To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters
Staff Name and Phone Number: Kim Barrett x3471
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Petaluma City Election Services Contract
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Chair to execute an agreement with the City of Petaluma to allow the Registrar of Voters’ to provide election services for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2027.
end
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 city of Petaluma expires December 31, 2023 and the City wishes to continue receiving election services from the County. The agreement will allow the City 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 City share 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 within city limits. Other cities opted to contract with the County to conduct 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 Service Agreement currently in effect with the city of Petaluma expires on December 31, 2023. The contract submitted for approval will allow the Registrar of Voters to continue providing election services and conducting municipal elections on behalf of the City for the next four years, beginning January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2027.
If the Board does not approve the recommended action, the City Clerk 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 municipality has approved the elections services agreement that is now submitted for Board approval.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
02/28/2023 - Approved election services agreements with cities of Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma and Town of Windsor for five years and with the city of Petaluma for one year.
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
|
Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Elections are reimbursed based on actual costs. Funding for the cost of the elections comes from the cities reimbursing actual costs.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - City of Petaluma Election Agreement and City Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A