Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: JUNE 7, 2022
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: ERIC J. LEVITT, City Manager
PREPARED BY: LUCINDA WILLIAMS, CITY CLERK
SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 8, 2022 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
SUMMARY
The proposed resolutions initiate the first procedural step in holding the November 8, 2022 General Municipal Election by calling the November 2022 election for candidates in Districts 3 and 5, requesting consolidation with the County of Orange for election services and adopting regulations regarding candidate statements.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the following resolutions:
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-XXX – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022, FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELATING TO GENERAL LAW CITIES RESOLUTION NO. 2022-XXX – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONSOLIDATE A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 8, 2022 WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION HELD ON THE DATE PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 10403 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-XXX – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT AN ELECTION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENTS
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Fiscal and Organizational Stability.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Orange County Registrar of Voters provided an estimated cost of $94,000 - $120,000 to consolidate the November 8, 2022 General Municipal Election for two City Council district races. Staff will also incur expenses for election supplies. The proposed FY 2022-23 budget includes appropriation for the November 2022 election. Ballot measures cost an estimated $8,500 per measure, in addition to the estimated consolidated election cost.
DISCUSSION
Call Election
The City will hold an election for one Member of the City Council residing in District 3 and one Member of the City Council residing in District 5 on November 8, 2022. To hold this election, City Council must adopt resolutions calling for the election of candidates, requesting consolidation of the election with the County of Orange and establishing candidate statement regulations.
Consolidation
State Elections Code allows General Law cities to request consolidation with a statewide election by resolution adopted at the same time the City calls the election. The consolidation resolution would authorize the Orange County Registrar of Voters to conduct the election on behalf of the City and canvass the election results. Consolidation provides the most cost effective and practical solution for conducting Fullerton’s municipal elections.
Filing Period
The candidate nomination period begins Monday, July 18, 2022 and ends at the close of business on Friday, August 12, 2022. If an incumbent does not file nomination papers for re-election, the filing deadline automatically extends for five days to August 17, 2022.
City of Fullerton Ordinance No. 1932 establishes a $25 fee for filing nomination papers for candidates in municipal elections.
Candidate Statements
Candidates may submit an optional candidate statement when filing to run for office. The minority language provisions of the Voting Rights Act require translation of candidate statements into Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese. Historically, the City has required candidates to pay the cost of printing their candidate statements. The Registrar of Voters will reset district lines following certification of the June 2022 primary election and provide an estimated candidate statement cost at that time. Historically, a 200-word candidate statement has cost between $500 and $1,000.
Staff recommends City Council adopt a resolution approving 200-word candidate statements and requiring each candidate submitting a statement to pay a deposit equal to the Registrar of Voters estimate at the time of filing. The City would either refund or invoice the candidate for the actual pro-rata cost of printing determined following the election. The actual cost of printing the statement is determined by a number of factors, including the number and type of candidate statements printed in the Voter Information Guide.
The Registrar of Voters must canvas the votes and certify the election no later than December 8, 2022. Staff has tentatively agendized the election certification and installation of newly elected officers for the December 20, 2022 City Council meeting.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Draft Resolution No. 2022-XXX Calling Election Attachment 2 – Draft Resolution No. 2022-XXX Consolidation Attachment 3 – Draft Resolution No. 2022-XXX Candidate Statements Call November 8, 2022 Election
June 7, 2022 - Page 3