RESOLUTION NO. RES-2024-080
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR NONPARTISAN ELECTIVE OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024 WHEREAS, Section 13307 of the Elections Code of the State of California provides that the governing body of any local agency may adopt regulations pertaining to materials prepared by any candidate for a municipal election, including provisions for payment of the costs of the candidate’s statement.
WHEREAS, Section 13308 of the Elections Code provides that any candidate statement submitted pursuant to Section 13307of the Elections Code shall be limited to a recitation of the candidate’s own personal background and qualifications, and shall not reference other candidates for the same office or another candidate’s qualifications, character or activities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Santa Rosa resolves, declares, determines and orders as follows:
1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Pursuant to Sections 13307 and 13308 of the Elections Code of the State of California, each candidate for elective office in the election to be held in the City of Santa Rosa on November 5, 2024, may prepare a candidate's statement on an appropriate form provided by the City Clerk. The statement may include the name, age and occupation of the candidate and a brief description, of no more than 200 words, of the candidate's education and qualifications expressed by the candidate themself. The statement shall not include party affiliation of the candidate, nor membership or activity in partisan political organizations. The statement shall not in any way make reference to other candidates or to another candidate’s qualifications, character, or activities. The statement shall be filed in the office of the City Clerk prior to the end of the nomination period. Except as otherwise provided in Section 13309 of the Elections Code, the statement may be withdrawn, but not changed, during the period for filing nomination papers and until 5:00 p.m. of the next working day after the close of the nomination period.
2. FOREIGN LANGUAGE. The City Clerk shall have candidate statements translated into Spanish and the translation printed in the voter information pamphlet. The candidate shall be required to pay the cost of translating and printing the translated statement as provided in Elections Code 13307(d).
3. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS. No candidate will be permitted to include additional materials in the sample ballot package.
4. PAYMENT. The City Clerk shall estimate the total cost of printing, handling, translating, and mailing the candidates statements filed pursuant to the Elections Code, and require each candidate filing a statement to pay in advance his or her pro rata share as a condition of having his or her statement included in the voter information pamphlet. The City Clerk shall bill each candidate for any cost in excess of the deposit or shall refund any unused portion of the deposit within 30 days of receiving the final invoice of the election from the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters.
5. The City Clerk shall provide each candidate or the candidate's representative a copy of this resolution at the time nominating petitions are issued.
6. All previous resolutions establishing City Council policy on payment for candidate’s statements are repealed.
7. This resolution shall apply only to the election to be held on November 5, 2024 and shall then be without further effect.
8. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
IN COUNCIL DULY PASSED this 4th day of June 2024.
AYES: (6) Mayor N. Rogers, Vice Mayor Stapp, Council Members Alvarez, Fleming, MacDonald, Okrepkie
NOES: (0)
ABSENT: (1) Council Member C. Rogers
ABSTAIN/RECUSE: (0)
ATTEST: _________________________ APPROVED: ______________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ________________________
City Attorney
Reso. No. RES-2024-080