Honorable Mayor and Members of the Hermosa Beach City Council
Regular Meeting of June 14, 2022
Title
CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE AND CERTAIN OTHER
RESOLUTIONS NECESSARY FOR HOLDING
THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022
(City Clerk Myra Maravilla)
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Staff recommends Council:
1. Adopt Resolution calling and giving notice of the election for certain officers and one or more measures (Attachment 1);
2. Adopt Resolution to permit a special runoff election for elective officers in the event of a tie vote (Attachment 2);
3. Adopt Resolution to request the County of Los Angeles consolidate the City of Hermosa Beach General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election and render full services to the conduct of the election (Attachment 3); and
4. Adopt Resolution to adopt regulations for candidates for election office pertaining to candidate statements (Attachment 4).
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Executive Summary:
On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, the City will conduct a General Municipal Election consolidated with the Statewide General Election for the election of three members of the City Council, each to a term of four years ending in November 2026, and at least one ballot measure. Staff recommends City Council adopt the resolutions as outlined in staff’s recommendations (Attachments 1, 2, 3 and 4).
Background:
The election resolutions presented for adoption are standard actions required of the City Council per the California Elections Code and other provisions of State of California laws to hold the General Municipal Election on November 8, 2022.
The initiative petition filed by Colton Chacker to repeal the ban on cannabis in the City of Hermosa Beach will be on the ballot with the possibility of additional measure(s) submitted by the City Council. All election resolutions containing ballot measure information, including priorities for submitting arguments and rebuttal arguments, will be presented to the City Council on or before the deadlines set forth by Los Angeles County for the printing of the Sample Ballot Booklet.
Discussion:
On November 8, 2022, the City of Hermosa Beach will conduct a General Municipal Election, conducted by the County of Los Angeles, for the election of three City Councilmembers, for full four-year terms ending November 2026 (Attachment 3) and at least one ballot measure. The Election Information page is located on the City’s website and is regularly updated with key dates and information for members of the public to review.
The City Clerk would advertise the calling of the election (Attachment 1) through various outlets including a publication in a local newspaper, a GovDelivery notification, and the City’s social media outlets. The Candidate Workshop is tentatively scheduled to take place on the first day of the nomination period, July 18, 2022, at 10 a.m. in the Council Chambers located at City Hall. Prospective candidates and the media are encouraged to attend and ask questions about the election process. Nomination papers will be issued to prospective candidates at the conclusion of the Candidate Workshop. Prospective candidates unable to attend the Candidate Workshop are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the City Clerk’s office during business hours, Monday through Thursday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Should there be a tie vote between two or more of the top three candidates, a special runoff election would take place (Attachment 2).
California Elections Code Section 13307 allows candidates for a nonpartisan city elective office to prepare a statement to be included with the Sample Ballot Booklet and mailed to each registered voter. State law requires that the City Council adopt a policy regarding the candidates’ obligation for payment for candidate statements and other related matters. State law permits the Council to authorize an increase of the word limitation for the statement from 200 to 400 words. Past policy has restricted the statements to 200 words as reflected in the Resolution (Attachment 4). Staff recommends City Council adopt the same word limitation, 200 words. Staff’s experience is that this word limit has been sufficient for candidates in past elections.
Additionally, the Resolution (Attachment 4) includes information about the translation of election materials. All voters who register to vote and select to receive election materials in a language other than English will automatically receive their election materials in that language.
Resolutions for Adoption:
1. RESOLUTION NO. 22- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022, FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AND ONE OR MORE MEASURES TO THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELATING TO GENERAL LAW CITIES
2. RESOLTUION NO. 22- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, PROVIDING FOR THE CONDUCT OF A SPECIAL RUNOFF ELECTION FOR ELECTIVE OFFICES IN THE EVENT OF A TIE VOTE AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 8, 2022
3. RESOLUTION NO. 22- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO CONSOLIDATE THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES THE SAME DAY; TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO CANVASS THE RETURNS OF SAID GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION; AND TO REQUEST THAT THE REGISTRAR-RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK OF SAID COUNTY BE PERMITTED TO RENDER FULL SERVICES TO THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF SAID GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 10403
4. RESOLUTION NO. 22- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022
General Plan Consistency:
This report and associated recommendation have been evaluated for their consistency with the City’s General Plan. Relevant Policies are listed below:
Governance Element
Goal 1. A high degree of transparency and integrity in the decision-making process.
Policies:
• 1.1 Open meetings. Maintain the community’s trust by holding meetings in which decisions are being made, that are open and available for all community members to attend, participate, or view remotely.
• 2.1 Multiple outreach methods. Consistently engage in community outreach that promote public participation and ensure Hermosa Beach events are communicated to all segments of the communities.
Goal 2. The community is active and engaged in decision-making processes.
Policy:
• 2.6 Responsive to community needs. Continue to be responsive to community inquiries, providing public information and recording feedback from community interactions.
Fiscal Impact:
Included in the 2022-23 Preliminary Budget is $110,000 to cover the cost of the November 8, 2022, General Municipal Election. An estimated cost of the election was generated using the election calculator provided by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
Attachments:
1. Draft Resolution Calling and Giving Notice of the Election
2. Draft Resolution in the Event of a Tie Vote
3. Draft Resolution to Consolidate Election with Los Angeles County
4. Draft Resolution to Adopt Regulations for Candidate Statements
5. Election Calendar
Respectfully Submitted by: Myra Maravilla, City Clerk
Noted for Fiscal Impact: Viki Copeland, Finance Director
Legal Review: Mike Jenkins, City Attorney
Approved: Suja Lowenthal, City Manager