REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Overview of the November 2024 Elections Process Timelines and Feasibility for Potential City Ballot Measures
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
On July 18, 2023, the City Council took action to appropriate funds to be used to explore the feasibility of potential measures on the November 2024 ballot. (RTC 23-913)
The purpose of this report is to provide the City Council with an update on the work that has been done in support of that direction as well as a summary of key dates and milestones that are required to place a measure(s) on the November 2024 ballot.
DISCUSSION
On November 1, 2023, the City issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to retain public opinion research services. Five proposals were received. Following the evaluation process, the consultant team of Tulchin Research, LLC and its partner, TeamCivX, was selected to perform the work. The following is a short synopsis of the qualifications and background of these consultants:
Tulchin Research, established in 2009, is an award-winning public opinion research and political consulting firm with offices in San Francisco, Toledo, Boston and New York. Tulchin Research specializes in polling and strategic consulting for revenue measures, local public agencies, non-profits, foundations, and candidates for elected office. The firm conducts both qualitative and quantitative research, including telephone surveys, online surveys, both in-person and online focus groups, on-line ad testing, and other forms of public opinion research. Tulchin Research has been conducting public opinion research for more than four decades.
Tulchin Research are experts in conducting public opinion research on revenue measures and have passed dozens of statewide and local revenue measures that have generated billions of dollars for local governments to invest in their communities. These measures have funded a wide range of public services including infrastructure, education, public safety, fire safety and prevention, parks and open space, and transportation among others.
TeamCivX is a team of seasoned professionals with decades of experience helping California cities and other public agencies navigate the ballot measure process to achieve locally-controlled funding.
TeamCivX specializes in helping cities and other agencies:
• evaluate the feasibility of local funding measures
• design measures for the ballot that align with community priorities, and
• implement informational communication efforts to raise awareness of your needs and inform and engage residents about a potential ballot measure.
The partners of TeamCivX have worked with more than 50 different jurisdictions on tax measures including the cities of Los Altos, San Mateo, Redwood City, Burlingame and Pacifica and agencies that include the Santa Clara Valley Water District (3 successful parcel taxes), Santa Clara County Open Space District (2 successful measures), the County of Santa Clara and CalTrain.
The scope of work for the consultant team will include, but not be limited to:
• Evaluating the feasibility of alternative local funding measures
• Development and implementation of strategies to inform and engage residents in a community conversation about the City’s infrastructure needs, priorities and the possibility of future ballot measures; and
• Design of measures for the ballot that align with the identified community priorities
Staff will provide updates to the City Council as the scope of work progresses. The first
update will be in the late March/early April timeframe to present the findings of the initial
voter research. The second update will be provided in the May/June timeframe and will
include information related to priorities identified by the community as well as
recommendations on viable ballot measures. This update will be an opportunity for the
City Council to provide direction to City policy and legal staff to assist in drafting ballot
language for Council consideration. The final update will be an opportunity for the City
Council to review the draft ballot language and provide any additional direction that may
be needed.
Potential Ballot Measures and Capital Needs
City staff intends to work with the City Council to schedule a public Study Session in March/April to discuss and receive feedback on the various options for potential ballot measures and capital needs that may be considered through one or more revenue measures. Additionally, as you know, the City is currently undertaking the development of a recommended Capital Improvement Program Budget for FY 2024-25 through FY 2025-26. This year, the internal development of the capital budget was expanded to include potential projects that may be highlighted or included in a revenue measure on the November 2024 ballot. This process has yielded more than $500M in specific projects that could be accomplished or launched within the next 5-10 years if the City had the financial resources to do so. Staff is presently conducting additional analysis of these unfunded projects and will seek City Council feedback and direction at future Study Sessions in March/April.
Calling for an Election
The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters has set the following milestones and deadlines for the November 2024 election:
|
Milestone |
Deadline |
|
Submission of Resolution Calling for an Election |
July 3, 2024 to August 9, 2024 |
|
Last Day to Submit Arguments |
August 13, 2024 |
|
Last Day to Withdraw a Measure |
August 14, 2024 |
|
Last Day to Submit Rebuttals and Impartial Analysis |
August 20, 2024 |
According to the approved City Council agenda calendar, the July 16, 2024 meeting will be the last regularly scheduled meeting at which the Council can take action to call for an election prior to the deadline set by the Registrar of Voters.
To ensure that the City Council has sufficient time to consider any potential action, the following chart provides two sets of dates. The first dates are the recommended dates, with the dates in parentheses provided should an additional meeting be required for further Council discussion and action.
|
MilestoneDeadline |
|
|
Council Adoption of a Resolution Calling for an Election |
July 9 (July 16) |
|
Submission of Arguments |
July 23 (July 30) Arguments are to be submitted 14 days following the call for an election |
|
Submission of Rebuttals & Impartial Analysis |
August 2 (August 9) Rebuttals and the Impartial Analysis are to be submitted 10 days after the submission of Arguments |
Community Engagement
Efforts in this area will include: voter research (baseline and follow-up surveys conducted in multiple languages), community meetings, mailers and presentations to the City Council, appropriate advisory bodies and community groups. In addition, the team will develop a digital/social media program to deliver information broadly to City voters and residents. As noted above, this engagement will result in a set of recommendations to be presented to the City Council at its July 9, 2024 meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Funding for the consultant services was approved by the City Council at its July 18, 2023 meeting (RTC 23-913)
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Clerk’s office, the City Attorney’s Office and the City Manager’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council note and file the report.
Staff
Reviewed by: Cynthia Bojorquez, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager