Office of the City Clerk Election Division 555 Ramirez Street, 3 rd - PDF document

Office of the City Clerk – Election Division 555 Ramirez Street, 3 rd Floor, Space 375 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Phone: (213) 978 ‐ 0444 or (888) 873 ‐ 1000 http://cityclerk.lacity.org/election/index.htm Neighborhood Council Election Unit Senior Project Coordinator Senior Project Coordinator Isaias Cantu Project Coordinators Christopher Garcia Sandra Mendoza Sofia Torres Sofia Torres Stella Yun 1

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These guidelines are not meant to constrain the discussion. They are meant to give everyone a chance to get their ideas heard. We have about an h t t th i id h d W h b t hour for this session, and I’m sure there’s a great deal of interest in sharing the best of what the NCs have done during their elections. Anyone that wants to share an idea but doesn’t want to speak up can also feel free to write those down and turn them in on the survey that you y y picked up at the sign ‐ in table. 3

The 912 Commission developed a list of recommendations and presented these to City Council. The lynchpin of these recommendations was number 45. This recommendation was that the City Clerk assume the role of implementing the Neighborhood Council Elections implementing the Neighborhood Council Elections. This would then free up DONE (and the NCs) to be able to This would then free up DONE (and the NCs) to be able to perform what they were originally intended to do: involve communities in the municipal process of governance. The idea of the City Clerk implementing NC Elections was presented by Raphe Sonnenshein (912 Commission Spokesperson) to the City Clerk, for consideration. The City Clerk directed Election Division staff to review the idea and compile a report as to how this recommendation could be implemented and its fiscal impact. The factors to be taken into consideration were the following: • Elections had to be implemented every other year on an even year (so as not to interfere with the Municipal Elections). • The budget had to include the addition of resources to implement this new task. • Had to explore how portions of the NC Election process could be standardized (in accordance with Recommendation Number 44). • Had to contain two projected implementation timelines: • a reduced pilot program for 2008 p p g • full implementation in 2010. • Where possible, the proposed plan had to respect the previous practices of the Neighborhood Councils (namely the number of positions on the board, minimum voting age, id ‐ requirement vs. self ‐ affirmation). The “feasibility study” was reviewed by the Education and Neighborhoods (E&N) Committee . The Committee recommended that an expanded report be compiled and presented to council as part of the 912 Commission’s recommendations. The expanded report was presented to and adopted by City Council on December 2007 . And so, in 2008, the City Clerk coordinated 22 Neighborhood Council Elections across Los Angeles. Because of the late approval of the recommendation, we had to work with a very tight timeline for implementing the program. We didn’t have the time we would have liked in order to prepare and communicate further with the NCs. However, we did gain from the experience. 4

For the 2010 Elections, there will be approximately 97 Neighborhood Council , pp y g Elections. There will be nine Regional Elections scheduled from March to June of 2010. ‐ NCs will be grouped geographically. ‐ Elections will be approximately every two weeks. ‐ Each region will choose their Election Day of the week 5

Benefits to City Clerk implementing elections • Bureaucratic work minimized for the NCs • Don’t have to go through the back and forth EP approval process • Don’t have to track down volunteers for Election Day • Don’t have to tally ballots • Don’t have to coordinate the pick up or storage of election materials • no more picking up voting booths and lugging them around the city The Election Division provides full service elections • Regional Information Meetings l f • Election Procedures are developed according to your bylaws • We will work with bylaws (as long they are not in conflict with EPs) • Your NC determines the minimum voting age • If you say that it’s ID requirement, then we ask for ID. • Identification of ADA Compliant Polling Site • Staffing of all Polling Places (based on previous turnout + E ‐ SWAT Teams) • Vote ‐ By ‐ Mail Process is standard for all NCs il i d d f ll C • Applicants must meet at polls requirement to vote • Website • Downloadable forms (Candidate Filing Forms, VBM Applications) • Updated Election information (EPs) • Posting results • Automated Ballot Tally Process • Tested during 2007 WCKNC Election T d d i 2007 WCKNC El i • Accuracy level is very high • Will be verified with a 100% hand count of all ballots • Tallying process will be available for all public to view at Piper Technical Center 6

All EPs are developed directly from a City Council approved template that takes the specifics directly from each NC’s DONE approved bylaws. NCs will be responsible for providing the basis upon which the Election Procedures are based – the bylaws. This will ensure that past practices are respected and taken into consideration. Define/Specify Bylaws Period (January to May 2009) • Include key items in your bylaws\stipulations y y y \ p • Minimum Voting Age • ID Requirement vs. Self Affirmation • Candidates run for more than one seat • Position Descriptions • Maps of districts/quadrants/areas • Defined Voting Models • Who can vote for whom? • Who can vote for whom? • Specialized positions requiring ID • Districts • Homeowners • Business owners • CBO reps requiring letters • How will voting models affect stakeholders/boardmembers trying to vote? • Board Vacancy Clauses • Past Precedence – explain what you mean in your bylaws • If it’s not in your bylaws or your final set of EPs, then we cannot apply • City Clerk will have default values when bylaws/stipulations are silent • Default values are derived from review of NC averages 7

Outreach (in coordination with DONE) ( ) • Neighborhood Council Liaison • Direct contact in each NC to the Election Division • Coordinates the timely review of NC materials • Recruitment of Candidates / Voters • Recruitment of Candidates / Voters • Stakeholder / Candidate Information (SCI) Meetings • Have NC Board members present at the two Regional SCI Meetings to answer questions from interested stakeholders • Provide information to stakeholders, on items such as meeting , g times and locations • Participate in the NC Election Development Group to provide feedback on • EP Template development • Election Code is based on EP Template • Policy being considered P li b i id d • Materials being developed 8

We’ve placed some general ideas in regards to NC election processes that might be of interest to you on the agenda, but feel free to bring up any ideas th t that concern you and your NC. d NC 9

Compile the questions you have asked (and the answers) • Send to participants • Post list to the website NC Election Transition Group • In development I d l t • Will be used to provide feedback on Election Procedure Template and potential policy issues • Provide NCs “alerts” as key dates are coming up • Feedback opportunity on election materials • Feedback opportunity on election materials • Sign ‐ in sheets had a check box where you can ask to be notified of group meetings PLEASE TURN IN YOUR SURVEYS!!!! PLEASE TURN IN YOUR SURVEYS!!!! Please feel free to contact our office and visit our website if you have any questions. 10