OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK DECEMBER 11, 2017 ITEM NO OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK DECEMBER 11, 2017 ITEM NO. 21 ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PLAN TO COMPLY WITH THE CALIFORNIA VOTER PARTICIPATION RIGHTS ACT (CVPRA)

OVERVIEW OF CVPRA Statewide elections in even years for Governor and President – Highest Voter Participation Election Dates California Voter Participation Rights Act (CVPRA): Signed by Governor Brown, September 1, 2015 Designed to move local elections to statewide election dates, take advantage of high voter participation (bringing elections to voters) Prohibits local elections from occurring on any date other than a statewide election date if it results in a “low voter turnout” election Low Voter Turnout Election – Turnout that is 25% below the average turnout of the last four statewide November general elections within the same voting area

PASADENA VOTER TURNOUT Pasadena local elections are “low voter turnout” elections: Average City March Election Turnout: 18.6% Average PUSD March Election Turnout: 16.1% Pasadena Average Turnout for Statewide Primary Elections: 31.4% Pasadena Average Turnout for Statewide General Elections: 63.2%

CVPRA COMPLIANCE Transition to statewide dates (requires a Charter Amendment) Consolidate with Los Angeles County - Registrar of Voters to conduct local elections: Ensures election integrity Increases voter turnout rates in local elections Eliminates legal issues/liabilities

CVPRA COMPLIANCE Other local cities are moving to statewide dates: Los Angeles* Inglewood* Monrovia San Bernardino* Signal Hill* San Marino Long Beach* Cerritos* Whittier Burbank* Beverly Hills Glendale* Glendora Culver City* La Canada-Flintridge * Indicates Charter City

NEXT STEPS Steps to comply with the CVPRA and transition to statewide election dates: Adopt a Plan before January 1, 2018 (staff recommendation): Submit a Charter Amendment for voter approval on June 5, 2018 to comply with CVPRA Determine election format by mid-January 2018 Primary/runoff format vs. plurality format If plurality, statewide Primary vs. statewide General Approve Charter Amendment language, Joint City and School District meeting in mid-February 2018 Adopt resolutions calling June 2018 special election to submit Charter Amendment measures for voter approval, end of February 2018

OPPORTUNTIES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Anticipated Future Public Meetings December 11, 2017 City Council meeting – Adopt City plan to comply December 14, 2017 Board of Education meeting – Adopt School District plan to comply January 8, 2018 City Council meeting – City election format determination January 11, 2018 Board of Education meeting – PUSD election format determination January 23, 2018 Legislative Policy Committee meeting – Review Charter changes February 15, 2018 Joint meeting of City and PUSD – Finalize Charter changes February 26, 2018 City Council meeting – Adopt resolutions calling election City Clerk Webpage: Community Forum Video, Prior Agenda Reports and Information, Public Comment Form Charter Amendment Election June 5, 2018 – Statewide Gubernatorial Primary election – City to submit Charter Amendments for voter approval

NOVEMBER 27, 2017 COMMUNITY FORUM City Clerk’s Office and League of Women Voters Pasadena Area Community Forum: “The Future of Pasadena Elections” Approximately 20-25 members of the public attended Broadcast live and running on Pasadena Media’s regular programming Posted online in English (and soon to be in Spanish) Initial Input Received Via Forum Public Comment Cards: PREFERRED ELECTION FORMAT RESPONSES RECEIVED Continue utilizing Primary and General Election Format (Run-off Elections) on Statewide Election Dates 10 Utilize Plurality Voting – March Statewide Primary 4 Utilize Plurality Voting – November Statewide General 3 Make No Changes 1 Instant Run-off Elections No Preference Indicated 2

QUESTIONS

CHARTER AMENDMENT FAILS City would seek clarification from Courts Action to Adopt Plan Protects City from Litigation Until 2022 Extend time between City’s Primary and General election for 2019 and 2021 – requires a Charter election Request County to run City and PUSD elections Extremely high quoted costs for County to conducting elections on behalf of City and School District Low voter turnout issues Potential liability for CVPRA challenge after 2022 Not a long-term solution

FLOW CHART

PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION FORMAT Option A: Continue to utilize a Primary and General election format: March Primary election (odd year) moved to March Primary election (even year) April General election (odd year) moved to November General election (even year) A successful candidate must receive a 50%+1 majority, at either: March Primary election, or November General election (only the top two candidates appear on ballot) Current terms of incumbents would be extended by 19 months: Start of terms moved from May of odd years to December of even years Extension is necessary on a one-time basis to make transition Terms cannot be reduced; no time to make changes and hold a Primary and General election format in 2018 March 2019 March 2020 April 2019 November 2020

PLURALITY VOTING FORMAT Option B: Change to single-election, plurality voting: A candidate is elected by receiving the highest number of votes cast for that race (most votes wins, no runoff required) If plurality voting, additional question to answer: March Statewide Primary election, or November Statewide General election Extend terms on a one-time basis to transition to statewide election cycle: 11 months if March Primary election; or 19 months if November General election

NEW STATE LEGISLATION Senate Bill 25 (Portantino) Elections: Ballot Order (pending) Reorders offices on the ballot Local races and measures School District races and measures County races and measures Statewide races and measures National races Aim is to improve voter focus on local races and measures