ITEM:		PUBLIC HEARING
12.	CONSIDER ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 2017-01 – CHANGE TO EVEN-YEAR ELECTIONS
Meeting Date:			January 25, 2017	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Arlene Tavani	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: None.
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: On September 1, 2015, SB 415 was signed into law. It specifies circumstances under which a public agency must change from odd-number year Board elections to even-number year Board elections. Attached as Exhibit 12-A is draft Resolution 2017-01 that would codify the Board of Directors’ approval of a change to the Water Management District’s election schedule.

According to California Uniform District Election Law, the Water Management District’s elections are conducted on the first Tuesday, after the first Monday in November in odd-number years. Accordingly, upcoming elections are set for November 2017 in Divisions 1 and 2; and November 2019 in Divisions 3, 4 and 5.

If the Board approves a change to the election cycle by March 12, 2017, elections will be conducted in 2018 in Divisions 1 and 2; and 2020 in Divisions 3, 4 and 5. This would result in an extension of each Director’s current term by one year. However, if the Board decides to defer this decision, SB 415 states that the Board has until January 1, 2018 to adopt a plan to consolidate a future election with a statewide even-year election date no later than the November 8, 2022 statewide general election.

RECOMMENDATION: District staff recommends that the Board adopt Resolution No. 2017-01 that would establish a change from odd-number year Board elections to even-number year Board elections. Elections in Divisions 1 and 2 would occur in November 2018 and elections in Divisions 3, 4 and 5 would occur in 2020. This will result in an extension of each Director’s current term by one year.

BACKGROUND: SB 415 (Exhibit 12-B) requires districts with regularly scheduled odd-number 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 for the previous four statewide general elections.

Based on Monterey County Election Department statistics, the Water Management District is required to implement a change to even-numbered year Board elections. For example, County-wide the average turnout for the previous four statewide general elections (2014, 2012, 2010, and 2008) is 66.68%; in comparison, turnout for the regularly scheduled 2015 election is 18.62%, the difference in turnout is 48.06% Voter turnout for odd year elections in comparison to even-year elections consistently yields a difference greater than 25%. Also, consider voter turnout in the most recent November 3, 2015 Board election in Water Management District Division 3; turnout was 23.65%, which is a significant decrease from the 66.68% County-wide voter turnout.

Note that California Election Code section 1303(b) (Exhibit 12-C) allows the governing body of a special district to transition to even-numbered elections regardless of whether they experience decreased voter turnout.

IMPACTS TO STAFF/RESOURCES: (a) If Resolution 2017-01 is adopted prior to March 12, 2017, the cost for the 2018 election in Divisions 1 and 2 would be shared with other government entities conducting elections within the District boundaries. (b) There will be an additional cost to the District, which will be to pay the expenses of mailing notice of the change in election date by the County of Monterey (see item 4 of Resolution 2017-01). (c) If the decision to change the election dates is deferred until after March 12, 2017, the cost of the 2017 election in Divisions 1 and 2 will be higher than previously anticipated. Many public entities have plans to transition to the even-year schedule, which reduces the number of entities that will share in the November 2017 election cost.

EXHIBITS

12-A Draft Resolution 2017-01 – Approving the Rescheduling of Governing Body Member Elections from Odd-Numbered Years to Even-Numbered Years

12-B SB-415 Voter Participation

12-C California Elections Code Section 1303(b)

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