To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters
Staff Name and Phone Number: Kim Barrett (707) 565-3471
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
City Election Services Contracts
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Chair to execute agreements with the cities of Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma and the Town of Windsor to allow the Registrar of Voters’ to provide election services for the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2027 and the city of Petaluma for the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
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Executive Summary:
Government Code section 51301 allows for a Board of Supervisors to contract with cities for the performance of city functions. The County’s agreement with the cities of Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma, and the Town of Windsor expired December 31, 2022 and the cities and town wish to continue receiving election services from the County. The agreements will allow the cities to continue consolidation of their elections with the general election, cutting down on the number of times voters must go to the polls, and ensuring the County and cities are resources, such as vote centers and vote center workers, efficiently.
Discussion:
Prior to 1982, cities held their regular municipal elections separate from the Primary and General Elections. Some cities conducted their own elections with minimal services from the County, such as providing lists of registered voters with city limits. Other cities opted to contract with the County to conduce their elections, pursuant to Government Code section 51301, which allows the Board of Supervisors to contract with cities for the performance of city functions.
In 1982, election laws changed to allow for consolidation of a city’s regular municipal elections with either the Primary or General Election (Elections Code section 1301(b)). Since then, all cities within Sonoma County have consolidated their regular elections with the General Election and have contracted with Sonoma County for their elections to be included on the consolidated ballot.
The City Elections Services Agreements currently in effect expired on December 31, 2022. The contracts submitted for approval will allow the Registrar of Voters to continue providing election services and conducting municipal elections on behalf of the cities of Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma, and the Town of Windsor for the next five years, beginning January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2027 and for the city of Petaluma for the next one year, beginning January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
If the Board does not approve the recommended action, the City and Town Clerks would conduct their own elections, independent of the County. The Registrar of Voters would assume only limited services with no contract providing for reimbursement of expenditures. The general public would be required to vote in separate municipal and General Elections.
The nine municipalities have approved the elections services agreements that are now submitted for Board approval.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
11/14/2017 - Approved election services agreements with cities of Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma and Town of Windsor.
11/14/2012 - Approved election services agreements with cities of Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma and Town of Windsor.
08/12/2008 - Approved elections services agreements with cities of Cotati, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and the Town of Windsor.
06/24/2008 - Approved elections services agreements with cities of Cloverdale, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, and Sonoma.
03/02/2004 - Resolution 04-0202 authorizing the Chair to sign contracts for elections services with all nine cities through the end of 2008.
08/01/2000 - Resolution 00-0935 authorizing the Chair to sign a contract for elections services with the Town of Windsor.
01/13/1998 - Resolution 98-0055 authorizing the Chair to sign a contract for elections services with the City of Santa Rosa.
12/16/1997 - Resolution 97-1608 authorizing the Chair to sign a contract for elections services with the cities of Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, and Sonoma.
Fiscal Summary
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FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Elections are reimbursed based on actual costs and every election is different so there is not a set amount. Funding for the cost of the elections comes from the cities reimbursing our actual costs.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Election Agreements and City Resolutions for the Cities of:
Attachment 1 - Cloverdale
Attachment 2 - Cotati
Attachment 3 - Healdsburg
Attachment 4 - Petaluma
Attachment 5 - Rohnert Park
Attachment 6 - Santa Rosa
Attachment 7 - Sebastopol
Attachment 8 - Sonoma
Attachment 9 - Town of Windsor
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A