RulesCommunications Highlights 2008 0103

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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL RULES AND COMMUNICATIONS COMNIITTEE January 3, 2008 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. San Leandro City Hall 835 East 14th Street San Leandro, California (City Manager's Large Conference Room) HIGHLIGHTS Committee Members: Mayor Tony Santos (Chair), Councilmembers Diana Souza and Bill Stephens City Staff: Marian Handa, Steve Hollister, 7ayne Williams The meeting was called to order at 4:15 p.m. 1. Update on Instant Run-off Voting Assistant City Manager Hollister indicated that after staff provides the Committee with the latest update, a recommendation to the City Council should be made regarding the 2008 municipal election schedule. City Clerk Handa provided the Committee with a written report giving an update on the status of the Instant Runoff Voting (1RV) system. The system, designed by Sequoia Voting Systems, Inc., is currently undergoing federal testing. Once it passes federal testing, the IRV system will still need to pass the State certification process. Since the last update, the City and County of San hrancisco has contracted with Sequoia for its IRV system. Chair Santos remarked that IRV was supposed to be available sooner than now. He expressed concern about how to minimize election costs and candidates' campaign expenses without IRV. Committee Member Stephens commented that IRV would be more cost-effective than holding two elections, but that the lack of system certification is an issue. Committee Member Souza stated that she was not supportive of majority elections, and she noted that the results of the general election rarely change in a runoff. She pointed out that in the short history of San Leandro runoff elections, the outcome has never been changed by the runoff. Chair Santos noted that Measure F, the Charter amendment requiring candidates to be elected by 50°10+1 votes, was overwhelmingly passed by the voters in 2000. Committee Member Stephens