HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12171996 - C114 to: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra
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CostaFROM: STEVE WEIR, County Clerk-Recorder-Registrar of Voters s
DATE: December 17, 1996
County
SUBJECT: CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS WITH STATEWIDE GENERAL
ELECTIONS
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
DENY requests of the Walnut Creek, Acalanes Union High School and Mt. Diablo Unified School
Districts to consolidate all future elections for governing board members or trustees with the statewide
general elections of even-numbered years.
BACKGROUND:
On October 17, October 21 and November 7, the County received requests from the Mt. Diablo
Unified, Acalanes Union High School and Walnut Creek Unified School Districts to consolidate
elections for board members or trustees with the statewide general election of November 3, 1998 and
with every statewide general election of even numbered years thereafter. These requests were
referred to me for further review. I am recommending denial of these requests based on the reasons
set forth in the attached memorandum to the County Administrator. Until such time that we can
insure that the Elections Department and staff can accommodate the additional ballots, computer
capacity and equipment necessary to necessary to complete a consolidated election in a timely and
accurate manner, I recommend that the Board deny the consolidation requests of the three school
districts, as well as future requests from other agencies.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON December 17 , 1996 APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER X
Following discussion, the Board APPROVED the recommendation set forth above denying the requests
of the referenced school districts; DIRECTED the County Clerk to report in February 1997 regarding
cost and operation analysis of consolidation, and on the recommendations from the Election Task
Force; and AUTHORIZED the Chair, Board of Supervisors, to send a letter to the school districts
advising them of the Board's discussion of this matter.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT - ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE
AYES: NOES: SHOWN.
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED December 17 , 1996
CONTACT: STEVE WEIR(510)646-2280 PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD
CC: COUNTY CLERK-RECORDER-ELECTIONS OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ADMINISTRATOR
COUNTY COUNSEL
BY DEPUTY
PEC-11-1996 16:18 CONTRA COSTA CLERK P.01
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I N T E R
MEMO
O F F I C E
To: Phil Batchelor,County Administrator
From: Steve Weir,County Clerk Recur I °� W
Subject: Request for Consolidation of Election
Date: December 11, 1996
You have requested my comments on 0162 from the November 19, 1996 Board of Supervisors
Agenda.
There once was a relatively clear distinction between national elections,state wide office
elections and local elections. Local elections once were conducted at various times
(March/April/November)of odd numbered years. Due to relatively poor turn out,many
jurisdictions have changed their elections to coincide with larger national or state wide elections
to insure greater turnout and lower costs to their jurisdictions.
The erosion of special districts away from the odd year cycle has snowballed to such a point
whereby virtually all odd numbered year elections will be canceled.
in the immediate past election,in precincts where we would have provided a 3 card ballot,we
needed to increase to a 5 card ballot to accommodate the special district items on the ballots.
The impact of a 4(°fo increase in cards results in an increase in the processing time and a decrease
in the efficiency of ballot processing. We have reached the point whereby additional
consolidations will affect the ability of the elections department to provide this function in an
accurate and timely manner,both mandated requirements.
I recommend that you deny this request for consolidation,as well as future requests until the time
we can insure the department and staff can accommodate the additional ballots,computer
capacity and equipment necessary to complete the election process in a timely and accurate
manner. I also need time to do a complete reevaluation of the costs of conducting elections and
the impact of the consolidations.
TOTAL P.01