Excerpt of City Council Meeting minutes of November 9, 2021 pertaining to the following item of discussion:
N.3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION PERTAINING TO A POSSIBLE
CHARTER/ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR VOTERS TO APPROVE THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND REPLACE RUNOFFS FOR
CITY ELECTIVE OFFICES
CONTACT: ELEANOR MANZANO, CITY CLERK
City Clerk Eleanor Manzano gave a PowerPoint presentation and discussed the following:
• Ranked Choice Voting
• How RCV Works
• Cost Estimates for future RCV Implementation
• City Charter Amendment & Municipal Code Update
• Cost Estimates for Special Election (L.A. County Registrar) • Potential Outreach Assistance & Subsidized Funding
• Next Steps
In response to Mayor Brand, City Clerk Manzano stated a runoff election costs around $30K per district, $80K citywide.
Mayor Brand stated costs will continue to climb and supported ranked choice voting.
Councilmember Loewenstein noted people have to raise money for a runoff election as well along with uncertainty for five or six months. He suggested ranked choice voting as well for March 2023 with the election in June 2022 for a charter change.
In response to Councilmember Obagi, City Clerk Manzano stated she will check on ballots and errors issues, and also the timing of the elections and the Housing Plan.
Councilmember Emdee supported RCV which has been shown to have more positive campaigning and suggested considering STAR voting.
Councilmember Horvath also suggested considering STAR voting as well. He also believed the November election may be less expensive and would have a better turnout.
Councilmember Nehrenheim supported this be in place for the 2023 election which is a smaller election compared to the 2025 election.
Councilmember Obagi also suggested considering STAR voting with the top two going to a runoff.
Mayor Brand called for public comment via Zoom and eComment.
Ruben Montejano supported STAR voting and suggested further discussion with STAR and RCV.
Garrett McMillan supported STAR voting and reviewed his concerns with RCV.
Chief Deputy City Clerk Vickie Kroneberger read the comments submitted via eComment by:
Mark Nelson, Daniel Elder, Lee Coller, Michael Franze, and Eugene Solomon.
There being no further comments, Mayor Brand closed the public comment period.
Councilmember Obagi believed that STAR voting in concept is better with the highest two scores for automatic runoff but stated he is unable to find a city that has adopted STAR voting at this time.
City Attorney Webb suggested returning with the budget modification.
Motion by Councilmember Obagi, seconded by Councilmember Nehrenheim, to direct staff to prepare for the June 2022 election; RCV to be effective for the March 2023 election; return at midyear to modify FY 21-22 budget for increased costs; and to direct staff to prepare a Resolution, letter or grant applications to local/state representatives in support of S.2929.
Friendly Amendment by Councilmember Obagi to return with the budget modification for either RCV or STAR voting with further information regarding the reliability of STAR voting and the ability to count the ballots accurately with an explanation of the system by early January.
Councilmember Nehrenheim accepted the friendly amendment. Motion carried unanimously, with the following roll call vote:
AYES: Nehrenheim, Loewenstein, Horvath, Obagi, Emdee
NOES: None
ABSENT: None