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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984 03-28 CHCA BROOKLYN CENTER CHARTER COMMISSION MARCH 28, 1984 8:00 P.M. City Hall AGENDA 1 Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of January 25, 1984, Minutes 4. Old Business a. Report on Charter Amendments 5. New Business a. Elections 6. Next Meeting Date 7. Adjournment MEMORANDUM TO: Gerald G. Splinter, City Manager FROM: Tom BubZitz, Administrative Assistant- DATE: March 21, 1984 SUBJECT: Municipal Election Costs 1981 1983 Budget Item Actual Cost Actual Cost Operating Supplies Not listed as a budget $268.30 (voting machine supplies, item in 1981 ink pads, binders for computer printout, miscellaneous supplies) Professional Services $2,765.00 $3,730.57 (Election Judges and voting machine custodians) Postage $312.00 (approximately $1,132.36 (approximately (postal verifications, $200.00 of the total is $100.00 of the total is absentee ballots, notices directly related to directly related to of ineffective regis- election costs). election costs) tration, miscellaneous correspondence) Printing $341.00 $220.65 (ballots, voter receipts, sample ballots, return sheets) Building and Machinery $343.20 $334.00 Rentals (donation to churches, custodial cost for schools, lift truck for moving voting machines) Personnel Costs Clerk III (200 hrs.) Clerk III (200 hrs.) (Clerk III, Deputy City $395.00 $465.00 Clerk, Office Manager, Clerk IV, Clerk II) Deputy City Clerk Deputy City Clerk (150 hrs.) $2,152.00 (150 hrs.) $2,730.00 NOTE: All personnel Office Manager (20 hrs.) Office Manager (20 hrs.) costs include 40% $235.00 $301.00 allowance for fringe benefits. Clerk IV (20 hrs.) Clerk IV (20 hrs.) $155.00 $192.00 -2- 1981 1983 Budget Item Actual Cost Actual Cost (Public Works employees to Clerk II (20 hrs.) Clerk LI 20 hrs. move voting machines) $140.00 $154.00 Maintenance Worker II Maintenance Worker II (moving voting machines (moving voting machines 63 hrs.) $809.00 63.5 hrs.) $827.00 T O T A L $7,535.20 $9,322`.52 01 �f Total Persons Voting�� 1981 2,409 1983 586 i i POSSII 111" CIINY]ES IN TERMS TO ACCOMODAT1 IM-71I YEAR r L1:CTICNS Theis and Fiawes elected 1981 term 1982 1983 1984 new term 1985 1986 1987 1988 Lhotka elected 1982 term 1983 1984 1985 extend through 1986 new term 1987 1988 1989 1990 Scott elected 1983 term 1984 1985 1986 new term 1987 1988 1989 1990 Nyquist elected 1983 term 1984 1985 extend through 1986 new term 1987 1988 1989 1990 1 C W,,VGING pyTEA pOSSZBLE yE lf. Haw es 1-911, Scott Theis 1986 L r©txa 141vi 1� 5 Hawes 1_91 Scott Theis thot Lho' gYc�aist I S Hawes NYist xaWes NYist CI.Irrent Terms Theis Theis �otka Sco Hawes Nye st possible Terms Theis For men Year Blectiori MEMORANDUM TO: Chairman and Members of the Charter Cgpn psio FROM: Gerald G. Splinter, City Manager DATE: March 22, 1984 SUBJECT: Odd /Even Year Elections Attached please find two memorandums from Tom Bublitz relating to election costs and every other year elections. Also attached are some of the relevant State statutes. At your next meeting you have asked me to give a presentation on some of my concerns relating to the expense of holding annual municipal elections. The memorandum attached relating to the cost of elections, you will note, is only for what we call off -year elections (1981 1983). We call these off -year elections because basically the only items on the ballot are municipal items such as election of one, or two council members and the mayor in addition to council members. It's these off -year elections which draw very little voter turnout and for which we have received the most complaints regarding "wasting taxpayers' money Again, I want to emphasize that I personally don't believe any election process is a waste of money, but if you don't need to hold frequent elections, you should consider cutting down on their number. At your next meeting I will have a chart showing how the sequencing of terms of the mayor and council members occur under the current law, and how their sequence would occur under every other year elections. Should any of you have any questions prior to your meeting, please do not hesitate to give me a call (561- 5440). MEMOPANDUM TO: Gerald G. Splinter, City Manager FROM: Tom Bublitz, Administrative Assistant DATE: March 21, 1984 SUBJECT: odd and Even Year Elections Minnesota's Home Rule Charter Cities have the choice to hold local elections on any secular day of the year and with whatever frequency they prefer. In a pamphlet titled "November City Elections- Odd or Even Years" the League of Minnesota Cities reviewed some of the issues to consider when choosing an odd (off year) or even year election. A summary of the issues raised by the League follows: For even year elections: 1. The vote at City elections will be greatly increased. Ballots cast at state elections have been 2 to 10 times as numerous as those cast in comparable City elections, and this disparity may be even greater between a City election with few contests and a presidential election. 2. The City's total election expense will be reduced. This is partic- ularly significant in larger cities with a greater number of precincts. For odd year elections: 1. Voters at the odd year election are likely to be better informed on City candidates and issues. While a larger vote on municipal candidates seems assured under consolidated elections, voters are likely to become confused over the multiplicity of names and questions on the ballot. Many who go to the polls will be inter- ested in casting ballots only for state and federal offices, particularly in a presidential year; yet even if uninformed on local candidates and issues, they are not likely to leave the City ballot blank as long as they have come to the polls. 