Title
Staff Report for a City of San Leandro City Council Resolution Declaring the Results of the General Municipal Election Held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION
The City of San Leandro held its General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. The City’s election was consolidated with the Statewide General Election and was conducted by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters (ROV).
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution declaring the results of the City of San Leandro’s General Municipal Election for City Council Districts 2, 4, and 6, and Measure VV.
BACKGROUND
On July 6, 2020, the San Leandro City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-073, calling its General Municipal Election, to be held on November 3, 2020, and requesting that the Board of Supervisors permit the consolidation of the City’s election with the Statewide General Election to be held on the same date. On July 20, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-103, submitting one question to the voters at the November 3, 2020 election. The election resolution included a request that the Alameda County Board of Supervisors permit the consolidation of the City’s General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election, and that the ROV provide necessary services related to the conduct of the election.
San Leandro’s City Charter requires election of candidates by a 50% plus one majority. Since 2010, San Leandro has used the Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) system. However, for the November 3, 2020 election, the candidate for District 6 ran unopposed and there were only two candidates for Districts 2 and 4 respectively, which eliminated the need for RCV.
As required by the California Elections Code, an official canvass was performed by the ROV, and a Statement of Election Results was submitted to the City. A resolution accepting the Statement of Election Results and declaring the results of the election is provided for the City Council’s adoption.
The following outlines the results of the November 3, 2020 election:
District 2 - Bryan Azevedo, Councilmember, for a full term of four years from and after January 1, 2021, and until his successor is elected and qualified.
District 4 - Fred Simon, Councilmember, for a full term of four years from and after January 1, 2021, and until his successor is elected and qualified.
District 6 - Pete Ballew, Councilmember, for a full term of four years from and after January 1, 2021, and until his successor is elected and qualified.
Measure VV - a majority of the affirmative votes were cast to increase the existing real property transfer tax rate.
Current Agency Policies
Section 225(b) of the Charter of the City of San Leandro requires a successful candidate for elective office to receive at least 50% plus one of the votes cast for that office. In the event that no candidate receives 50% plus one of the votes cast for that office, the Charter requires the City Council to provide for a runoff vote to determine the person elected. The Charter provides that the runoff system may include an instant runoff voting system (i.e., RCV).
Previous Actions
On April 19, 2010, the City Council passed to print and adopted Ordinance No. 2010-005, providing for the conduct of the General Municipal Election using RCV. The ordinance remains in effect for this election.
On July 6, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-073, calling the November 3, 2020 General Municipal Election, requesting the Alameda County Board of Supervisors permit the consolidation of the City’s General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election, and requesting that the ROV conduct the election on the City’s behalf.
On July 20, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-103, placing Measure VV on the ballot.
Summary of Public Outreach Efforts
A Candidate Information page was added to the City website, listing the candidates’ contact information, ballot designations, ballot statements, and pre-election campaign financial statements. The page was updated as new information was received.
On September 11, 2020, a Notice of Nominees for Public Office and Measure to be Voted On was published in the Daily Review newspaper, pursuant to Elections Code Section 12110.
On September 30, 2020, City staff conducted a Candidate Orientation for all City Council candidates, and members of the public were invited. The Orientation provided information on City services and projects.
A webpage for The Notice of Nominees for Public Office and Measures to be Voted On was added to the City’s website. A link to translate the website was prominently placed in the upper corner of the page to allow easy translation of the Notice into the four required languages: Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese.
An Election Campaign Sign webpage was created, to provide candidates and members of the public with information on the rules governing temporary political campaign signs.
Fiscal Impacts
The 2020 election is estimated to cost $450,800. There is sufficient funding in the budget to cover the election’s costs.
Budget Authority
There is $475,000 in the FY 2020-2021 General Fund budget (Account 010-11-031-5890) for funding the election costs.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment to Related Resolution
Certificate of Election Results and Official Canvass by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters for the following races:
• Member, City Council, District 2
• Member, City Council, District 4
• Member, City Council, District 6
• Measure VV
PREPARED BY: Leticia I. Miguel, City Clerk, City Manager’s Office