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Discussion of Potential Charter <br />Amendment for Primary Elections <br />and Related Election Issues <br />December 16, 2013 <br />Page 2 <br />The cities that provide for primary elections are governed by a city charter like Santa Ana. The <br />charter provides for the election procedures. In order to hold a primary election in Santa Ana, the <br />voters must approve an amendment to the City Charter. The Council would have to direct the <br />City Attorney and staff to prepare the necessary resolutions to approve a ballot measure and the <br />actual text of the measure would have to be approved at least 88 days before a regular election <br />date at which the ballot question is posed. <br />Elected vs. Appointed <br />Cities throughout the state have different ways of selecting a Mayor. Some cities directly elect a <br />Mayor and other cities appoint a Mayor from among the elected council members. According to <br />statistics from the League of California Cities, as of July 1, 2011, there were 482 incorporated <br />cities with 362 of those being general law cities and 120 being charter cities. As of May 2010, 149 <br />cities had a directly elected mayor, which includes both general law and charter cities. Also <br />attached to this report are two lists. One is a list of the 20 largest cities in California by population <br />and the list notes whether the cities are general law or charter and whether the Mayors are <br />appointed or elected. The second is a list of California cities compiled by the US Conference of <br />Mayors and this list (although not complete) describes cities with elected vs. appointed Mayors. <br />Election Costs <br />According to the Orange County Registrar of Voters a consolidated election in Santa Ana, <br />administered by the County of Orange is estimated to cost between $125,000 to $175,000. This <br />cost would be for a primary election and would be in addition to the costs associated with the <br />existing regularly scheduled municipal election in November of even - numbered years. <br />FISCAL IMPACT <br />There are no direct fiscal impacts associated with providing direction to staff on whether to <br />prepare a proposed Charter amendment. <br />7"o r <br />o is R. Carvalho <br />y Attorney <br />SRC:lg <br />65B -2 <br />