, 2016, election including canvassing the
returns of that election. The Palo Alto Director of Administrative Services shall pay the cost of
contracted services provided that no payment shall be made for services which the Registrar of
Voters is otherwise required by law to perform.
SECTION 7. Transmittal of Resolution. The City Clerk shall submit a certified copy
of this resolution to the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara.
SECTION 8. CEQA. The Council finds that this resolution does not constitute a
project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act under Public Resources Code section
21065 or CEQA Guidelines section 15378.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
_____________________________ ____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________ ____________________________
City Attorney City Manager
____________________________
Director of Administrative Services