HomeMy WebLinkAbout65E - BY-DISTRICT ELECTION OPTIONSBY-DISTRICT ELECTION
BY-WARD ELECTION
CVRA
CALIFORNIA VOTING RIGHTS ACTREQUEST FOR
COUNCIL ACTION
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE:
DECEMBER 20, 2016
TITLE:
EVALUATION OF OPTIONS CONCERNING
POTENTIAL TRANSITION TO A
BY -DISTRICT ELECTIONS SYSTEM
1
CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDED ACTION
CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY:
.9 11.710001 _ck
❑ As Recommended
As Amended
❑ Ordinance on 151 Reading
❑ Ordinance on 2nd Reading
❑ Implementing Resolution
❑ Set Public Hearing For__
CONTINUED TO
FILE NUMBER
Discuss the information and options contained in this report and provide further direction.
DISCUSSION
At the December 6, 2016 City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Sarmiento, Councilmember
Tinajero and former Councilmember Amezcua placed an 85A item on the agenda to consider
establishing a by -district elections system in the City of Santa Ana. Council directed staff and the
City Attorney to prepare a report addressing the following:
1. Evaluate various municipal election systems, including at -large systems, by -district
systems and mixed systems.
2. Evaluate the transition process from the City's existing from district/at-large system to a
by -district system.
3. Evaluate the option of holding a Special Election in 2017 to consider the transition to a by -
district system.
In a from -district election system the city council candidate must reside in a specific election
district, but is elected by all voters in the City. This is the current system by which Santa Ana
Council Members are elected.
In a by -district election system, the city council candidate must reside within an election district
that is a divisible part of the city and is elected only by voters residing within that election district.
1. Evaluation of Various Municipal Election Systems
A. City of Anaheim
By -District with Six Districts and a Mayor elected at -large.
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Evaluation of Options Concerning
Potential Transition to By -District
Elections System
December 20, 2016
Page 2
B. City of Riverside
By -District with Sever
voting rights unless to
Districts and a Mayor elected at -large and the Mayor has no
break a tie vote.
C. City of Huntington Beach
Seven Council Members elected at -large without districts and a Mayor is selected
from among the Council Members by the Council Members.
D. City of Newport Beach
Seven Council Members elected from districts (like Santa Ana) and the Mayor is
selected from among the Council Members by the Council Members with a one-
yearterm.
E. City of Glendale
Five Council Members elected at -large and the Mayor is selected from among the
Council Members by the Council Members.
F. City of Sacramento
Eight Council Members elected by district and the Mayor is elected at -large for a
four-year term.
G. Large Cities in California: Long Beach, San Diego, Los Angeles, etc.
These large cities have various election systems with different models involving full-
time Council Members in most cases and in some cases City Administrators. Since
these cities are not City -Manager forms of government I did not evaluate their
election system, but I can if so requested.
2. Process of Transitioning To A By -District System
• Must Draft Charter Amendment
• Must Develop the Various District Boundaries
• Must Decide Whether to Maintain an Elected, At -Large Mayor
• Must Have All Election Resolutions Prepared 88 -days Before the Election Date
• Must Appropriate or Budget Funds—Estimated $250,000 for the Election
3. Evaluation of Holding a Special Election in 2017
As the City evaluates its options you may be told that the City does not have to submit the
question to the voters. This is not accurate because while Governor Brown signed AB 278
into law on September 28, 2016 providing that cities with populations over 100,000 could
change their election system by ordinance, without voter approval, this law does not
preempt the Santa Ana City Charter. The existing election system is provided for in the
City Charter so any changes must be approved by the voters.
65E-2
Evaluation of Options Concerning
Potential Transition to By -District
Elections System
December 20, 2016
Page 3
A Special Election may be held in 2017. The Clerk of the Council can provide election schedules
and timailnes if the Council desires to pursue changes, confirm the possible election dates and
discuss how the terms of the existing Counollmembers will work and be Implemented,
P, gA6ImpACT
There is no Immediate fiscal impact at this time in exploring the various options.
Sonia R. Carvalho
City Attorney
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