Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR THE CONDUCT OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2020, REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND ADOPTING REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
The General Municipal Election for the City of Carson (City) will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. The City will elect two (2) Members of the City Council for a full term of four (4) years each and one (1) Mayor for a full term of four (4) years.
In accordance with California Election law, the City Clerk is requesting City Council adopt appropriate resolutions calling the election, requesting election consolidation and candidate statement regulations.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. WAIVE FURTHER READING AND ADOPT Resolution No. 20-093, A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Carson, California, Calling For The Holding Of A General Municipal Election To Be Held On Tuesday, November 3, 2020, For The Election Of Certain Officers As Required By The Provisions Of The Laws Of The State Of California; and
2. WAIVE FURTHER READING AND ADOPT Resolution No. 20-094, A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Carson, California, Adopting Regulations For Candidates For Elective Office, Pertaining To Candidates Statements Submitted To The Voters At A General Municipal Election To Be Held On Tuesday, November 3, 2020; and
3. WAIVE FURTHER READING AND ADOPT Resolution No. 20-095, A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Carson, California, Requesting The Board Of Supervisors Of The County Of Los Angeles To Consolidate A General Municipal Election To Be Held On November 3, 2020, With The Statewide General Election To Be Held On The Date Pursuant To Elections Code §10403
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III. ALTERNATIVES
None.
IV. BACKGROUND
In 2016, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 16-1585 requiring the City’s General Municipal Election be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November each even-numbered year; therefore, the City’s next General Municipal Election shall be held on November 3, 2020.
To hold this Election, the City Council before July 6, 2020 (or 120 days before Election Day in order to meet subsequent pre-election deadlines) should adopt resolutions calling the Election and adopting regulations for candidate statements.
The City Council will also need to adopt a resolution consolidating with the County of Los Angeles (County) to administer the Election. The County administers the Election, with the exception of candidate nomination onboarding and publications. The election services provided by the County of Los Angeles includes: services associated with election supplies, voting systems, voter information pamphlets, ballots, etc.
The City’s last General Municipal Election held November 6, 2018 was administered by the County in partnership with the City’s Election Official/City Clerk which provided additional election administration, providing independent voting guides and notifications ensuring the public were adequately informed.
Consolidation with the County still requires responsibilities and legal tasks that are carried out by the City’s Election Official/City Clerk. These obligations include public noticing, issuing nomination papers, candidate statement verification, qualification of candidates, handling Fair Political Practice Commission filings, etc.
During the candidate nomination period the City’s Election Official/City Clerk provides potential candidates an election overview and a candidate handbook. During the issuance and filing of nomination papers clear instructions are provided to the potential candidates related to the process of: 1) the issuance of nomination papers; 2) signature verification; and 3) candidate statement printing. The Candidate Filing Fee is $275.00 upon the issuance of pulling nomination papers.
In addition to the candidate filing fee, candidates may also request to have a candidate statement printed in the election voter pamphlet mailed to every registered voter. The Candidate Statement fee estimated to cost $1500 for English and $3000 for English and Spanish (if requested, Tagalog will be done by the County at no additional cost). The Candidate Statement is optional and the fee must be paid in advance (at the time of filing nomination documents).
The March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election was the County’s implementation of a new voting system which changed how Carson residents voted. Voting centers were opened for multiple days Countywide allowing Carson voters to vote anywhere in the County. The City had some concerns that the City’s Elections Official/City Clerk conveyed to the County and will continue to work with the County in providing a fair and accessible election this November. COVID-19 will bring further challenges so it is more critical than ever that the City communicate effectively with residents to ensure everyone knows what to expect when it is time to vote.
COVID-19
The City’s Election Official/City Clerk has participated in various conversations in light of COVID-19 and is making every effort to provide [potential] candidates guidance and options while maintaining safety in accordance with CDC guidelines. A protocol will need to be in place to ensure [potential] candidates have proper accessibility. The City’s Election Official/City Clerk will partake in the County’s annual City Clerk Summit to discuss the current conditions; which is slated to be held prior to the candidate filing period.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds allocated for Regular Election support is included as a requested line item in the FY 2020/21 budget for account number 01-30-000-176-6018. The estimated costs associated with consolidation ranges from $301,976.33 to $323,303.21 depending on inclusion of measures. This cost is a non-binding estimate and the County has expressly informed the City that subsequent changes in the assumptions made when calculating this cost, as well as unanticipated increases in labor rates and cost of materials, could have a significant impact on the final costs charged by the County to the City.
VI. EXHIBITS
Exhibit 1 - Resolution No. 20-093 Pgs. 4-5
Exhibit 2 - Resolution No. 20-094 Pgs. 6-9
Exhibit 3 - Resolution No. 20-095 Pgs. 10-12
Prepared by: Donesia Gause-Aldana, MMC, Elections Official/City Clerk