TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Sheryl L. Bratton - County Counsel
REPORT BY: Silva Darbinian - Deputy County Counsel
SUBJECT: Consolidating Various Elections
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt a Resolution consolidating elections for the following jurisdictions, with the November 5, 2024 statewide general election: Cities of American Canyon, Calistoga, Napa, St. Helena, and Town of Yountville, the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority, the Napa Valley Unified School District, and the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District; and direct the Registrar of Voters to conduct these elections, with full reimbursement of services by the jurisdictions. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
City and Town Elections:
The Cities of Napa, St. Helena, Calistoga, American Canyon and the Town of Yountville have called general municipal elections for their respective local jurisdictions. In addition, the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District has called a governing board election, Napa Valley Unified School District has called a bond measure, the City of Napa has called a sales tax measure, the City of Saint Helena has called three measures and the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority has called for a regional affordable housing bond measure.
Process:
Elections Code sections 10400 et seq., provide that municipal and district bond elections may be consolidated with a statewide primary election if ordered by the Board of Supervisors. Elections Code section 10400 et seq. applies to the municipal and district elections and accordingly applies to the elections called by the Cities and Town within Napa County, to the bond election called by NVUSD (via Education Code section 15121), and to the Park District election. Government Code section 64521(b) states that BAHFA is considered a district and Elections Code section 10400 et seq. also applies to the election concerning the BAHFA measure.
Elections Code sections 10400, 10401 and 10403 require consolidation of the various elections with the next statewide election if ordered by the Board of Supervisors. The next statewide election is November 5, 2024 (Elections Code sections 1000 and 1001.) Elections Code section 10403 provides that whenever an election called by a municipality for the submission of any question or proposition is to be consolidated with a statewide election, and the question or proposition is to appear on the same ballot as that provided for the statewide election, the municipality shall, at least 88 days prior to the date of the election, file with the Board of Supervisors, and a copy with the elections official, a resolution of its governing board requesting the consolidation, and setting forth the exact form of any question or proposition to be voted upon at the election as it is to appear on the ballot. The Cities of St. Helena, Napa, American Canyon, Calistoga, the Town of Yountville, the Park District, NVUSD, and BAHFA (collectively “Agencies”) each have adopted and timely filed the required resolutions with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.
The proposed resolution presented for adoption by the Board of Supervisors consolidates the above mentioned elections and also calls the election on the BAHFA Measure. The Resolution also provides for the reimbursement by all of the Agencies for the incremental costs of running their respective elections.
Requested Action: Adopt a Resolution consolidating elections for the following jurisdictions, with the November 5, 2024 statewide general election: Cities of American Canyon, Calistoga, Napa, St. Helena, and Town of Yountville, the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority, the Napa Valley Unified School District, and the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District; and direct the Registrar of Voters to conduct these elections, with full reimbursement of services by the jurisdictions.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: General Rule. It can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment and therefore CEQA is not applicable. [See Guidelines For the Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act, 14 CCR 15061(b)(3)]. Additionally, adoption of a resolution calling an election and/or consolidating elections is a ministerial action which is exempt from CEQA (San Bernardino Associated Governments v. Superior Court (2006) 135 Cal.App.4th 1106).