Title
Staff Report for City Council Consideration to Place a Charter Amendment on the November 4, 2014 Ballot to Provide That the Vice Mayor Designation be Made at the First Regular Meeting Each January
Staffreport
RECOMMENDATIONS
At the April 7, 2014 City Council meeting, the City Council requested that staff bring forward consideration of an amendment to the City Charter to change the month in which the Vice Mayor selection is made, from May to January of each year.
If the City Council wishes to place a Charter amendment on the ballot to change
the timing of the Vice Mayor selection, it is recommended that a resolution be adopted to:
· Call a Special Municipal Election to submit the question to the voters;
· Approve the form of the ballot question;
· Request the Alameda County Board of Supervisors allow consolidation of this Special Municipal Election with the Statewide election, to be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, and direct the Alameda County Registrar of Voters to conduct all necessary services related to the election, and bill the City for the cost of conducting the election;
· Set forth procedures for the ballot argument; and
· Direct the City Clerk to submit the measure to the City Attorney for the impartial analysis
BACKGROUND
Cities generally make their Vice Mayor selections in the month after their elections are held. Until 2000, San Leandro held its General Municipal Election in April of even-numbered years, and made the Vice Mayor selection in May. In 2000, the City's General Municipal Election was moved from April to November; however, the San Leandro City Charter still specifies that the Vice Mayor selection is made in May.
Changes to the City Charter can only be made by a vote of the people. If the City Council wishes to move the selection of the Vice Mayor to January, following the seating of the new City Council in December, it must vote to place a Charter amendment on the ballot.
At the April 7, 2014 City Council meeting, the City Council requested that staff bring forward consideration of an amendment to the City Charter to change the month in which the Vice Mayor selection is made from May to January.
Current Agency Policies
City Charter Section 305 reads: At its first regular meeting in May of each year, the Council shall designate one of its members Vice Mayor, to serve for a period of one year and until a successor is elected and qualified.
Previous Actions
· June 3, 2013 City Council meeting - the City Council by consensus agreed to schedule a discussion of the process for selection of Vice Mayor.
· November 18, 2013 City Council meeting - the City Council discussed the process for selection of Vice Mayor, and directed staff to draft guidelines for a Vice Mayor selection process based on seniority, and by rotation.
· April 7, 2014 City Council meeting - the City Council requested that staff bring forward consideration of an amendment to the City Charter to change the month in which the Vice Mayor selection is made from May to January
Fiscal Impacts
The cost of placing the amendment on the November 2014 election ballot is estimated to be $7,000. Funds are available in the Elections account 010-11-031 for this purpose.
Budget Authority
$110,000 has been budgeted in 010-11-031 in the FY 2014-15 General Fund budget for the conduct of the November 2014 General Municipal election.
PREPARED BY: Marian Handa, City Clerk; Rich Pio Roda, City Attorney