2. Focusing attention on municipal problems as much easier when the City election is held separately. Because the attention of the electroate will be largely drawn to candidates and issues at state and national levels, a greater burden will be placed upon the local candidates for office as well as those interested for or against special City issues on the ballot if the election is held in even years. 3. Consolidated elections may encourage partisanship at the local level. Opponents point out, however, that the election of 'county and judicial officers has not been made noticeably more partisan by occuring at the same time as the election to partisan offices. -2- 4. Except in cities having voting machines, ballot counting errors are minimized when a separate City election is held. 5. Administration of the permanent registration system may be somewhat easier when a separate City election is held. Under the statewide permanent- registration system, voters are permitted to register at the polls when they are not already registered. To the extent that this registration is accomplished at .the odd year City election, the task is lightened at the state general election, when a much larger turnout makes registration at the polls more time consuming and difficult. 6. Going to the polls once a year is likely to stimulate voter inter est in public affairs more than a consolidated election plan under which the voter may cast his or her vote for general govern- ment candidates only once every two years. A yearly reminder of the privilege and responsibilities of the vote may be healthy in a democracy. The preceding summary of the advantages and disadvantages of even and odd year elections was prepared by the League of Minnesota Cities and is included here only to point out some of the issues for purposes of discussion. Home Rule Charter Cities may choose any election day by Charter amendment. The amendment to the Charter can be by ordinance which requires a recommen- dation of the Charter Commission to the City Council and adoption of the ordinance by the City Council after a public hearing. No election is required unless a referendum petition is filed. In statutory cities the municipal general election is held on the first Tuesday after the. first Monday in November in every even numbered year. The governing body of a statutory City may, by ordinance passed at a regular meeting held before September 1 of any year, elect to hold the election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each odd numbered year (see Minnesota Statutes 205.07 attached). Minnesota Statutes section 205.20 (attached) established a uniform municipal election day for Home Rule Charter Cities. The uniform municipal election day for Home Rule Charter Cities is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd .numbered years. Home Rule Charter Cities are not required to adopt the uniform municipal election day but may adopt by ordinance the uniform election day as its municipal election day. Subidivision 4 of Minnesota Statute section 205.20 provides for procedures to modify the terms of office of incumbents at the time of adopting the uniform municipal election day. This provision of the law provides for the extension of existing terms in order to adjust to the change in election day and years. The Statute does not specifically address a situation where a municipality would change from an odd year to an even year election but from the information I have obtained through the League of Minnesota Cities the provisions for the modification of terms of office in 205.20 subdi- vision 4 would also apply to the change from an odd year election to an i --3- even year election. This is somewhat of a gray area in the statute since Home Rule Charter Cities have much more latitude in choosing their election dates than do statutory cities, but the provisions for extending the terms of incumbents in 'a switch from odd to even or even to odd still relate to Minnesota Statutes section 205.20. Ch. 62 188 LAWS of MINNESOTA for 1983 Ch. 62 tnajority in its f�±' Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 205.07, subdivision 1, is amend- irrst. The ed to read: the last pF6c4 a} 205.07 CiTY GENERAL ELECTION, changed accordir. the returns made Subdivision 1. DATE. The rvealar city municipal general election in election T 4 each statutory city shall be held hienninlly on the first Tuesday after the first f +sail} =TM Monday in November in every even numbered year; except that the governing body of any a statutory city may, by ordinance passed at a regular meeting held Subd. 2' before September I of any year, elect to hold the election on the first Tuesday held in statutor% after the first Monday in November in each odd numbered year. A-Ry A city elections to fill which is was a village on January 1, 3974 and has before that date provided for a subdivision 2a. system of biennial elections in the odd numbered year shall continue to hold its Sec. 5. elections in that year until changed in accordance with this section. When a city changes its elections from one year to another, and does not provide ot4 fxvi for 205.13 ill`' the ex piration of terms by ordinance, the term of any an incumbent expiring at a Subdivisio{. time when no sity municipal election is held in the months immediately prior less than four \k. therete to