City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: Lisa Roos, City Clerk & Finance Director
Date: 11/12/2024
Subject: Registrar of Voters - permanent drop box installation RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the First Amendment of the License Agreement with the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters to include the right to access and use City property for the operation and maintenance of a surveillance camera system near the permanent ballot drop box outside City Hall.
BACKGROUND:
In February 2024, the City Council entered into a License Agreement with the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters (ROV) to have a permanent ballot drop box installed outside of Ripon’s City Hall. The ballot drop box is unlocked and available for the public to drop ballots off 24 hours a day for 30 days prior to an election. The term of this agreement is 5 years.
This drop box was first used for the March 5, 2024 Primary Election. During that election period a mobile video security surveillance system was parked in the parking lot to provide surveillance of the ballot box.
After the election was completed, the mobile video security surveillance system was removed and the drop box locked by ROV staff.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
The ROV has requested the City of Ripon amend the License Agreement to include the right to access and use City property for the operation and maintenance of video surveillance camera equipment to monitor public activity near the ballot drop box.
This equipment is to be installed on a light pole in the City Hall parking lot with a clear line of sight to the ballot drop box. The equipment will be installed any time within the 2-week period preceding the 30-day election period when the ballot drop box is unlocked for the public’s use and will be removed within 2-weeks after the 30-day election period concludes.
Attached is the First Amendment of License Agreement 2023-022 and the Original Lease Agreement, for reference.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the City of Ripon. All costs to install the cameras and continue to maintain the ballot box will be paid for by the ROV.
Attachments:
1. 2023-022 First Amendment_City of Ripon License Agreement
2. Original License Agreement with ROV 2024.02