TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file comments from the community, receive and file supporting documentation into the record on the proposed amendment to the Long Beach City Charter to realign the City’s primary election date with the State’s primary and general election dates held in even-numbered years, and refer to the City Council to consider adoption of all required resolutions to place said Charter Amendment on the November 8, 2022 General Election Ballot; and
Receive and file comments from the community, receive and file supporting documentation into the record on the proposed amendment to the Long Beach City Charter to realign LBUSD’s primary election date with the State’s primary and general election dates held in even-numbered years, and refer to the City Council to consider adoption of all required resolutions to place said Charter Amendment on the November 8, 2022 General Election Ballot. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On June 14, 2022, the Charter Amendment Committee and City Council approved a recommendation to receive and file comments from the community, receive and file supporting documentation into the record, and move to a second public hearing on the proposed amendments to the Long Beach City Charter to realign the City’s and Long Beach Unified School District’s primary election dates with the State’s primary and general election dates held in even-numbered years.
On April 20, 2021, the Long Beach City Council voted to convene the Charter Amendment Committee of the City Council to consider placing a City Charter (“Charter”) amendment before voters to align the City’s municipal election dates with the State’s primary and general election dates held in even-numbered years. The following are attached to this letter:
• Attachment 1 - A copy of the Council letter associated with the initial vote and the rationale behind the need to align the City’s election dates with the State.
• Attachment 2 - The resolution adopted by the City Council to move the 2022 City election dates on a temporary, emergency basis to align with the State of California's election dates, the request to prepare a Charter Amendment for consideration by the Charter Amendment Committee at a later date.
• Attachment 3 - Proposed changes to the City Charter regarding the City’s election dates.
• Attachment 4 - Proposed changes to the City Charter recommended by the Board of Education for the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). As LBUSD election dates align with the City’s election dates in the Charter, the LBUSD has also put forth a Charter Amendment to move its election dates with the City. Since the boundaries of the City and LBUSD are not identical, a separate ballot measure is needed to amend election dates for LBUSD set forth in the Charter.
Under State law, a majority of Long Beach voters must approve any City Charter Amendment. The next available date to place these Charter amendments on the ballot will be November 8, 2022.
To consider this amendment for the November 8, 2022 election, State law requires there be three public hearings/meetings. At these hearings/meetings there will be opportunities for discussion, receiving community input, and making changes to the Charter amendment language.
The hearing/meeting dates are as follows:
• June 14, 2022 - First public hearing: Received staff presentation, heard public comment, directed staff to gather any further information or implement changes.
• July 19, 2022 - Second public hearing: Receive any updated information, hear public comment, direct staff to gather any information or make amendment changes.
• August 9, 2022 - Final meeting: Receive any updated information, hear public comment, make any final amendment changes, and if the City Council so chooses, adopt the required resolutions to place the Charter amendment on the November 8, 2022 General Election ballot.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
CHARLES PARKIN
CITY ATTORNEY
BY:
TAYLOR M. ANDERSON
DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY