CITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORTCITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
Item No. Item No.
Item No.
Item No.
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Adoption and Second Reading of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.13 (Election Dates) to Title 2 (Administration and Personnel) to change General Municipal Election dates to the Statewide General Election Cycle Meeting Date: August 9, 2022
RECOMMENDATION:
Adoption and Second Reading of an Ordinance by title only, and waive further reading of same, amending Chapter 2.13 (Election date) to Title 2 (Administration and Personnel) to continue holding the City’s General Municipal Election on the Statewide General election date.
BACKGROUND
On September 1, 2015, Governor Brown signed into law Senate Bill 415 (SB 415) “Voter Participation” (Attachment 1) which prohibits local governments, beginning January 1, 2018, from holding an election on any date other than on a statewide election date if doing so has resulted in voter turnout being at least 25% below the average turnout in that jurisdiction in the previous four statewide general elections. The City of Commerce falls into that category.
Given such, on December 5, 2017, the City established that the City’s election would be held in March of each even-numbered year to comply with SB 415 and be synchronized with the statewide primary election indicating that the election by introducing Ordinance No. 690. The City has been in compliance with SB 415 and aligned with the statewide primary election; however, due to further changes and SB 970 changing the election cycle to June in 2022 and to March in 2024, the City amended the existing Ordinance and did not reference a particular month. This created changing dates for every two years; the City holds the election. 2022 Statewide Primary Election – June 2022;
2024 Statewide Primary Election – March 2024;
2026 Statewide Primary Election – June 2026;
2028 Statewide Primary Election – March 2028;
The City Council may elect to consolidate with the November election to not alternate election months, and also, there is a higher voter turnout in November during Statewide General Election.
The City Council unanimously approved the Ordinance for Introduction and First Reading at July 26, 2022, City Council meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
RELATIONSHIP TO 2016 STRATEGIC GOALS:
This agenda report relates to the strategic goal of “Community Quality of Life. “ Respectfully submitted by: Edgar P. Cisneros, City Manager Recommended by: Lena Shumway, Administrative Services Director & City Clerk Reviewed for Fiscal Impact by: Josh Brooks, Assistant Finance Director Reviewed by: Noel Tapia, City Attorney
ATTACHMENT
Ordinance