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SR 06-14-2022 8A City Council Report City Council Meeting: June 14, 2022 Agenda Item: 8.A 1 of 4 To: Mayor and City Council From: Denise Anderson Warren, City Clerk, Records and Election Services Department Subject: Adoption of Resolutions related to the General Municipal Election to be held on November 8, 2022 Recommended Action Staff recommends that City Council adopt two resolutions to: 1. Call for a General Municipal Election to be held on November 8, 2022; and 2. Request that the Municipal Election be consolidated with the Los Angeles (LA) County Statewide General Election and request services from the LA County Registrar-Recorder for the General Municipal Election. Executive Summary Santa Monica’s next General Municipal Election will be held November 8, 2022. In preparation for this election, staff asks Council to adopt two resolutions. The first resolution calls for the election to be held, and the second authorizes and requests that the election be consolidated with the LA County Statewide General Election and requests County election services. Discussion Section 1400 of the City Charter provides that General Municipal Elections for the filling of elective office shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November of each even numbered year. The City of Santa Monica has been consolidating municipal elections and obtaining services from the LA County Registrar- Recorder/County Clerk since the mid 1980’s. As a result, it is necessary to adopt 8.A Packet Pg. 1898 2 of 4 resolutions calling the election and requesting consolidation with the Statewide General election and election services from the LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Resolutions Calling Election and Requesting Consolidation and Election Services The first resolution (Attachment A) calls for the General Election and gives notice that three City Council seats, three Rent Control Board seats, four Santa Monica-Malibu School District Board of Education seats, and four Santa Monica Community College District Board of Trustees seats are to be filled at the November 8, 2022, General Municipal Election. For this election, there is no local emergency order suspending Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC) 11.04.010 so the requirement to qualify for the ballot reverts to gathering signatures from no less than 100 registered voters in the office’s jurisdiction. If City staff have potential revenue measures or charter amendments to present for the ballot, they will return with them at a later meeting. At the time this report was written, no initiatives have qualified to be placed on the ballot. However, staff is aware of an initiative being circulated to establish added funding for homelessness prevention, affordable housing, and schools by amending the Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC) Chapter 6.96 to provide a third-tier transfer tax rate for property transfers of $8,000,000 or more with an 11-member resident oversight committee. Should the initiative qualify, staff will return with a staff report and resolution at the next available regular meeting. All initiatives and City-sponsored ballot measures must be submitted to the County by August 12, 2022. The second resolution (Attachment B) requests that the LA County Board of Supervisors approve the consolidation of the City’s General Municipal Election with the statewide General Election to be held on the same date, and that the statewide General Election and General Municipal Election be held in all respects as if there were one election. The resolution also requests that the LA County Board of Supervisors direct the LA County Registrar-Record/County Clerk to provide all necessary election services, to the extent determined necessary by the Santa Monica City Clerk/Elections Official, to prepare, print, translate and mail sample ballots and polling place information to the registered voters of the City. 8.A Packet Pg. 1899 3 of 4 Elections and COVID-19 City Clerk staff will return with an in-person Candidate Workshop on the first day of the Nomination Period on July 18, 2022 and make a recording available to potential candidates who are unable to attend in-person. Staff will schedule appointments with candidates to issue nomination papers during business hours and accept Nomination Forms and Petitions by appointment before the 5:00 p.m. August 7, 2020, deadline. The office will host a Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) workshop for Candidates/Treasurers in August (date to the determined) and will work with the FPPC to offer this as a webinar if a local workshop is not possible. The notice of the election will be published in the local newspapers and mailed to neighborhood groups and interested entities. All election information will be available on www.santamonica.gov, and the election will be promoted in the Seascape newsletter, the City’s social media sites and the local newspapers. Staff will resume with in-person voter registration efforts, including on September 20, 2022, National Voter Registration Day, and prior to the October 24, 2022, voter registration deadline. Because COVID-19 is still a concern, all LA County Vote Centers will follow current public health and safety guidelines and strongly encourage voters to wear a face mask. Additionally, the City’s four Vote-By-Mail Drop Boxes by the Main Library, Montana Library, Virginia Avenue Park and Marine Park will also be available for the election. Financial Impacts and Budget Actions Funding for the election costs are included in the FY 2022-23 Proposed Budget, pending Council budget adoption. Also included in the proposed budget is the reimbursement revenue for election costs related to non-City agencies. 