Agenda Item: 8
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: June 28, 2022
SUBJECT: GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 8, 2022
DEPARTMENT: Administrative Services
PRESENTER: Mary Cusick
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Adopt a resolution calling and giving notice of the General Municipal Election to be held November 8, 2022, and requesting consolidation with Los Angeles County’s General Election.
2. Adopt a resolution for candidate statement regulations.
3. Authorize the City Manager to reimburse Los Angeles County for costs of services performed.
BACKGROUND
The procedures for conducting a General Municipal Election are established by state law.
Pursuant to these requirements, the attached resolution calls and gives notice of a General Municipal Election to be held on November 8, 2022, for the purpose of electing three City of Santa Clarita (City) Councilmembers for a term of four years each.
On April 22, 2014, the City Council adopted Ordinance 14-03 moving the date of the City's General Municipal Election from April of even-numbered years to November of even-numbered years and requesting that the County of Los Angeles (County) approve consolidation with the statewide general election conducted by the County in November of even-numbered years. On March 24, 2015, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved the City’s request. Therefore, whenever an election is called by the City, Section 10403 of the Elections Code requires that the City Council adopt and file a resolution requesting consolidation with the statewide general election, and file a copy of the resolution with the BOS and the County Elections Official (Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk).
Candidates will file nomination papers with the Local Elections Official (City Clerk). The Candidate Filing Period will open on Monday, July 18, and close on Friday, August 12. If any incumbent does not file by this deadline, the filing period is extended until Wednesday, August 17, when candidates, other than incumbents, may file.
Section 13307 of the Elections Code allows each candidate to prepare an optional statement to be printed in the Official Sample Ballot Booklet that is mailed to each registered voter. This section of the Elections Code also allows the City Clerk to estimate the cost of candidate statements and require each candidate filing a statement to pay a deposit in advance for his or her pro-rata share as a condition of having the statement included in the Official Sample Ballot Booklet. Any overpayment shall be refunded within 30 days following the election. In the event of underpayment, the candidate will be billed for his or her pro-rata share of actual costs.
Section 10262 requires that the County Elections Official conducting the election shall conduct the canvass, and Section 15372 requires the Elections Official to prepare a certified statement of the results of the election and submit it to each jurisdiction within 30 days of the election. The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk is tentatively schedule to certify the election results on December 5, 2022. The City Clerk shall certify the results to the City Council no later than the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting, or at a special meeting called for this purpose, to declare the results and to install the newly elected councilmembers.
Based on the Election Cost Estimate Calculator provided by the Los Angeles County Registrar- Recorder/County Clerk, the estimated cost of services to be provided by the County for the consolidated election is $495,779. The estimated cost is based on certain factors, including but not limited to, type of election (at-large versus by-district), number of seats being voted upon, and number of registered voters at the time of the election.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
No alternative actions have been identified by staff.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon adoption of the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget, adequate funds will be appropriated to conduct the November 8, 2022, General Municipal Election.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution Calling the Election and Requesting Consolidation Resolution Adopting Regulations for Candidates Pertaining to Statements