HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2001-10-08 Supplemental Info - Municipal ElectionsM E M O R A N D U M
October 8, 2001
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Clerk
RE: Primary Municipal Election /
Special Municipal Election -
Consolidation - March 5` ", 2002
Pursuant to the Charter of the City of Seal Beach the last
Tuesday in March of even - numbered years is designated as the
day for the holding of the City Primary Municipal Election,
however by ordinance the City Council may fix another date in
the months of March or April for the holding of said election.
By action of the State in 1998 the first Tuesday in March of
even - numbered years has been designated as a statewide
election date. If the local Primary Election were to be held
on the last Tuesday in March and since a Special Municipal
Election is proposed to consider City Charter amendments,
there would then be two dates for the holding of elections
within a period of three weeks, a situation that it is
unlikely the voters would favor, therefore the request of
Council is to consolidate the local elections with the
Statewide Primary Election to be held on March 5"', 2002.
The year 2002 City of Seal Beach Primary Election shall be
held for the purpose of electing a member of the City Council
from Councilmanic Districts One, Three, and Five, each for the
full term of four years.
In addition, the City Council has directed that certain
amendments to the City Charter be submitted to the voters for
consideration, those amendments relate to: residency
requirements for elected officials and the city manager;
removal of limitations to enforce City ordinances; increase of
penalty for violations of the City Charter; meetings of the
City Council and appointive boards and commissions to be held
in accordance with State law (the Brown Act); provision to
allow for a two -year budget; prohibition of financial
interests in City contracts; disciplinary suspensions in
accordance with standards of practice; that public works
contracts less than $20,000 not require public bid process;
allow the City to enter into design -build public works
contracts; and eliminate gender -based designations in the
Charter.
The following documents are presented for City Council
consideration relating to the Primary Municipal Election and
Special Municipal Election in year 2002:
1) Proposed Ordinance moving the date of the 2002
Primary Municipal Election from the last Tuesday of
March to the first Tuesday of March;
The Ordinance will take effect upon adoption.
2) Proposed Ordinance calling and giving notice of the
Primary Municipal Election for the election of three
members of the City Council to be held on March 5`",
2002 to be consolidated with the Statewide Primary
Election;
Proposed Ordinance calling and giving notice of the
Special Municipal Election to consider proposed
Charter amendments to be held on March 5`", 2002 to
be consolidated with the Statewide Primary
Election;
The Ordinances will take effect upon adoption.
3) Proposed Resolution requesting that the Board of
Supervisors consolidate the Primary Municipal
Election and the Special Municipal Election with the
March 5`", 2002 Statewide Primary;
4) Proposed Resolution adopting regulations for
Candidate Statements. The Candidate's Statement is
included in the Voter Information Pamphlet which is
provided to each registered voter. The Elections
Code makes provision for a two hundred (200) word
Candidate Statement, however allows the legislative
body to increase the Statement to four hundred (400)
words. I recommend that the Statement be limited to
two hundred (200) words, as it has in the past,
which is reflected in the proposed Resolution.
It is further recommended that each candidate filing
a Candidate Statement be required to pay in advance
his or her pro rata share of the cost of printing
and handling the Statement. I have conservatively
estimated the cost for a candidate at $150.00.
Should a candidate wish to have a foreign language
translation of his or her Candidate Statement
printed in the Voter Information Pamphlet, that
additional cost would likewise be passed on to the
candidate.
As set forth in the Resolution, additional election/
campaign materials are not allowed to be included
with the Sample Ballot.
5) Proposed Resolution Authorizing Written Arguments
and Impartial Analysis Regarding City Measures;
* Arguments shall not exceed 300 words
in length —
* Impartial Analysis shall not exceed 500
words in length —
* An Argument will not be accepted without
the printed name(s) and signature(s) of the
person(s) submitting it, or, if submitted on
behalf of an organization, the name of the
organization and the name of at least one of
its officers, no more than five signatures
shall appear with any argument submitted —
* The deadline for submittal of direct
Arguments and the Impartial Analysis is
established as Tuesday, November 20'h, 2001 —
(6) Proposed Resolution providing for the filing of
Rebuttal Arguments for City measures.
* Rebuttal Arguments shall not exceed 250
words in length —
* Rebuttal Arguments shall be filed not
more than ten days after the final date
for filing direct arguments, Friday,
November 30`" at 5:00 p.m.
The nomination period for the March 5`", 2002 Primary Municipal
Election for Districts One, Three, and Five opens on Monday,
November 12` ", 2001, however November 12" being a holiday the
nomination period will open on Tuesday, November 13`" and will
close on Friday, December 7`", 2001 at 5:00 p.m. In the event
an eligible incumbent does not file nomination papers by the
December 7`" deadline, the nomination period for candidates
other than the incumbent shall be extended until 5:00 p.m.,
Wednesday, December 12 ` ".
Recommended Actions:
By motions of the City Council:
1)
Adopt ordinance Number
1479 changing election date
for year 2002;
2)
Adopt Ordinance Number
1480 calling and
consolidating the Primary
Municipal Election;
3)
Adopt Ordinance Number
1481 calling and
consolidating the Special
Municipal Election;
4)
Adopt Resolution Number
4942 requesting the Board of
Supervisors consolidate
the Primary and Special
Municipal Elections with
the Statewide Primary;
5)
Adopt Resolution Number
4943 establishing
regulations for Candidate
Statements;
6)
Adopt Resolution Number
4944 providing for primary
arguments and impartial
analysis with regard to
Charter amendments; and
7)
Adopt Resolution Number
4945 providing for rebuttal
arguments for Charter amendments.
D
anne M. Ye . City Clerk
Cit of Seal Beach