expiration is extended until the date for taking office following the neat general election if scheduled G-i municipal election. If sash the change results in having three and des*� desir councilmen to be elected at a succeeding election, the two person individuals for an office to b receiving the highest vote shall serve for terms of four years and the p with the mantel individual receiving the third highest number of votes shall serve for a term of P� i sang two years. To the e4tet�t n csSar to provide f an orderly transition to the rsquire-d of municipal cl�! odd or even year election plan, the governing body of the city may adopt less than five supplementary ordinances regulating initial elections., and officers to be chosen at municipality why' sw-h the elections and shortening or lengthening the terms of incumbents and application is has those se elected at the initial election so as to conform as soon as possible to the the application lk regular schedule provided in section 412.02, subdivision 1. Whenever the time fitting fee to t for holding of the sit± municipal election is changed, the cite clerk immediately oll' ballot wttl:: shall notifv in writing the county auditor and secretary of state of the change of date; 'aim. Thereafter the rvi rr f city municij!:aj general election shall be held on Subd. 2. 7 the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each odd- numbered or first day to file aft? even- numbered year until the ordinance is revoked and similar notification of the stating the first a!< change is made. the clerk's office L! Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 1932; section 205.10, is amended to read: The clerk shall 1" a ff i d a vits of cand:. 205.10 SP-is AAA CITY SPECLAL ELECTIONS. Subd. 3. I x Subdivision 1: QUESTIONS, Special elections may be held in any a amount of the fee t, statutory or home, rule charter city on ar►y a question on which the voters are the filin fee for authorized by law or charter to pass judgment. A special election may be ordered by the governing body of the city on its own motion or, on a question In first that has not been submitted to the voters in an election within the previous six (In secLx'•- months pfc�uii>tr r, upon a petition signed by a number of voter equal to 20 percent of the votes cast at the last r.+grrlaF city municipal general election. Ale A In feint question &u srrbmtitled shall be d*onred is carried v4iilwut stwlr a ortl with the Changes or :x Changes or additions are indicated by underline, deletions by ofike<wi. 0. 62 LAWS or MINNF -SOTA for 1983 193 Seca 9, (245.185] PROCEDURE. Subdivision I. MATERIALS, BALLOTS. The municipal clerk shall Lr epare and have printed the necessary election materials, including ballots, for a_ municipal election. Subd. 2. ELECTION, CONDUCT. A municipal election shall be by secret ballot and shall be held and the returns made in the manner provided for the state Qencral election, so far as practicable. Subd. 3. CANVASS OF RETURNS, CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION, BALLOTS, DISPOSITION. Within two dais after an election, the governing n body shall canvass the returns and declare the results of the election. After the time for contesting elections has passed. the municipal clerk shall issue a certificate of election to each successful candidate. In case of a contest, the d certificate shall not be issued until the outcome of the contest has been deter mined by the .rl? r court. in case of a tie vote, the pol6erning body shall a determine th e result by lot. The cler shall certifti the results of the election to the county auditor, and the clerk shall be the final custodian of the ballots and f the returns of the election: Subd. 4. RECOUNT. A losing candidate at a municipal election may fin rEquest a recount of the r votes fa that oil sub ect to the requirements of section Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 205.20, is amended to read: 205.20 UNIFORM MUNICIPAL ELECTION DAY. xt Subdivision 1. Far the Iu+q)as" of this Seoul, *e- term f ttpuai: palit} frican a home Pu-W .4- +roe -f c-ily 'n Subd 2, UNIFORM NtUNT- C -41 KLFX�ON D.- IsSTAII- .S USITIA) ESTABLISHMENT. T here is hereby established a uniform municipal d election day for home rule charter cities. The uniform municipal election day shall be the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd- numbered 11 }ears. -Ntii ipal Oliicials elected on that date shall take office on the first t business day of Jaruravy next succeeding their election for sit the term a which 11 is provided by law cr as is `oc {Ea +raper p-io- viticd. The governing body of a t0-urtieipal4y home rule charter city may designate a date for the municipal Primary which is not less than 14 days before the uniform municipal election day. t t Subd. 4 2. ADOPTION B CITY. Not%vithstanding any provision of 13W or municipal charter to the contrary, and subject to the provisions of this section, the governing body of a rrra►rtic-ipality home rule charter city may adopt by ordinance adopt the uniform municipal election day as its municipal election day. Changes or additions are indicated by underline, deletions by etrili —A. f'�..�y. __.._..tea...,.. S:. 