DATE: December 6, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Brandi L. Orth, County Clerk/Registrar of Voters
SUBJECT: Request for Fresno County to Conduct a Consolidated General Municipal Election for the City of Clovis
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
TITLE
Adopt a Resolution approving the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters to conduct a Consolidated General Municipal Election on March 7, 2017 for the City of Clovis to include a Special Election to fill a Councilmember vacancy for the period of March 2017 to March 2019.
REPORT
On October 17, 2016, the City of Clovis executed Resolution No. 16-148, which ordered a General Municipal Election to be held on March 7, 2017. The election is for the purpose of electing two (2) members of the City Council for the full term of four years. On October 17, 2016, the City of Clovis also executed Resolution 16-149, which declared a vacancy in the office of Councilmember for the City of Clovis and called a Special Election to fill the vacancy to be consolidated with the March 7, 2017 General Municipal Election. The vacancy is due to the resignation of Councilmember William “Harry” Armstrong effective October 17, 2017 whose term was set to expire in March 2019. The City of Clovis further executed Resolution 16-151 on October 17, 2016 requesting the Board of Supervisors permit the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters to conduct the March 7, 2017 consolidated General Municipal Election and Special Election. The recommended action allows the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters to consolidate both elections and conduct the election on March 7, 2017. There is no increase in net county cost associated with the recommended action.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
If the recommended action is not approved, it would be the responsibility of the City of Clovis to conduct their election. Historically, the City of Clovis has submitted an executed resolution for each of their past elections requesting the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters to conduct the election. The County Clerk/Registrar of Voters has provided those services and the City of Clovis, upon receipt of an invoice, has reimbursed the County for past election costs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in net county cost related to the recommended action. The City of Clovis has agreed to reimburse the County for all costs related to the March 7, 2017 Consolidated General Municipal Election. The estimated cost for the consolidated election is $178,935. The total estimated election cost is included in the Department’s FY 2016-2017 Approved Budget.
DISCUSSION:
On October 17, 2016, the City Council of the City of Clovis passed Resolution 16-148, which called for a General Municipal Election to be held in the City of Clovis on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 for the election of two (2) members of the City Council for the full term of four years. On October 17, 2016 the City Council of the City of Clovis also passed Resolution 16-149 to declare a vacancy in the office of Councilmember and called a Special Election due to the resignation of Councilmember William “Harry” Armstrong effective October 17, 2016. The term of office for the vacated position is March 2017 to March 2019. Candidates for office will be required to declare which office they are seeking, either the two four year terms, or the one two year term. A candidate would not be allowed to run for both offices.
In accordance with Elections Code §13307, the City Council of the City of Clovis passed Resolution 16-150 at their October 17, 2016 meeting, which adopted regulations pertaining to materials prepared by any candidate for a municipal election, including costs of the candidate statements. In addition, Resolution 16-151 was passed by the City Council of the City of Clovis, which requests for the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to render specified services to the City of Clovis relating to the conduct of a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, March 7, 2017. Resolution 16-151 authorizes the Clovis City Clerk to work with the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters to perform any and all activities necessary to conduct a City of Clovis General Municipal Election. Resolution 16-151 also authorizes the City of Clovis to reimburse the County of Fresno in full for the services and material required to conduct the election upon presentation of an election bill to the City of Clovis by the County of Fresno after the election.
In accordance with California Election Code 10002, each request by a jurisdiction to conduct an election is subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors. The County of Fresno is allowed to consolidate the City of Clovis General Municipal Election and the City of Clovis Special Election through Election Code §10400 et. seq. Historically, the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters has successfully administered elections for the City of Clovis when requested and payments for services have been provided by the City of Clovis to Fresno County in a timely manner.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - March 7, 2017 Resolution
On file with Clerk - City of Clovis Resolution 16-148
On file with Clerk - City of Clovis Resolution 16-149
On file with Clerk - Councilmember’s Letter
On file with Clerk - City of Clovis Resolution 16-150
On file with Clerk - City of Clovis Resolution 16-151
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander