HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06052001 - C.168 TO:r BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONTRA COSTq#LINTY
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FROM: Stephen L. Weir, County Clerk-Recorder
DATE: May 15, 2001
SUBJECT: CONSOLIDATION OF CITY OF LAFAYETTE �
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WITH STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTIONS
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S)AND BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
1. APPROVE request of the City of Lafayette to consolidate elections with Statewide General
Elections.
2. FIND that the Clerk-Recorder has made progress that will accommodate consolidations in the
following ways:
a. The increased number of ballot cards requires additional vote-counter stations. Due to
space limitations and the capacity of the current Data General computer, the Clerk
secured six (6) additional machines from Multnomah County, Oregon, for'20% of new
cost. In addition, the Clerk has acquired a P.C.-based tally system (B.C. WIN) that will
allow for these machines to be used.
3. CONSIDER the following qualitative issues that are expected to result from the requested
consolidation(s):
a. Timeliness. With the B.C. WIN system and a new streamlined ballot-delivery system,
ballots will arrive and be counted faster than in the past. It should be noted that with
consolidation, a slower vote count will take place than without consolidation.
b. Accuracy. Additional extra staffing help will be needed to conduct consolidated elections.
However, the demand for the staff will go down in odd-numbered years. There are
concerns about having trained temporary staff; however, we believe that we can bring on
temporary staff early enough to train them for each election.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: ® Yes SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _ RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
--APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION ON BO ON June 5, 2001 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED XX OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS:
XX UNANIMOUS (ABSENT: --- ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND
AYES: NOES: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ATTESTED: June 5, 2001
JOHN SWEETEN, CLERK OF THE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Q
BY:
cc: Elections Office DEPUTY
Board of Supervisors
May 15, 2001
Page 2
c. Voter Impact. While turnout at a general election is higher than the turnout at an "off-year"
election, high voter turnout and long ballots result in long lines at the polls and "voter drop
off" towards the end of the ballots and issues on the backs of some ballot cards.
4. ACKNOWLEDGE that the Clerk-Recorder attempted to find a way to "work with local agencies
to develop a fee structure that does not penalize agencies that choose to hold elections in the
odd-numbered years." While this issue was a directive of a 1997 Board Order, County Counsel
has determined that the Clerk cannot structure a pricing mechanism that would favor one
election year over another.
5. ACKNOWLEDGE that with consolidations off of odd-numbered years onto even-numbered
years, revenues will go down significantly for odd-year elections and will go up slightly for even-
numbered year elections. (The first impact will be noticed in budget year 1999-2000. It is not
possible to determine the impact at this time until the full impact of consolidation is considered.
However, it is safe to assume that when a major district moves its election off of the November
odd-numbered year, any district that remains on that ballot will have to pay a higher election
charge.)
6. ACKNOWLEDGE amortization of the cost of equipment identified in item 1 (above) over a five-
year period (Elections in November 2000, 2002 and 2004) and the spread of those costs among
those agencies seeking consolidation off of November odd-numbered years onto November
even-numbered years. This funding proposal was approved by the Board of Supervisors on
March 24, 1998.
BACKGROUND
After lengthy discussion in March 1997, the Board of Supervisors denied eight requests for consolidation
upon the recommendation of the Clerk-Recorder. The Board directed the Clerk to work with the districts
to see if a way could be found to equalize costs between even and odd years. The Board also asked the
Clerk-Recorder to review capital and space requirements. The Clerk has determined all concerns have
been addressed.
The City of Lafayette has formally filed a resolution with our office to consolidate with the even-
numbered year elections.
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