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REPORT <br />To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From the City Manager <br /> <br />March 13, 2017 <br />SUBJECT <br />Second Reading of Ordinance Amending Municipal Code Section 2.27.6 to Adjust City <br />of Redwood City Elections to Even Years to Adhere to the California Voter Participation <br />Rights Act (California State Senate Bill 415) <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Waive second reading and adopt an Ordinance amending Section 2.27.6 of the <br />Redwood City Municipal Code regarding General Municipal Elections, moving to even <br />year elections by extending the terms of each existing Council member by an additional <br />12 months, and moving the November 2017 election to November 2018, and the <br />November 2019 election to November 2020 <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />The “California Voter Participation Rights Act” Senate Bill 415 (SB 415) was adopted to <br />address declining voter turnout in local elections. SB 415 requires local agencies with <br />significant low voter turnout to change their elections to even-year statewide elections <br />(e.g. Presidential, Gubernatorial) to improve voter turnout. Based on the City’s historical <br />lower average voter turnout at odd-year municipal elections compared to higher <br />average turnout for even-year statewide elections, the City is mandated to comply with <br />SB 415. <br /> <br />Under the City Charter, the City Council has specific authority to modify City elections in <br />order to comply with State law; this includes lengthening or shortening the terms of <br />current City Council members by up to 12 months. In order to adhere to the <br />requirements of SB 415, the Council over the last six months discussed a multitude of <br />options to comply with SB 415. These discussions included deliberations by a Mayor- <br />appointed SB 415 Council Ad Hoc Committee and by the full City Council at the October <br />17, 2016, January 23, 2017 and February 27, 2017 City Council meetings. Public <br />comment was received at all three meetings and by letters to the City Council. <br /> <br /> <br />ANALYSIS <br />At the February 27, 2017 City Council Meeting, the Council waived the first reading and <br />introduced an Ordinance amending Section 2.27.6 of the Redwood City Municipal Code <br />regarding general municipal elections, moving the City’s elections to even year elections <br />by extending the terms of each existing Council member by an additional 12 months, <br />and moving the November 2017 election to November 2018 statewide general election, <br />6.4.B. - Page 1