8A Consent 2009 1221 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT MINUTES Page 12 December 7, 2009 City of San Leandro City Council and San Leandro Redevelopment Agency Joint Meeting eliminated. Councilmember Stephens stated that RCV is an idea whose time is coming, but he was unsure if 2010 was the right time. Vice Mayor Starosciak commented that keeping the June election would give the City flexibility to consider a ballot measure in June. She acknowledged that RCV was probably the future, but it would not work out well in the current budget situation. Vice Mayor Starosciak stated her support for the staff recommendation. Mayor Santos remarked that a June election usually brings out a more conservative voter pool, and he suggested that the City would be better off putting a revenue measure on the November ballot. Councilmember Souza expressed uncertainty about whether the voters want RCV, and she commented that she would like to see more outreach to residents before deciding. Councilmember Souza noted that something would need to be cut from the budget in order to implement RCV. A motion was made by Councilmember Prola, seconded by Councilmember Gregory, to continue the matter to the January 19, 2010 City Council meeting, to give the Council sufficient time to ensure that Oakland is moving forward with Ranked Choice Voting, and to explore the different possibilities for mitigating the first-year costs for implementing RCV, and to give staff sufficient time to gather this information. Councilmember Reed asked when the City would need to decide whether or not to put a revenue measure on the June ballot. Ms. Handa indicated that the Council would need to take action by mid-February. Councilmember Prola agreed with Mayor Santos that a revenue measure would have a much better chance of passing in a November election. Vice Mayor Starosciak pointed out that the longer the decision is delayed, the longer staff would need to do parallel planning. She stated that she did not see the need to delay the decision. A substitute motion was made by Vice Mayor Starosciak, seconded by Councilmember Souza, to accept the staff recommendation not to pursue the use of Ranked Choice Voting for Councilmember Souza noted that there was little likelihood that more cities in Alameda County would use RCV in the near future, so there would be no additional cost sharing. Councilmember Gregory commented that the cost recovery will be realized over a relatively short period of time, and that San Leandro has the ability to demonstrate the value of RCV to the other cities in the county. He stated that RCV addresses campaign finance reform, as well as the issue of low voter turnout. Councilmember Gregory added that the League of Women Voters is a group that works to better inform voters.