Report Prepared by: John Tresidder, Assistant City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of Resolutions to Call for a General Municipal Election on November 6, 2018 to be Consolidated with the Gubernatorial General Election
REPORT IN BRIEF
Consideration of Resolutions calling a November 6, 2018 General Municipal Election for the Mayor and three members of the City Council by district and requesting the County Board of Supervisors consolidate the City's election with the Gubernatorial General Election being held on the same date.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Adopting Resolution 2018-39, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, calling a General Municipal Election for the election of the Mayor and three members of the City Council at the General Municipal Election to be held on November 6, 2018; and,
B. Adopting Resolution 2018-40, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, requesting that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Merced, California provide for the consolidation of a General Municipal Election with the Gubernatorial General Election to be held on November 6, 2018, direct the filing of a Notice of Election with the Registrar of Voters, submit an Incumbent List and Terms of Office, provide that candidate’s statements are to be paid by candidate, and determine that a coin toss is the tie-breaking method; and,
C. Directing the City Manager/City Clerk and the City Attorney’s Office to execute documents appropriate to carry out the tasks necessary for the General Municipal Election and to take actions related thereto.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff (identify specific findings and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items (specific items to be addressed in the motion); or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Sections 400 and 1000;
California Elections Code Section 10403.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2018-19 Proposed Budget.
DISCUSSION
In the 2014 election, the voters elected to change the City’s at-large election to a district-based election. The City Council appointed a seven-member Independent Districting Advisory Committee to engage the public and create a district-based map with three districts north of the Santa Fe Railroad line and three districts south of the line. At their meeting of October 5, 2015, City Council adopted a final map and selected districts one, three, and five for election at the November 8, 2016 election.
At the November 6, 2018 election, three Council Members will be elected to four-year terms (one each in districts two, four, and six) and a Mayor will be elected at large to a two-year term of office.
The City has consistently recognized a cost savings in previous years by consolidating the General Municipal Election with the Consolidated Elections conducted by the Merced County Elections Office. The County has trained staff and volunteers, in addition to the necessary equipment, software, and locations to conduct elections efficiently and economically. Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council call for the General Municipal Election on November 6, 2018 and consolidate the General Municipal Election with the Gubernatorial General Election on November 6, 2018.
As in the previous years, candidates are to pay all costs for their Candidate Statements, and in the event of a tie vote after all votes have been counted, the tie will be resolved by a coin toss.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
It is estimated that the November 6, 2018 General Municipal Election will cost approximately $75,000. Funds have been included in the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 budget to cover this expense.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution 2018-39
2. Resolution 2018-40