DATE: April 17, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Bernice E. Seidel, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Farmers Water District Requests to Move from Odd Year to Even Year Elections
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve Farmers Water District’s request to move from odd to even-numbered year elections and set the date for the District’s elections to occur on the same day as the Statewide General Election.
REPORT
Farmers Water District requests to move their election year from odd-numbered to even-numbered years. The Elections Code requires the Board of Supervisors to notify districts and request input from these districts on the requested election date change.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, Farmers Water District could still be required to change their elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years elections. Election law has changed regarding odd year district elections. With the passing of Senate Bill (SB) 415, special districts will be required to have elections on statewide election dates by 2022, unless the district meets a voter turnout threshold formula.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action.
DISCUSSION:
Farmers Water District has filed a Resolution with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors requesting the consolidation of their district election with the Statewide General election. The District requests the move from odd-numbered year to even-numbered year elections in accordance with Election Code 10404. The Resolution shall become operative upon approval by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to Election Code sections 10404 (e). This code section states that “the Board of Supervisors… shall approve the resolution unless it finds that the ballot style, voting equipment, or computer capacity is such that additional elections or materials cannot be handled”. Prior to approval of the Resolution submitted by the District, Election Code section 10404 (c) requires the Board of Supervisors to notify all districts of the receipt of the resolution to consolidate and shall request input from each district on the effect of the consolidation. All districts were notified by letter on March 12, 2018 of the District’s consolidation requests with instructions to provide their comments to the Clerk of the Board by April 13, 2018. Comments received by the Clerk of the Board will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on or before April 17, 2018.
Within 30 days after your Board’s approval, the Districts will be notified of this approval, with the request that they notify the voters of the district.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Farmers Water District Resolution No. 2018-1
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander