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CC - Item 3A - Public Hearing on potentially changing the City’s Municipal Election Date from State Primary Elections to the State General Elections in November of Even-Numbered YearsROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: BEN KIM, CITY MANAGER DATE: AUGUST 8, 2023 SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING ON POTENTIALLY CHANGING THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL ELECTION DATE FROM STATE PRIMARY ELECTIONS TO THE STATE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER OF EVEN -NUMBERED YEARS SUMMARY On June 27, 2023, the City Council discussed the option of potentially moving the City's General Municipal Election date from the staggered State Primary Election cycle of March and June of even -numbered years to the Statewide General Election cycle beginning in November 2024 and continuing after that in even -numbered years. Furthermore, another option suggested was to place a measure before the voters to decide if the current staggered election cycle should be moved to a November election cycle for consistency. During the discussion, City staff was directed to bring back a draft ordinance for review, and conduct community outreach to obtain feedback if there is interested in changing the City's election cycle. As a result of the community outreach and survey, seventy-eight responses were collected from July 4th through August 1St, asking if the current City election date should be changed and who should have authority to make that decision. Fifty-seven responses favored moving the current staggered March and June Primary Election cycle to the Statewide General Election cycle in November of even -numbered years. Twenty-one responses were not in favor of moving the election cycle. In addition, among the seventy-eight responses, fifty-two responses were in favor of voters having the authority to make the decision. Twenty-five responses were in favor of the City Council making the decision to change an election date. The response total may not reflect the seventy-eight total responses received if an individual skipped a specific question(s). During the discussion of June 27, 2023 City Council meeting, then Mayor Pro Tem Ly proposed the option of placing an initiative on the March 5, 2024, General Municipal Election, asking the voters to decide changing the City's staggered State Primary Election cycle to a Statewide General Election cycle commencing with the November 2026 election. The City Council directed City staff to conduct community outreach and obtain feedback if there is community interest in changing the City's current State Primary Election cycle to the Statewide General Elections in November of even -numbered years. AGENDA ITEM 3.A City Council Meeting August 8, 2023 Page 2 of 5 The City Council also discussed the option to move the current City's election cycle, upon its own action by adopting an ordinance, to move Council elections to the Statewide General Election cycle which could occur beginning November 2024. Survey Results The City Clerk's Office conducted outreach efforts starting with a survey from July 4th and closed August Ist. The survey was available and promoted on the City's social media platforms, City website, and Rosemead This Week. Flyers and posters promoting the survey were distributed at all City facilities, Rosemead Library, and Post Office. In addition, the City Clerk's staff conducted informational attended the Farmers Market, a Concerts in the Park, a Community Area Watch meeting, and conducted an in-person workshop. Lastly, a Public Hearing is scheduled for August 8th to present the survey results and give members of the public an opportunity to provide additional comments during the City Council meeting. The following chart below represents how seventy-eight individuals responded to each question on the survey: Are you a registered voter in the City of Rosemead? Yes 58 No 12 Should the City's current election dates of March and June be changed to Yes No If you believe the election date should be changed, who do you think should Rosemead City Council 25 Please select your age range. 18-30 13 31-45 18 46-60 17 61 and up 30 Do you reeularly vote in Citv elections? Occasionally 12 A response total in a question may not reflect the 78 total responses received if an individual skipped a specific question(s). City Council Meeting August 8, 2023 Page 3 of 5 If the City Council is considering changing the City's current election date from the State Primary Election cycle of March and June to the Statewide General Election cycle in November of even -numbered years, it can be done in two ways: Option 1: • Placing an initiative on the ballot for the March 5, 2024 election for voter consideration to move the election date from Statewide Primary Election cycle to the Statewide General Election cycle. The City Council must decide if a measure is placed on the ballot before December 8, 2023 and submit it to the Board of Supervisors for approval to include it on the ballot. • If the measure is passed by the voters at the March 5, 2024 election, the next regular General Municipal Election for the City of Rosemead will be for November 2026. • Any consideration to move future election dates will have to be voted for by the voters. Oution 2: • The City Council could change the election date from the Statewide Primary Election cycle to the Statewide General Election cycle through an Ordinance. • By adopting an Ordinance, the March 5, 2024, and future elections would be moved to the Statewide General Election cycle beginning in November 2024. In either option, a change of election date, will move all City Council office terms: two Council Member terms will extend by eight months from March to November, and three Council Member terms will extend by five months from June to November, to align with a Statewide General Election cycle in November. City staff is seeking direction from the City Council on the method the City Council would like to consider for changing the City's current election cycle. Ballot Summary and Areuments In addition to submitting the measure to the Board of Supervisors for consolidation, the City Council will also need to consider some further actions as it relates to the ballot measure. Ballot Title and Summary. The City Council may direct the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis of the measure showing its legal effect and operation. The analysis may not exceed 500 words and must include a statement indicating whether the measure was placed on the ballot by a petition signed by the requisite number of voters or by the city council. (Cal. Elec. Code § 9280.) Ballot Arguments. For measures placed on the ballot by the City Council, the City Council, or a member or members authorized by the City Council, or an individual voter who is eligible to vote on the measure, or bona fide association of citizens, or a combination of voters and associations, may file a written argument for or against any city measure. (Cal. Elec. Code § 9282.) City Council Meeting August 8, 2023 Page 4 of 5 1. An argument may not exceed 300 words in length. (Cal. Elec. Code § 9282.) 2. Arguments must be submitted within 14 days from the calling of the election. (Cal. Elec. Code § 9286.) 3. If more than one argument for or more than one argument against any city measure is submitted, arguments shall be selected in accordance with the following priority: (a) The legislative body, or member or members of the legislative body authorized by that body. (b) The individual voter, or bona fide association of citizens, or combination of voters and associations, who are the bona fide sponsors or proponents of the measure. (c) Bona fide associations of citizens. (d) Individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure. (Cal. Elec. Code § 9287.) Rebuttal Arguments. When an argument in favor and an argument against a measure have been selected to be printed in the voter information guide, the elections official shall send a copy of the argument in favor of the measure to the authors of the argument against the measure and a copy of an argument against the measure to the authors of the argument in favor of the measure. 1. The author or a majority of the authors of an argument relating to a city measure may prepare and submit a rebuttal argument or may authorize in writing another person or persons to prepare, submit, or sign the rebuttal argument. 2. Rebuttal arguments may not exceed 250 words. 3. Rebuttal arguments must be filed with the election official no later than 10 days after the final filing date for primary arguments. (Cal. Elec. Code § 9285.) STAFF RECOMMENDATION That the City Council discuss and provide direction to city staff. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. As such, this matter is exempt under CEQA. City Council Meeting August 8, 2023 Page 5 of 5 FISCAL IMPACT It is estimated that the County election expense will be approximately $100,000, whether in March or November of 2024 and will be budgeted in its respective fiscal year budget. In addition, the City is required to mail a one-time notification of an election date change to 23,959 registered voters in the City. The one-time cost is expected to be at most $11,500, which could be absorbed in the City Clerk Office FY 23-24 budget in the legal advertisement Account. PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. Prepared by: 6C Ericka Hernandez, City Clerk Attachment A: Draft Proposed Ordinance Attachment B: City Council Staff Report Dated June 27, 2023 Attachment A Draft Ordinance PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO. XX AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, ASKING ITS REGISTERED VOTERS OF THE CITY TO DETERMINE IF THE CITY'S GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION SHOULD BE MOVE FROM THE STATEWIDE PRIMARY ELECTION CYCLE OF MARCH AND JUNE OF EVEN NUMBERED YEARS TO THE NOVEMBER STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION CYCLE EFFECTIVE IN 2026, AMENDING MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 1.12.010, AND ADJUSTING THE TERMS OF OFFICE ACCORDINGLY WHEREAS, the City of Rosemead was required under Senate Bill 415, known as the California Voter Participation Rights Act (Election Code Sections 14050-14057), to change the date of the City's General Municipal Election to coincide with statewide election dates; and WHEREAS, on October 12, 2021, the Rosemead City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1003, moving the date of the city's general municipal election date from March of even -numbered years to the date