Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: JUNE 4, 2024
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: LUCINDA WILLIAMS, CITY CLERK
PREPARED BY: LUCINDA WILLIAMS, CITY CLERK
SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 5, 2024 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
SUMMARY
The proposed resolutions call the November 2024 election for candidates in Districts 1, 2 and 4, request consolidation with the County of Orange for election services and adopt candidate statements regulations.
PROPOSED MOTION
Adopt the following resolutions:
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXX – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FULLERTON CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR HOLDING A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024 FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AS REQUIRED BY STATE OF CALIFORNIA LAWS RELATING TO GENERAL LAW CITIES RESOLUTION NO. 2024-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 5, 2024 WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION HELD ON THE DATE PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 10403
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXX – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATE STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS FOR THE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Approve the Proposed Motion
Adopt resolution for allowing 400 word Candidate Statements Other options brought by City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Proposed Motion.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
None.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENTS
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statement:
Fiscal and Organizational Stability.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Orange County Registrar of Voters estimates the cost to consolidate the November 5, 2024 General Municipal Election for three City Council district races totals between $107,671 and $127,003. The estimated cost includes labor and overhead supplies, services and other expenditures incurred, calculated as follows:
$62,438 - $79,467 to consolidate election (calculated as anticipated number of voters at a $1.10 to $1.40 cost per voter) $28,772 - $31,075 vote by mail return envelope postage (AB 216 adopted in 2019) $16,461 2019-20 new election equipment cost recovery.
Adding one ballot measure to the 2024 General Municipal election would cost an estimated additional $8,500.
The County will bill for actual expenses within 120 days of the election. Staff will also incur expenses for various in-house election supplies. The FY 2024-25 proposed budget includes sufficient funding for the November 2024 election costs.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Call Election
The City will hold a General Municipal Election on November 5, 2024 for one Member of the City Council residing in District 1, one Member of the City Council residing in District 2 and one Member of the City Council residing in District 4. State laws requires City Council adopt resolutions that call the election of candidates, request consolidating the election with the County of Orange and establish candidate statement regulations.
Consolidation
California Elections Code Section 10403 allows General Law cities to adopt a resolution at the same time the City adopts a resolution calling the election to request consolidating the General Municipal Election with a statewide 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 municipal elections.
Filing Period
The candidate nomination period begins Monday, July 15, 2024 and ends at the close of business on Friday, August 9, 2024. Candidates must be registered voters in the District at the time they pull nomination papers. If an incumbent eligible to run for office does not file nomination papers for re-election, the filing deadline automatically extends for five days to August 14, 2024.
City of Fullerton Ordinance No. 1932, adopted in 1973, establishes a $25 fee to file candidates nomination papers.
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 translating candidate statements into Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese. The City historically required candidates to pay the cost of printing candidate statements. The Registrar of Voters provided the following estimated candidate statement costs:
Fullerton Voting District
200 Word Statement
400 Word Statement
District 1
$639.04
$893.25
District 2
$643.79
$902.75
District 4
$619.69
$854.56
City Council has the option to authorize 200 word or 400 word statements. Staff recommends City Council adopt a resolution authorizing 200 word candidate statements and require 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 by the Registrar of Voters following the election. Many factors determine the actual cost of printing 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 5, 2024. City Council must declare the results of the election, seat newly elected members and select a new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem by December 20, 2024. Staff has tentatively agendized the election certification and installation of newly elected officers for the December 17, 2024 City Council meeting.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – Draft Resolution No. 2024-XXX Calling Election Attachment 2 – Draft Resolution No. 2024-XXX Consolidation Attachment 3 – Draft Resolution No. 2024-XXX Candidate Statements cc: City Manager Eric J. Levitt
Call November 5, 2024 Election
June 4, 2024 - Page 3