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8.A. - Page 2 <br /> The City of Redwood City experienced a "significant decrease in voter turnout" <br /> according to the definition of SB 415. The average voter turnout for the City's last four <br /> statewide elections (even years) was 67.9%. The average voter turnout for the City's <br /> last four non-statewide elections (odd years) was 25.6%. If the average voter turnout <br /> from the last four non-statewide elections had been 50.9% or higher, SB 415 would not <br /> apply to the City of Redwood City. Since it was 25.6%, SB 415 applies to the City of <br /> Redwood City. <br /> As a result, the City is required to change its municipal election date to either June or <br /> November of even years, or, prior to January 1, 2018, adopt a plan to consolidate its <br /> election with the statewide election no later than the November 8, 2022 statewide <br /> general election. This new law does not apply to special elections (e.g. bond measures <br /> and parcel tax measures). SB 415 provides voters with the authority to file a lawsuit to <br /> enforce the new law, and provides for attorneys' fees to a prevailing plaintiff. Therefore, <br /> if the City did not comply with the terms of SB 415, and a voter filed an action to enforce <br /> the law, and a court determined that SB 415 did apply to the City, the City would be <br /> liable for attorneys' fees. <br /> This would not be the first time that the City of Redwood City has changed its election <br /> year cycles. The City previously held its regularly scheduled election on statewide <br /> election dates. In 1994 the City was approached by the Redwood City Elementary <br /> School District to consolidate its election cycle with the School District in odd-numbered <br /> years. At the time, the rationale for changing election cycles was to increase the public's <br /> focus on overlapping local issues for the City and School District rather than having to <br /> compete for voter attention with federal and state election issues during the same <br /> election cycle. In order to change the election years, the Council elected to reduce the <br /> terms of sitting council members by twelve months. This was done by adopting <br /> ordinance 2078. <br /> At the August 8, 2016 City Council meeting, Mayor Seybert appointed Council Members <br /> Aguirre, Gee and Masur to a Council Ad Hoc Committee to address SB 415. The <br /> Committee was charged with reviewing the information and data within this report and <br /> providing a recommendation to the City Council. The Committee met on August 29, <br /> 2016 and September 19, 2016, and makes the recommendation discussed in this staff <br /> report. <br /> ANALYSIS <br /> Application of SB 415 to Redwood City <br /> The City Charter allows the City Council to change the date of the general municipal <br /> election by ordinance. Specifically, the Charter provides that "the Council may by <br /> ordinance require general municipal elections to be held on the same day as the <br /> statewide primary election, the day of the statewide general election, or on the day of <br /> school district elections in accordance with, and pursuant to the provisions of the <br /> 2 <br />