CC Min 1994-03-07 Stdy - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chairman Claire presented information regarding the costs of elections in different months and years, and advised the cost of consolidating to November elections in odd years with the School District Board might increase election costs up to $6,000. If the Council approved the consolidation, current Council Members whose terms are due to expire in November of 1996 would have their terms shortened to November of 1995. Council Members elected in the November 1994 election would serve three-year terms to November of 1997 and all terms would return to four-year terms beginning with the 1997 election. Councilwoman Steinfeld raised concerns regarding a lower voter turn-out in November of odd years, the cost of moving the election to odd years, and asked that the decision taken tonight by the Council be strictly advisory. Mayor Buchan called on speakers from the audience who wished to speak to this issue. Joe Steinfeld, 850 Main Street, Redwood City, objected to the Council discussing this issue on such short notice, stated that he believed the notice of this item was not meaningful, and the arguments put forth were fallacious. Mr. Steinfeld advised that if the Council voted to consolidate in November of odd years, he guaranteed there would be an initiative on the November ballot to keep the general election in November of even years. M/S: STEINFELD/ TO HOLD OFF ON A DECISION ON THIS REPORT UNTIL AFTER THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS MADE THEIR DECISION MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF A SECOND. M/S: CLAIRE/ ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE AND NOTIFY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF THE COUNCIL'S DECISION. MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF A SECOND. MINUTE ORDER NO. 94-054 M/S: CLAIRE/LA BERGE TO SEND A LETTER TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD THAT IF THEY MOVE TO A NOVEMBER ELECTION IN ODD YEARS, THE REDWOOD CITY COUNCIL WOULD CONSIDER MOVING ALSO, BUT ONLY AFTER OPEN HEARINGS AND INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC; THE INTENT OF THE COUNCIL IS TO HOLD OPEN HEARINGS AND THEN MAKE A DECISION. Council members discussed the impact on voters if the election were moved to November in odd years. Councilwoman La Berge advised that if the election were moved to November of odd years, local candidates would not have to compete with state and federal candidates and measures for the attention oflocal voters and local media. Councilman Greenalch stated he would not support moving the Redwood City general election to November of odd years. In response to Council questions, City Attorney Schricker described the process of Special Study Session March 7, 1994 INUTE BOOK NO. 52 Page 6 age ¡Nò. 160