Title
Body
MEMORANDUM
TO: HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Diane C. Fridley, Registrar of Voters
DATE: March 7, 2017
SUBJECT: Approve Resolution for Mendocino-Lake Community College District's request to change their election cycle for their Board of Directors in November of odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, and direct staff to send proper notification to all districts within Lake County.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On September 1, 2015, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 415 into law; adding Chapter 1.7 (commencing with Section 14050) to Division 14 of the Elections Code known as the “California Voter Participation Rights Act”. The new law requires districts with regularly scheduled odd-year elections which have experienced “significant decrease in voter turnout” in the last regularly scheduled election to adopt a plan to transition to even-numbered year general elections no later than January 1, 2018. Significant decrease in voter turnout is described as voter turnout at least 25% less than the average turnout of previous four statewide general elections.
The County of Lake’s average turnout for the previous four statewide general elections (2016, 2014, 2012, and 2010) is 65%; in comparison, the turnout for the regularly scheduled 2015 election for the school and special districts that went to election was 23%, the difference in turnout is 42%. Voter turnout for odd year elections in comparison to even year elections consistently yields a difference greater than 25%. It is my understanding that all of school and special districts within Lake County will be required to adopt a resolution to initiate the transition to even-numbered year board elections, no later than January 1, 2018.
Currently, the Mendocino-Lake Community College District elects their board of trustees in November of odd-numbered years and in order to change from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, the governing board of the College District must follow the process set forth in Elections Code Section 10404.7.
Mendocino-Lake Community College District’s Board of Trustees has completed the first (1st) step of Elections Code Section 10404.7 by submitting their Resolution No. 12-16-01 titled “A Resolution of the Governing Board of the Mendocino-Lake Community College District approving the rescheduling of the Governing Board Member Elections from Odd-Numbered years to Even-Numbered years, in Accordance with Elections Code §1302 and Senate Bill 415 (2015-2016 Regular Session), and Requesting the Approval of the County of Mendocino and the County of Lake to Consolidate the Same with the Statewide General Election Pursuant to Elections Code §10405.7”, to your Board. Your Board has sixty (60) days from today to either approve or deny the consolidation request; no later than May 2, 2017.
The second (2nd) step will be for Board staff to notify all community college districts located within the County of Lake of receipt of the Mendocino-Lake Community College District’s resolution and to ask for input from each district on the effect of consolidation. The Elections Code does not specify the method of notification so I would recommend that a letter should be mailed to each College District President as well as posting on the Board’s webpage. The Registrar of Voters office will provide the Board office will the district information and I have also included a sample letter for use by the Assistant Clerk to the Board.
Elections Code Section 10404.7(d)(2) requires public notices of the proceedings before your Board pursuant to Section 25151 of the Government Code in which the Mendocino-Lake Community College District’s Resolution No. 12-16-01 is to be considered for adoption. Prior to the adoption of a resolution to either approve or deny the College District’s consolidation request, your Board may request the Registrar of Voters to submit a Cost-Effectiveness Report on changing the College District’s election from odd-year to even-year elections. Elections Code Section 10404.7(d)(1) requires your Board to approve Mendocino-Lake Community College District’s resolution requesting consoli-dation unless the County finds that the ballot style, voting equipment, or computer capacity, etc. cannot handle another district to be consolidated with the even-year election; I feel no limitations exist to deny the College District’s request.
Attachments: Lake County Superintendent of Schools Memo;
Mendocino-Lake Community College District’s Resolution
No. 12-16-01; Sample Letter to College District President
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Following your Board’s approval and within 30 days after the approval of Mendocino-Lake Community College District’s resolution changing the College District’s elections from odd-year to even-year, the Registrar of Voters office is required to notify all registered voters of the districts affected by the consolidation approval by mail and at the expense of the Mendocino-Lake Community College District.