50B - 2006 SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION

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November 7, 2006 Special Municipal Election June 19, 2006 Page 3 of 4 The City Attorney will then prepare a resolution with the ballot question language to be considered at the July 3, 2006 meeting along with second reading of the election ordinance. In order to conduct an election for placing the above measures on the ballot, State law requires the City Council to take an action calling for a special municipal election. The subject ordinance establishes November 7, 2006 as the date for this election. The ordinance calling for the special municipal election provides for the submission of the various charter amendments and includes the text of the proposed amendments to be adopted by the voters. In addition to the proposed charter amendments, both the Ad Hoc Committee on Charter Review and the Charter Amendment Citizens' Task Force recommended that the Council adopt ordinances amending relevant sections in the Municipal Code prior to placement of the charter amendments on the ballot. This was recommended to make the voters aware of the Council's intent, specifically with respect to establishing a monthly salary for the Mayor and Councilmembers, and in setting monetary limits relating to the City Manager's Authority to enter contracts. These implementing ordinances all contain a provision stating that they shall become effective only upon the approval of the respective charter amendments by a majority of the voters of the City at the special election. The implementing ordinance amending SAMC section 2-101 will refer to the Charter to set the time at which the newly elected council will convene. The implementing ordinance adding SAMC section 2-110, will set council member salaries at a level that conforms to general law cities. The implementing ordinance amending Chapter 2, Article 8 of the SAMC, will increase the City Manager's authority to bind the City on anyone contract from $10,000 to $25,000. Pursuant to the provisions of the California Elections Code, the City Council is required to formally request consolidation of the City's general election and/or special election with the State's general election. The subject resolution fulfills this requirement by requesting that the Board of Supervisors of Orange County consolidate the special municipal election of November 7, 2006 and authorizes the Board of Supervisors to canvass the election returns. California State Elections code Section 9281 provides that arguments for and against any city measure may be submitted to the qualified voters of the city. The Elections Code specifies that the legislative body, or any member or members of the Legislative body authorized by that body, may submit a written argument for or against the measure. This section further authorizes any individual voter or bona fide association of citizens to write arguments, however, the Elections Code specifies that 508-3