TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Philippe Eskandar, City Manager
BY: Alison Walker, City Clerk
DATE: June 28, 2024
SUBJECT: APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS
PERTAINING TO THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO
BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024
STRATEGIC PLAN CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Engaged and Connected Residents
Efficient, Responsive, and Effective City Services
Fiscally Responsible and Transparent City Government
BACKGROUND
The General Municipal Election will be held on November 5, 2024, for the purpose of electing two members to the City Council for full terms. The two (2) members of the City Council whose terms are expiring are Steven W.
Huang and Steve Talt. Prior to the holding of an election, the City must adopt three resolutions in relation thereto. The first resolution calls and gives notice of holding an election. The second resolution requests the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to allow consolidation with the statewide election being held on the same day and to direct the County Elections Department to render services; and the third resolution adopts regulations for the candidates’ statements. In 2016, the City Council gave direction to change the General Municipal Election dates to align with the dates of statewide elections in even years beginning in 2022.
DISCUSSION
Significant dates for the General Municipal Election are as follows:
• July 15, 2024 – Filing period opens for nomination papers • August 9, 2024 – Last day to file nomination papers
Steven W. Huang, DDS, Mayor
Gretchen Shepherd Romey, Vice Mayor
Tony Chou, Council Member
Calvin Lo, Council Member
Steve Talt, Council Member
• August 15, 2024 - Secretary of State to determine Order of Names on Ballot
• October 21, 2024 – Last day to register to vote for this election • November 5, 2024 – ELECTION DAY
Resolution No. R-24-11 “Calling and Giving Notice” must be submitted to the County no later than 120 days prior to the election (July 8, 2024). This resolution is to call the City’s General Municipal Election to elect two City Council members. The resolution includes language that would allow - but not require - the City to submit a ballot measure or measures to the voters at the same election. A filing fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) shall be paid by the candidate upon the filing of nomination papers.
Resolution No. R-24-12 requests the Board of Supervisors to consolidate the City’s election with other elections on the same date the County will conduct and to permit the County Elections Department to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of the election. The services to be provided by the County Registrar of Voters include, but are not limited to, the appointment of all required election officers and establishment of polling places; publishing the notice of appointment of election officers, preparing and mailing the official and sample ballots including candidates’ statements, process vote by mail ballots; supply all needed materials for polling places; conduct the election, canvass the election returns and certify the results; and in the event of a tie vote between two or more persons receiving an equal and the highest number of votes for the offices to be voted for, to determine the tie by lot. The City would reimburse the County for the costs of providing the services.
Resolution No. R-24-13 adopts regulations for candidates pertaining to candidates’ statements submitted to the voters. The regulations limit the candidate’s statement to 200 words describing the candidate’s education and qualifications expressed by the candidate. The statement shall not include party affiliation nor membership or activity in partisan political organizations.
The candidates will be required to pay a deposit of $300 at the time of filing his/her nomination paper in order to have the statement included in the voters’ pamphlet. The candidate will be billed for any cost in excess of the deposit and will receive a refund of any unused portion of the deposit.
FISCAL IMPACT & PROCUREMENT REVIEW
The County has provided an estimate of the cost for this election which is approximately $50,000. The funds have been included in the 2024-25 Fiscal Year Budget. There is not a viable alternative to contracting with the County for these services, as private contractors no longer offer these services.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's office has reviewed and approved as to form.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt: (1) Resolution No. R-24-11 calling and giving notice of 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 and requesting the Registrar of Voters of the County of Los Angeles to conduct said election; (2) Resolution No. R-24-12 requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles to render services to the City relating to the conduct of a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024; and (3) Resolution No. R-24-13 adopting regulations for candidates for elective office pertaining to candidates’ statements submitted to the voters at an election to be held on November 5, 2024.
If the City Council concurs with staff’s recommendation, an appropriate motion would be:
“I move to adopt Resolution Nos. R-24-11, calling and giving notice of the holding of a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024; R-24-12, requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles to render services to the City relating to the conduct of a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024; and R-24-13, adopting regulations for candidates for elective office pertaining to candidates’ statements submitted to the voters at the election to be held on November 5, 2024.”
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. R-24-11, a Resolution Calling and Giving Notice of the Holding of a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024
2. Resolution No. R-24-12, a Resolution Requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles to Render Services to the City Relating to the Conduct of a General Municipal Election
3. Resolution No. R-24-13, a Resolution Adopting Regulations for Candidates for Elective Office