City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: DECEMBER 10, 2024 FROM: CITY CLERK’S OFFICE WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION RECITING THE FACT OF THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024, DECLARING THE RESULTS AND AMEND CITY CHARTER ADDING SECTION 420 OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL ISSUE:
Adopt a resolution reciting the fact of Statewide General Election and declaring the results for Ballot Measure L “Office of Inspector General.” RECOMMENDATIONS:
The City Council:
Adopt a resolution reciting the fact of Statewide General Election and declaring the results for Ballot Measure L “Office of Inspector General;” and Amend Riverside City Charter adding Section 420, Office of Inspector General and revising Section 601, “Powers and Duties.” BACKGROUND:
According to California Elections Code (E.C.) section 15372, the Riverside County Registrar of Voters (ROV) will complete the canvass of returns for the Statewide General Election on December 3, 2024.
Furthermore, E.C. section 15400 states, “The governing board shall also declare the results of each election under its jurisdiction as to each measure voted on at the election." A Charter Amendment ballot measure was also submitted to the voters - Ballot Measure L:
“Shall the measure to amend the Charter of the City of Riverside to include a new Charter officer, the Inspector General, appointed by the City Council, with the powers and duties to investigate fraud, waste, abuse and illegal acts within city government and to provide annual reports on findings and recommendations, with an appropriate budget and with further powers and duties of the Inspector General set by ordinance of the City Council be adopted?” DISCUSSION:
For the Statewide General Election, every registered voter received a vote-by-mail ballot. In addition to the Registrar of Voters Office, fourteen (14) vote centers and nine (9) ballot drop-off locations were available in the city.
As of the time this report was prepared, the preliminary election results (Attachment 1) indicate that most voters supported Ballot Measure L, 'Office of Inspector General,' with a 'Yes' vote, signifying that the ballot measure passed.
The City Attorney has prepared a resolution (Attachment 2) declaring the election results. It is important to note that the charter amendment was first introduced and approved for placement on the election ballot by the City Council on August 2, 2022.
Once the Registrar of Voters completes the canvass, which will occur by December 3, 2024, the Statement of Vote and an updated resolution with the final election results will be distributed and appended to the staff report.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated election cost of the November 5, 2024, Election is included in the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget.
Prepared by: Donesia Gause, City Clerk
Approved as to form: Jack Liu, Interim City Attorney
Attachments:
Election Summary Report Update #21
Resolution
Charter Amendment Section 420, Office of Inspector General and Section 601, Powers and Duties Election Results
Measure L Statement of Vote (SOV)
March 5, 2024, Election ResultsPage 2