TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Quinn Barrow, City Attorney
Liza Tamura, City Clerk
Matthew Cuevas, Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Report on the California Voter Participation Rights Act (California State Senate Bill 415) and Potential Impacts to Future Municipal Elections for the City of Manhattan Beach (City Clerk Tamara).
DISCUSS AND PROVIDED DIRECTION
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss the implications of the California Voter Participation Rights Act (SB 415) and provide direction to staff.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The fiscal implications associated with the passage of this new state legislation will impact the City's finances when it conducts its municipal election. On average, for the past five municipal elections, the City Clerk's office has budgeted approximately $73,735 to conduct the municipal election every other odd-numbered year in March. City staff will utilize this amount as a baseline for future budgeting of municipal elections with relevant cost increases factored into future years to account for supplies, postage, consulting services and election materials.
BACKGROUND:
The California Voter Participation Rights Act (SB 415) was passed on September 1, 2015. This new legislation prohibits a local government from holding an election on any date other than a statewide election date if doing so in the past has resulted in a significant decrease in voter turnout. This new law will go into effect on January 1, 2018. SB 415 requires cities with insufficient voter turn out to either change their election dates to June or November of even years, or, prior to January 1, 2018, adopt a plan to consolidate its election with the statewide election no later than the November 8, 2022 statewide general election.
At the April 5, 2016 Regular City Counc...
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