June 18, 2024
City Clerk's Office
DATE: June 18, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Pamela Christian, City Clerk
Subject:
Placing Richmond Election Reform Act (RERA) Initiative
on the November 5, 2024, General Election Ballot
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The cost of placing the ballot measure on the ballot is determined by the number of pages to be printed in the
sample ballot booklet – between $4,000 and $10,000
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
Direction to proceed approved at the May 7, 2024, City
Council meeting
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Initiative has been determined to contain a sufficient number of valid signatures to be submitted to the voters.
Because the Initiative is a Charter Amendment, the
Council must place the Initiative on the ballot at the
November 5, 2024, General Election, pursuant to
California Elections Code section 9255(c)(1).
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to submit to the City of Richmond
electorate at the General Municipal Election to be held on November 5, 2024, an initiative to amend the Charter to hold a primary election for Councilmembers before the
general election each election year – City Clerk’s Office (Pamela Christian 510-620-6513).
AGENDA
REPORT
June 18, 2024
DISCUSSION:
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the City Clerk hand delivered the Initiative petition containing approximately 15,095, prima facie, signatures to the Contra Costa County Elections Division in Martinez to examine the petition and verify (using a random sampling technique) the validity of the signatures. The Contra Costa County Elections Division verified that there were 15,139 signatures submitted, 379 out of 500 valid signatures, and zero duplicates. The statistical total for the petition was calculated at 132.80%. The projected statistically valid total is in excess of the 110% required based on the sample, pursuant to Elections Code 9115 and 9237.
A certification of the Initiative results was received from Contra Costa County Elections Division on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
On May 7, 2024, the Richmond City Council certified the results of a Charter amendment Initiative entitled “Richmond Election Reform Act” to submit to the City of Richmond electorate at the General Municipal Election to be held on November 5, 2024.
In accordance with Council direction, City Staff is now seeking City Council approval of the attached resolution to place the Initiative on the ballot of the upcoming election.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution to place the Charter Amendment Initiative on the November 2024 ballot
Attachment 2 – Exhibit A – Initiative to be presented to electorate