DATE: January 26, 2016
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Clerk
SUBJECT
Title
General Municipal Election - June 7, 2016
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the City Council adopts two resolutions: 1) A resolution calling and ordering to be held in the City of Hayward, California, on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, a General Municipal Election for the purpose of electing Members of the City Council for the full term of four years; and requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Alameda to render specified services to the City relating to the conduct of a General Municipal Election (Attachment I); and 2) a resolution of the City Council adopting regulations for candidates for elective office pertaining to candidate statements submitted to the voters (Attachment II).
DISCUSSION
The Hayward General Municipal Election will be conducted on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, for the purpose of electing four Council Members for terms of four years each. The first day for issuing nomination papers is Tuesday, February 16, 2016, and the last day is Friday, March 11, 2016, at 5:00 p.m. If an incumbent decides not to seek re-election, the nomination period extends to Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The Secretary of State will conduct a random alpha drawing on March 17, 2016, to determine the order in which candidate names will appear on the ballot. The General Municipal Election Calendar (Attachment III) provides a list of pertinent dates for the election.
The City of Hayward has been consolidating its municipal elections with the California State Primary since 1996. As provided by statute, the Council may request the consolidation from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and request that services be provided by the Registrar of Voters. The Registrar will provide the following services: verify signatures on nomination papers; prepare and supply indices to precinct information; provide voter registration information; assist in election services as required in the conduct of this election; and provide services to complete the canvass of returns. With this consolidation, the City’s sample ballot and optional candidate statements will be incorporated into the Alameda County Voter Pamphlet.
The Alameda County Registrar of Voters has estimated the total cost of printing, handling, translating, and mailing the candidates statements, including costs incurred as a result of complying with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, to be $2,454. Each candidate filing a statement will be required to pay in advance his or her estimated pro rata share as a condition of having his or her statement included in the voter’s pamphlet. The estimated cost is an approximation of the actual cost which varies from one election to another and may be significantly more or less than the estimate, depending on the actual number of candidates filing statements. Accordingly, the candidate could be billed for additional actual expense or refunded any excess paid depending on the final actual cost.
The 2016 Consumer Price Index adjustment for the City’s Campaign Voluntary Expenditure Limit has been calculated to be $68,108. The Hayward Municipal Code Chapter 2, Article 13 <http://www.ci.hayward.ca.us/CITY-GOVERNMENT/DEPARTMENTS/CITY-CLERK/MUNICIPAL-CODE/CH02A13eff111715.pdf>, Section 2-13.04 states that if a candidate accepts the voluntary expenditure limit for his or her campaign, then she/he is entitled to accept the established contribution limit, now adjusted to $1,336 per contributor. If a candidate rejects the voluntary expenditure limit, then the contribution limit is $323 per contributor. During the election cycle, campaign disclosure documents for all candidates will be posted on the City’s website within forty-eight hours of receipt, as individual addresses will need to the redacted from the reports.
FISCAL IMPACT
The budget for the consolidation of Hayward’s General Municipal Election is $249,000, which is included in the current budget for the City Clerk’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Information regarding the election is available on the City’s website at <http://www.hayward-ca.gov/CITY-GOVERNMENT/DEPARTMENTS/CITY-CLERK/index.shtm?tab=1>
The Notice of Election will be published in the Hayward Daily Review on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, as prescribed by Section 12101 of the California Elections Code.
Prepared by: Miriam Lens, City Clerk
Staff contact
Recommended by: Miriam Lens, City Clerk
end
Approved by:
Fran David, City Manager
Attachments:
Attachment I Resolution calling and ordering an election and requesting services
Attachment II Resolution adopting regulations for candidate statements
Attachment III General Municipal Election Calendar