8.A Packet Pg. 1900 4 of 4 Prepared By: Maria Dacanay, Administrative Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council Attachments: A. Proposed Resolution Calling the Election B. Proposed Resolution for Election Services 8.A Packet Pg. 1901 1 City Council Meeting: June 14, 2022 Santa Monica, California RESOLUTION NUMBER (CCS) (City Council Series) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE FOR THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022, FOR ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AS REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE AND PROVISIONS OF THE SANTA MONICA CITY CHARTER WHEREAS, City Charter Section 1400 provides that a General Municipal Election shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November of each even numbered year for the purpose of electing officers; and WHEREAS, under the provisions of the City Charter, three members of the Council shall be elected to a full term of four-years,; and WHEREAS, under the provisions of the City Charter, three members of the Rent Control Board shall be elected for a full term of four years; and WHEREAS, under the provisions of the City Charter and Section 5220 of the Education Code, four members of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education shall be elected for a full term of four years; WHEREAS, under the provisions of Section 72034 of the Education Code and resolutions adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Santa Monica Community College District, four members of the Santa Monica Community College District Board of Trustees shall be elected for a full term of four years; and 8.A.a Packet Pg. 1902 Attachment: Proposed Resolution Calling the Election [Revision 3] (4865 : November 8, 2022 General Election (5 mins)) 2 WHEREAS, the Education Code and the Elections Code authorize the consolidation of the election of members of the Santa Monica Community College District Board of Trustees and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education with the General Municipal Election. WHEREAS, Section 12109 of the Elections Code authorizes the City Council to provide that all ballots cast at the General Municipal Election be counted at a central counting place; and NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. A General Municipal Election shall be held in the City of Santa Monica on November 8, 2022, which is the election required for the purposes of electing three members of the City of Santa Monica City Council for four-year terms expiring in 2026; three members of the City of Santa Monica Rent Control Board for four-year terms expiring in 2026; four members of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education for four-year terms expiring in 2026; and, four members of the Santa Monica Community College District Board of Trustees for four- year terms expiring in 2026, and the placing before the voters of qualified initiatives and referendums. SECTION 2. The ballots to be used at the General Municipal Election shall be both as to form and matter contained therein such as may be required by law. SECTION 3. The City Clerk is authorized, instructed, and directed to procure and furnish any and all official ballots, notices, printed matter and all supplies, equipment, and 8.A.a Packet Pg. 1903 Attachment: Proposed Resolution Calling the Election [Revision 3] (4865 : November 8, 2022 General Election (5 mins)) 3 paraphernalia that may be necessary in order to properly and lawfully conduct the General Municipal Election. SECTION 4. The polls for the General Municipal Election shall be open at 7:00 a.m. on the day of the election and shall remain open continuously until 8:00 p.m. of the same day when the polls shall be closed except as provided in Elections Code Section 14401. SECTION 5. The notice of the time and place of holding of the General Municipal Election is hereby given; and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed, and directed to give such further or additional notice of the election in the time, form, and manner required by law. SECTION 6. Pursuant to Elections Code Section 12109, the City Clerk is authorized, instructed, and directed to give notice of the central counting place in the time, form, and manner required by law. SECTION 7. An election for members of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education and the Santa Monica College District Board of Trustees shall be consolidated with the General Municipal Election. Separate ballots shall be provided for those voters who reside outside the City of Santa Monica pursuant to Elections Code Section 10409. SECTION 8. The City Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to the Board of Supervisors and to the Registrar of Voters/County Clerk of the County of Los Angeles. SECTION 9. In the event the General Municipal Election is consolidated with the 8.A.a Packet Pg. 1904 Attachment: Proposed Resolution Calling the Election [Revision 3] (4865 : November 8, 2022 General Election (5 mins)) 4 Statewide General Election on the same date, the provisions of this Resolution which are applicable only in the event the election is conducted by the City shall be of no force or effect. SECTION 10. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect. APPROVED AS TO FORM: DOUGLAS SLOAN City Attorney 8.A.a Packet Pg. 1905 Attachment: Proposed Resolution Calling the Election [Revision 3] (4865 : November 8, 2022 General Election (5 mins)) 1 City Council Meeting: June 14, 2022 Santa Monica, California RESOLUTION NUMBER (CCS) (City Council Series) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO CONSOLIDATE A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 8, 2022, WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON SAID DATE PURSUANT TO ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 10403, AND TO RENDER SPECIFIED SERVICES TO THE CITY RELATING TO THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Santa Monica has called a General Municipal Election in the City of Santa Monica to be held on November 8, 2022, for the purpose of electing officers of the City of Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Rent Control Board, the Santa Monica Community College District Board, and the Santa Monica- Malibu Unified School District Board of Education; and WHEREAS, it is desirable that the General Municipal Election be consolidated with the Statewide General Election to be held on the same date; that within the City of Santa Monica and the School and Community College Districts, the precincts, polling places and election officers of the two elections be the same; that the Registrar of Voters of the County of Los Angeles canvass the returns of the General Municipal Election; and that the Statewide General Election and General Municipal Election be held in all respects as if there were only one election; and 8.A.b Packet Pg. 1906 Attachment: Proposed Resolution for Election Services [Revision 2] (4865 : November 8, 2022 General Election (5 mins)) 2 WHEREAS, in the course of conduct of the General Municipal Election and in relation thereto, it will be necessary to mail sample ballots and polling place information to the registered voters of the City of Santa Monica; and WHEREAS, it will facilitate the mailing of sample ballots if the Registrar of Voters of the County of Los Angeles makes available to the City of Santa Monica the computer record of the names and addresses of all eligible registered voters so that labels may be printed for attaching to self-mailer sample ballot pamphlets; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica desires the Registrar of Voters to furnish such other election assistance as may be authorized by state law; and WHEREAS, all necessary expense in performing these services shall be paid by the City of Santa Monica. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Pursuant to the requirements of Elections Code Section 10403, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles is hereby requested to consent and agree to the consolidation of a General Municipal Election with the Statewide General election on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, for the purpose of electing officers of the City of Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Rent Control Board, the Santa Monica Community College District Board, and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. The consolidated election will be held and conducted in the manner prescribed in Elections Code Section 10418. The offices to be voted upon at the General Municipal Election are as follows: Member of the City Council – 3; Member 8.A.b Packet Pg. 1907 Attachment: Proposed Resolution for Election Services [Revision 2] (4865 : November 8, 2022 General Election (5 mins)) 3 of the Rent Control Board – 3; Member of the Board of Trustees for the Santa Monica Community College District – 4; Member of the Board of Education for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District – 4. The names of candidates appearing on the ballot shall be filed with the Registrar of Voters of the County of Los Angeles no later than 81 days prior to the General Municipal Election. SECTION 2. The Registrar of Voters is authorized to canvass the returns of the General Municipal Election which it is hereby requested to consolidate with the Statewide General Election and said 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. The Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles is hereby requested to issue instructions to the Registrar of Voters to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of the consolidated election. SECTION 4. The City of Santa Monica recognizes that additional costs will be incurred by the County of Los Angeles by reason of this consolidation and agrees to reimburse the County of Los Angeles for any such costs. SECTION 5. Pursuant to Elections Code Section 10002, the City Council requests the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles to permit the Registrar of Voters to provide the following services to the City to the extent determined necessary by the City Clerk: (1) prepare and furnish to the City of Santa Monica for use in conducting its General Municipal Election the computer record of the names and addresses of eligible registered voters in the City of Santa Monica in order that the City of Santa Monica may print labels to be attached to self-mailer sample ballot pamphlets; (2) furnish to the City of Santa Monica printed indices of the voters to be used by the precinct board at the 8.A.b Packet Pg. 1908 Attachment: Proposed Resolution for Election Services [Revision 2] (4865 : November 8, 2022 General Election (5 mins)) 4 polling places; (3) make available to the City of Santa Monica additional election equipment and assistance according to state law; and (4) provide such other services as may be deemed necessary to reduce the expense and administrative burden of the election. SECTION 6. The City of Santa Monica shall reimburse the County of Los Angeles for services performed when the work is completed and upon presentation to the City of a properly approved bill. SECTION 7. The City Clerk is directed to transmit and file a certified copy of this Resolution with the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles and with the Registrar of Voters. SECTION 8. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect. APPROVED AS TO FORM: DOUGLAS SLOAN City Attorney 8.A.b Packet Pg. 1909 Attachment: Proposed Resolution for Election Services [Revision 2] (4865 : November 8, 2022 General Election (5 mins))