TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file the December 13, 2005 update to the 2006 Elections Plan, and if appropriate, refer to the Elections Oversight Committee for continued discussion.
DISCUSSION
On July 19, 2005, the City Council approved the 2006 Elections Plan. The Plan outlines strategies and activities within the City Clerk Department intended to facilitate a successfully administered elections process. At that time, we advised the Council that we would provide periodic updates as election day approaches.
Major changes and enhancements to the plan can be highlighted as follows:
Strategy 1: Budgeting and Accounting
12/13/05 Update: $2.1 million has been budgeted for the 2006 City Elections. All efforts will be made to cost-effectively comply with Department of Justice requirements which were not know at the time the 2006 budget was adopted by the City Council.
In late October 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice began to advise Los Angeles County cities that they intend to enhance their monitoring and enforcement efforts relative to compliance with language translation requirements set forth in the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. As a result, the Department will increase its outreach efforts to our City's language communities. While the cost for compliance to meet DOJ requirements have not yet been estimated, over the next month we will work with the City Attorney to review our compliance program.
Strategy 2: Poll Locations
12/13/05 Update: There will be 303 polling locations for the April election. Because of the concurrent election in June 2006, and in order to have the least impact on our voters, this Department has decided to consolidate elections precincts for April the same as the RRCC will consolidate for June. This means that consolidations will have no more than 1000 registered voters per precinct. In order for poll locations to accommodate a city poll and a county poll, NVCs will only be used in places large enough to accommodate 4 to 6 tables, and the requisite number of poll workers. The location must also be ADA compliant and have adequate parking.
A listing of polling places for April 2006 will be presented to the City Council in January 2006.
The aim of this effort will be to receive public comment on the suitability of recommended polling places.
As a consolidated election cannot be conducted under existing law, City and County staff are working to plan for a concurrent election in June 2006. The Department will file a Council agenda item to publicize proposed poll locations by district. The intent of this effort will be to provide the community the opportunity to comment on the suitability of each poll location.
Strategy 18: Voter Education and Outreach
12/13/05 Update: A member of City Clerk staff will be present at the December 13 mixer at the Neighborhood Resource Center to inform interested community groups of our availability, as well as to seek poll workers.
The City Clerk Department will also be contracting with a Public Relations firm to assist us with voter outreach for the concurrent election. In an effort to enhance voter education for the June 2006 concurrent election, the City Clerk Department will employ a professional marketing firm to promote the City's "Two Vote Tuesday" voter outreach program.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
The 2006 Elections Plan will be provided to potential 2006 contest candidates. If deemed appropriate, this update to the plan may be referred to the Elections Oversight Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff will continue to review the cost impacts of DOJ compliance expectations. The Department will strive to meet compliance requirements with its adopted budget.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
LARRY G. HERRERA
CITY CLERK