Title
Staff Report for Resolution Declaring Results of the General Municipal Election Held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION
The City of San Leandro held its General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. 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 Measures OO, PP and NN.
BACKGROUND
On July 5, 2016, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2016-090, which provided for the holding of the November 8, 2016 General Municipal 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 8, 2016 election, candidates for Districts 4 and 6 ran unopposed and there were only two candidates for District 2, 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 ready for the City Council’s adoption.
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 5, 2016, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2016-090, calling the November 8, 2016 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, 2016, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2016-103, placing Measure NN on the ballot, relating to the approval of a tax on cannabis businesses.
• On July 20, 2016, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2016-104, placing Measure OO on the ballot, to amend the city’s business license tax.
• Also on July 20, 2016, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2016-105 placing measure PP on the ballot to seek voter approval to increase the city’s existing Transient Occupancy Tax
Summary of Public Outreach Efforts
• A Candidate Information page was added to the City website, listing the candidates’ contact information, ballot designations and ballot statements, and pre-election campaign financial statements. The page was updated as new information was received.
• On September 12, 2016, 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.
• On October 7, 2016, a Notice of Nominees for Public Office and Measures to be Voted On was published in the Daily Review newspaper, pursuant to Elections Code Section 12110.
• 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 cost of the November 8, 2016 election of three City Councilmembers and three ballot measures is estimated to be $170,500.
Budget Authority
$190,000 in the FY 2016-17 General Fund Account 010-11-031-5890 was budgeted for the 2016 election.
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 OO
• Measure PP
• Measure NN
PREPARED BY: Tamika Greenwood, City Clerk, City Manager’s Office