CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 6/18/2024
DEPARTMENT: City Clerk
SUBJECT:
CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS PERTAINING TO THE GENERAL
MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 5, 2024
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Adopt the following resolutions:
1. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST,
CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024, FOR THE
ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELATING TO GENERAL LAW CITIES
2. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST,
CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE
COUNTY OF ORANGE TO CONSOLIDATE A GENERAL MUNICIPAL
ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024, WITH THE
PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE DATE
PURSUANT TO § 10403 OF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE
3. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST,
CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE
OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The resolutions to initiate the process for the November 5, 2024, General Municipal Election for consideration include: 1) a Resolution calling the general election; 2) a Resolution requesting the County Election’s Official consolidate the City’s election with the Presidential General Election and provide election services; and 3) a Resolution establishing a candidate Statement Policy, which includes a City Council appointed word count limit of either 200 or 400 words.
The estimated cost of conducting the November 2024 election is $60,000. The
2023-2025 Operating Budget includes sufficient funding to cover the costs of the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council, upon incorporation on December 20, 1991, adopted Ordinance No. 5, consolidating the City’s Municipal Elections with the Statewide General Election in November of even numbered years. On December 19, 2017, the City Council adopted Ordinance 301, which established by-district elections within the City and sets the schedule for elections within those districts, beginning in 2018 with Districts 2, 3 and 4 and completing the transition in 2020 with Districts 1 and
5. Pursuant to those actions, presented for City Council consideration are a series of resolutions which will initiate the process for the November 5, 2024, General Municipal election which consists of district elections for Districts 1 and
5. DISCUSSION:
The following three Resolutions require adoption by the City Council prior to the 88th day before the election: 1) a Resolution calling the election; 2) a Resolution to the Board of Supervisors requesting consolidation with the Statewide General Election; and 3) a Resolution establishing a Candidate Statement Policy. For the City Council’s information, staff summarized the purpose and intent of each Resolution below:
•The first Resolution calling and giving notice of the election is to formalize the date of the election and the hours the polls will be open. This Resolution also establishes the purpose of the election; to elect, by district, two Members of the City Council to four-year terms (Attachment 1). •The second Resolution, directed to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, is the City’s request to consolidate the Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election. This Resolution gives authorization to the County Election Department to canvass the returns on the City’s behalf.
The Resolution recognizes the additional costs that the County will incur by consolidating the election and agrees that the City will reimburse the County for these costs, including publication and mailing of ballots, staffing polling sites, and tabulating and posting the results (Attachment 2). •The third Resolution establishes regulations for candidates pertaining to candidates’ statements for the upcoming election. Before the 2018 General Election, the City Council provided direction to staff to include an option to file either a 200 or 400-word candidate’s statement and the information that may be included on that statement (i.e., word count, method in filing, and the ability to withdraw the statement prior to its publication) (Attachment 3). The responsibility and terms of payment for the cost of publishing the candidate’s statement is outlined in the third Resolution and is the financial responsibility of the candidate. The third Resolution also includes a Foreign Language Policy, indicating all submitted candidates’ statements will be published in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese, as required in the consolidation of the election with the County under the Federal Voting Rights Act.
The City Attorney reviewed the proposed Resolutions and approved them as to form and content. Upon adoption of these Resolutions, the City Clerk will execute the necessary transmitting, posting, and publishing requirements for the November 5, 2024, election.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated cost for the November 5, 2024, Municipal Election and Voter Outreach is $60,000. Based upon the estimate received from the Orange County Registrar of Voters, this amount will adequately fund all costs associated with the election and outreach efforts given the consolidated nature of the City’s election with the Presidential General election. The 2023-2025 Operating Budget includes sufficient funding to cover the costs of the recommended action ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution Calling for the November 5, 2024, General Election
2. Resolution Requesting Consolidation with the County of Orange
3. Resolution Establishing Candidate Statement Policy
Initiated By: Lisa Berglund, City Clerk
Submitted By: Lisa Berglund, City Clerk
Approved By: Debra Rose, City Manager