of the statewide primary election in even -numbered years pursuant to Senate Bill 970 beginning in 2022. WHEREAS, as a result of the staggered statewide primary election cycles created by SB 970, the voters are being asked if the city's general election of March and June of even -numbered years, should be changes to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even - numbered years commencing in November 2026 and continuing thereafter, in order to maintain continuity and consistency in the City's municipal election dates. A change is election date, will also extend City Council terms by five to eight months respectively, in order to align with the Statewide General Election cycles. Should the City's General Election of March and June of even -numbered years, be changed to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even -numbered years commencing in November 2026 and continuing thereafter? MOVE THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD'S GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION DATE FROM THE STATEWIDE PRIMARY A YES VOTE MEANS ELECTION CYCLE OF MARCH AND JUNE OF EVEN NUMBERED YEARS TO THE NOVEMBER STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION CYCLE EFFECTIVE IN 2026 DO NOT MOVE THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD'S GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION DATE AND REMAIN IN THE A NO VOTE MEANS STATEWIDE PRIMARY ELECTION CYCLES OF MARCH AND JUNE OF EVEN NUMBERED YEARS. Attachment B City Council Staff Report Dated June 27, 2023 ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: BEN KIM, CITY MANAGER DATE: JUNE 27, 2023 SUBJECT: DISCUSSION POTENTIALLY CHANGING THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL ELECTION DATE FROM STATE PRIMARY ELECTIONS TO THE STATE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER ON EVEN NUMBERED YEARS ��1113hi /_\ ,W1 At the request of Mayor Pro Tem Steven Ly, he would like to discuss potentially moving the City's General Municipal Election date from the staggered State Primary Election cycle of March/June of even -numbered years to the Statewide General Election cycle beginning in November 2024 and continuing thereafter in even -numbered years. The proposed ordinance will also adjust the terms of office for elected officeholders. BACKGROUND In November of 2017, to comply with Senate Bill (SB) 415, known as the California Voter Participation Rights Act (CVPRA), the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 976 to change Rosemead's General Municipal Election date to coincide with the March statewide primary elections in even -numbered years beginning in 2020. On October 12, 2021, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1003 to comply with SB 970, which changed the date of the statewide primary election to June in even -numbered, non -presidential primary years while keeping the March date in even -numbered, presidential primary election years. This action impacted the terms ending for three council terms ending in March of 2022, requiring a term extension for an additional three months to align with the new statewide primary date of June 2022. Elected Offices Tenn End of Term Extended Terms Three Councilmembers March 2017 March 2022 June 2022 (+3 mo.) As a result of the actions taken above, elections will be held every two years in either March or June of even -numbered years in a staggered fashion depending on a presential year or non - presidential year election. The next statewide primary is slated for March 2024. AGENDA ITEM 6.11 City Council Meeting June 27, 2023 Page 2 of 3 CURRENT ELECTION CYCLE AND TERMS AS A RESULT OF SB 970 June Primary Elections on -Presidential Years Three Councilmembers 1 2022 1 2026 2030 March Primary Elections(Presidential Years Two Councilmembers 1 2024 1 2028 2032 SB 415 requires that general municipal elections coincide with statewide primary or general elections, therefore, the City Council may move its general election to a November of even number years and extend each term respectively. An ordinance would have to be approved to change the date of the City's general municipal election from the statewide primary election in March or June in even -numbered years to the statewide general election in November of even - numbered years and adjust the terms of office accordingly for all City officeholders. Elected Offices Current Term End of Term Extended Terms Two Councilmembers March 2020 March 2024 Nov. 2024 (+8 mo.) Three Councilmembers June 2022 June 2026 Nov. 2026 (+5 mo.) STAFF RECOMMENDATION That the City Council discuss and provide direction to city staff. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. As such, this matter is exempt under CEQA. FISCAL IMPACT It is estimated that the County election expense will be approximately $100,000, whether in March or November of 2024 and will be budgeted in its respective fiscal year budget. In addition, the City is required to mail a one-time notification of an election date change to 23,959 registered voters in the City. The one-time cost is expected to be at most $11,500, which could be absorbed in the City Clerk Office FY 23-24 budget in the legal advertisement Account. PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. City Council Meeting June 27, 2023 Page 3 of 3 Prepared by: Ericka Hernandez, City Clerk