DATE: October 24, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Daniel C. Cederborg, County Counsel
SUBJECT: First Hearing on Ordinance Calling for a Special Election to Amend Section 12 of the Fresno County Charter
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Conduct first hearing on an Ordinance calling for a special election to be held on March 5, 2024, for the purpose of submitting to the voters of the County a measure to amend Section 12 of the Fresno County Charter related to the Board’s duties and powers, and directing the consolidation of the special election with the Statewide Primary Election to be held on the same day; waive reading of the proposed Ordinance in its entirety; and set the second hearing for November 7, 2023;
2. Designate County Counsel to prepare a fair and adequate summary of the proposed Ordinance; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to post and publish the required summary in accordance with Government Code Section 25124(b)(1).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will set a second reading of the proposed Ordinance to enable the Board to call a special election for the purpose of submitting to the voters a measure to amend Section 12 of the Fresno County Charter (“County Charter”) and consolidating that election with the March 5, 2024 Statewide Primary Election. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to modify the Ordinance as written. November 7, 2023 is the last day to conduct the first hearing on an Ordinance calling for a special election to be held on March 5, 2024. The adopted Ordinance must be filed with the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters by December 8, 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Costs to place the County Charter amendment measure on the ballot for the March 5, 2024 Statewide Primary Election are estimated by the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters at approximately $30,000.
DISCUSSION:
At the September 19, 2023 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board adopted Resolution No. 23-313 to place a measure proposing to amend Section 12 of the County Charter related to the Board’s duties and powers on the March 5, 2024 Consolidated Statewide Primary Election ballot.
To call for the special election placing the County Charter amendment measure on the March 5, 2024 Consolidated Statewide Primary Election ballot, the Board must adopt an Ordinance in accordance with Government Code Section 23730.
If the recommended actions are approved by the Board, the second hearing on the proposed Ordinance will be scheduled for November 7, 2023. The Ordinance, if adopted, would take effect immediately pursuant to Elections Code Section 9141 and Government Code Section 25123.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #8, September 19, 2023
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Ordinance
On file with Clerk - Ordinance Summary
CAO ANALYST:
Ahla Yang