CC - Automated Voting System For City Council Chambers - Box 066TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS
ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
FROM: NANCY VALDERRAMA, CITY CLERK 0
DATE: SEPTEMBER 1, 1998
RE: AUTOMATED VOTING SYSTEM FOR CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
As you are aware, our present automatic voting machine in the Council Chambers is inoperable.
Due to its age, replacement parts are not available. Two companies were located that
manufacture similar voting systems, Forespar/ELECTroVOTE and Engineering Dynamics
Incorporated.
It is my understanding that the Council wishes to retain the vote display board and individual
voting switches. Upon discussions with the manufacturers and two different electrical
contractors, the consensus was that the City's system is not compatible with the manufacturers'
systems, the main reason being the age and non-availability of parts. Forespar concluded after
further discussion with the City's electrical contractor, that by modifying their main power unit,
the display board could remain. However, the voting switches will have to be replaced with the
release type button that lights up on the "Yes", "No" or "ABS" cycle. In other words, it is a
single button system that alternately lights up "Yes", "No", or "ABS." The release of the button
will allow the vote to be recorded by the Clerk. It should also be noted that both companies
manufacture and sell the systems only, they do not install them. Sach's Electric, the City's
electrical contractor has agreed to install it.
COUNCIL
SEP p 81998
ITEM No.
Page #2
September 1, 1998
Automated Voting System
Should the Council decide to authorize the purchase of an automated system with modifications,
the cost breakdown would be as follows:
ELECTroVOTE - 5 STATION SYSTEM
Power Memory Unit
$ 2709.00
Clerk's Display Panel
564.00
Vote Printer
1,076.00
Modifications
472.00
Sach's Electric Installation
1,500.00
TOTAL:
$ 6,321.00
Lastly, over 20 cities were contacted to determine what voting system they used. Of those cities,
the majority used voice vote, two had an automated system and one City is contemplating
purchasing a machine when they redo their sound system. According to Robert Kress, City
Attorney, there is no legal requirement that the City Council vote by an automated voting system.
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