EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: May 3, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
BY: James Colin, Executive Assistant
Karen Camacho, Housing Project Manager
Rachel Horst, Housing and Economic Development Manager
SUBJECT: Calling and Consolidating the November 8, 2022 General Municipal Election Recommendation
Adopt a Resolutions:
1. Calling and ordering a Tuesday, November 8, 2022 General Municipal Election for the City of East Palo Alto, for the purpose of electing two members to the City Council; and
2. Authorizing the City Manager to enter into a service agreement with San Mateo County’s Chief Election Officer to conduct the election; and
3. Requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo to consolidate a Municipal Election to be held on November 8, 2022, with the Statewide General Election held on that date pursuant to section 10403 of the Elections Code.
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Priority No. 3: Increase Organizational Effectiveness and Efficiency Priority No. 5: Improve Communication and Enhance Community Engagement Background
Pursuant to State law and East Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.64.030 relating to elections, a regular General Election is to be held on every even numbered year for the purpose of filling vacant and/or term expired City Council seats and for placing any public or City Council-generated measure/initiative/referendum on the ballot.
A General Municipal Election will take place on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, in which the City of East Palo Alto City Council will have two City Council terms expiring. The resolution calling and ordering the General Municipal Election is provided as Attachment 1.
This resolution also authorizes the City Manager to execute a Service Agreement with the County of San Mateo to conduct the election. The 2022 Service Agreement was not available from the County at the time of publication of this staff report. The executed 2020 Service Agreement is included in this staff report as Attachment 3 for reference. Staff anticipates that the 2022 Service Agreement will be substantially similar to this version.
The resolution requesting the consolidation of the General Municipal Election with the statewide General Election (Attachment 2) must be adopted and filed 127 days and 113 days before the election (July 4, 2022 to July 18, 2022). Adopting it at this City Council meeting meets Elections Code §§12101, 12111.
Analysis
The City Council will have two expired terms in December 2022. The terms that are expiring are held by Ruben Abrica and Regina Wallace-Jones. In order to meet legal requirements, set by the Election Code, the City Clerk:
· Prepared this report and resolutions calling and ordering the General Municipal Election;
· Will prepare a San Mateo County Service Agreement to conduct the election and deliver it to the County Chief Elections Officer’s office with a copy of the certified resolution after City Council’s approval on May 3, 2022; and
· Will publish a Notice of Election in a local adjudicated newspaper by July 18, 2022.
Fiscal Impact
$45,000 has been appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2020-21 General Fund Budget in preparation for this election. Based on its internal practice, San Mateo County will provide a final accounting and invoice to the City in January 2023.
Public Notice
The public was provided notice of this agenda item by making the agenda and report available on the City’s website and on the City’s official bulletin board located outside City Hall at 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Environmental
The action being considered does not constitute a “Project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378 (b)(5), in that it is a government administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
Attachments
1. Resolution Calling Municipal Election
2. Resolution Consolidating Municipal Election with Statewide General Election
3. 2020 Service Agreement with County of San Mateo