4 t 194 LAWS of MINNESOTA for 1983 Ch. 62 Subd. 4 3. MODIFICATION OF TER11S Oh OFFICE. If (tic uniform municipal election day is adopted, the terms of all incumbents who at the time of adoption of the ordinance hokhng hold offices filled by municipal election and whose terms end at a different date are lwrv*y extended to the first business day in January of the even numbered year first following the date the term would otherwise expire, unless this extension would be longer than 13 months. If the extension would be longer than 13 months, the terms of rush those incumbents are hereby shortened so as to end on the first business day in January of the even L numbered year first preceding the date the term would otherwise expire. t Notwithstanding any provision of law or municipal charter to the con- trary, the governing body of a mu;iie-ihalit-y home rule charter city adopting the uniform municipal election day shall designate in the adopting ordinance dcsig s state a new term for each office to be filled where the term for such the office at the time of the ordinance is an odd number of years. Sueh The new terms shall be for an even number of years and for no more than one year longer than the term in effect at the time of the adoption of the ordinance. At the time of any election, the governing body may also provide that one or more members of any a multi- member body shall be elected for a shorter term than is otherwise provided, if and in the manner necessary to achieve staggered terms on sac the multi- member bedic-s b odv so that, to the extent rrtathtically possible, the same an equal number of members is th­e*e4te -f chosen at each election, exclusive of those chosen to fill vacancies for unexpired terms. Subd. 4 4. EFFECT OF ORDINANCE; REFERENDUM- An ordi- nance adopting the uniform municipal election day shall stet bc-cc2;t is effective vaQ 90 days after passage and publication or at &u-sh a later date as is fixed in the ordinance. Within 60 days after passage and publication of &I, -lt an the ordinance, a petition requesting a referendum on the ordinance may be filed with the sttas3i6pA city clerk. The petition shall be signed by eligible voters equal in number to five percent of the total number of votes cast in the municzipatity city at the last state general election. If the unire4pal4y city has a system of permanent registration of voters. only registered voters are eligible to sign the petition. If the requisite petition is filed within the prescribed period, the ordinance shall not become effective until it is approved by a rn'tjor -it-y Est at least 55 percent of the voters voting on the question at a general or special election held at least 60 days after submission of the petition. If the petition is filed, the governing body may reconsider its action in adopting the ordinance. Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 205.84, is amended to read: 205.84 WARDS IN CERTAIN CITIES. Subdivision 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. In any a statutory city elect- ing councilmen by wards, wards shall be as equal in population as practicable and each ward shall be composed of compact, contiguous territory'. Each councilman r shall be a resident of the ward for which he is elected, but a change in ward l Changes or additions are indicated by underline, deletions by Ftsilc -ous. I f n '1. Ch. 63 LAWS of MiNNtSOTA for 1983 193 boundaries does not disqualify a councilman from serving for the remainder of his term. `i Subd. 2. REDEFINING IVARD BOUNDARIES. The governing body of the city may by ordinance redefine ward boundaries after any regular a municipal Fencral election. The council shall h old a Public hearing on the proposed ordinance before its a�!plion. One wcek's published notice of the hearing shall be given. Within six montlis after the official certification of each federal decennial or special census. the governing body of the city shall either confirm the existing ward boundaries as conforming to the standards of subdivi- sion 1 or redefine ward boundaries to conform to those standards. If the governing body of the city fails to take either action within the time required, no further compensation shall be paid to the mayor or councilmen until the wards of the city are either reconfirmed or redefined as required by this section. An ordinance establishing new ward boundaries shall apply to the first election held at least six months after adoption of the ordinance. *%�o r ion 44W sit-p inte wards sha# be mad utlt+l 4te- gove-tning body of the Gity has held a }4bl+s E sting on the pfepoSe ordirsanC-Q a4" ene wce"' Pab4i4re4 net -iGe t. Sec. 12. REPEALER. Minnesota Statutes 1982, sections 205.03; 205.04; 205.11; 205.14; 205.15; 205.19; and 205.21 are repealed. Approved April 28, 1983 CHAPTER 63 H.F.No. 597 t An act relating to retirement; adding a correctional employees plan member to the state retirement system board. consolidating and eliminating obsolete language: amending Minnesota Statutes 1952, sections 3_52.07- subdivision 1. and 352B?9. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: i Section L Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 352.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read: Subdivision 1. MEMBERSHIP OF BOARD; ELECTION; TER41. The policy making function of the systern is hereby vested in a board of ni;w I 1 t members, who shall be known as the board of directors, hereinafter called the board. This board shall consist of three members appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be a constitutional officer or appointed state official and two of Whom shall be public members knowledgeable in pension matters, four state employees who shall be elected by state employees covered by the system excluding employees of the tFa+v&it eperating diwtiion of t#le nw4+Ope14a,► 1"nmt Changes or additions are indicated by underline, deletions by stsikeow.