HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Election Code Committee - 09/20/2021 -
City of Fort Collins Page 1
September 20, 2021
ELECTION CODE COMMITTEE MEETING
12:00 PM
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Arndt, Canonico, Ohlson
STAFF PRESENT: Carrie Daggett, Tammi Pusheck, Rita Knoll
CITIZENS PRESENT: None
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
Robbie Moreland commented on two outstanding election complaints and suggested an independent
election oversight committee should be formed. She suggested 18 months is a sufficient amount of
time to implement ranked choice voting for the April 2023 election if it is approved at the November of
2022 election.
Jody Deschanes supported Ms. Moreland’s comments and addressed inaccurate comments about
ranked choice voting.
3. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 27, 2021 COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Vice Chair Arndt made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Ohlson to approve the August 27, 2021
meeting minutes. The motion was adopted unanimously.
4. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Campaign Finance Provisions
Chief Deputy City Clerk Knoll asked about the scope of the review of campaign finance provisions
and whether it is separate or in conjunction with considering reverting to the state law.
Vice Chair Arndt asked about the main differences between the Colorado Fair Campaign Practices
Act and the City Code. Knoll replied they were almost identical when Fort Collins wrote its Code
with the exception of not addressing state candidates. She stated local provisions were written so
they could all be contained in one document.
Vice Chair Arndt stated candidates need more clear guidance on PACs as one example.
City Attorney Daggett noted there are state, but not local, guidelines for independent expenditure
committees.
Councilmember Ohlson stated he would like to keep big money out of City elections, and if that is
not possible, there should be as much disclosure as possible regarding who is contributing.
b. Redistricting
Chair Canonico noted redistricting must be complete by October 6, 2022 for the April 2023 election.
Interim City Clerk Pusheck noted this process has already begun and funds have been budgeted
for a consultant.
Councilmember Ohlson asked about the role of the consultant stating he does not recall a
consultant being used for redistricting in the past. He stated the earlier in the process the
redistricting can occur, the better, as candidates are contemplating running for office earlier.
Vice Chair Arndt concurred an earlier date for having district boundaries set would be beneficial.
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City Attorney Daggett stated this is the first time a consultant has been used as the last redistricting
process took much longer than anticipated. She stated the consultant’s role will be to help prepare
and present options for the best way to determine the cadence for redistricting.
Chief Deputy City Clerk Knoll stated the consultant will be familiar with many different models used
in the country.
Vice Chair Arndt asked who sets precinct boundaries. Chief Deputy City Clerk Knoll replied the
County sets those boundaries and the Code requires City precincts to match County precinct
boundaries in order to obtain accurate voter data.
Councilmember Ohlson commented on ensuring an incumbent is not redistricted out if his or her
own seat.
Chief Deputy City Clerk Knoll stated it may be difficult to have redistricting occur much earlier if
census data is used. She also noted there will be a public outreach component to the consultant’s
work.
Vice Chair Arndt asked about the City’s residency requirements for candidates. Chief Deputy City
Clerk Knoll replied candidates must have been a registered voter for one year and live in the district
at the point of taking office.
Chief Deputy City Clerk Knoll noted the consultant is to assist with different methodologies;
however, if there is no desire to change that, a consultant may not be needed.
City Attorney Daggett clarified a candidate must be residing within the district at the time of
nomination, not the time of election.
Vice Chair Arndt noted state and federal congressional maps are based on population and that
seems to be the metric that makes the most sense.
Chair Canonico asked about the projected cost of the consultant. Chief Deputy City Clerk Knoll
replied it was between $80,000 and $90,000. She stated staff can put together options based on
population and the consultant may not be necessary if the methodology is not changing.
Councilmember Ohlson questioned the need for the consultant, particularly at that cost.
City Attorney Daggett noted the scope of work for a consultant has yet to be written. She stated the
redistricting triggers per the Code will be outlined and may need to be adjusted.
c. November Elections
Chief Deputy City Clerk Knoll discussed time constraints and the timeline around moving elections
to November. She noted there are currently no municipal elections in Larimer County in even
years. She noted the topic is slated for a more detailed discussion at the next meeting.
Councilmember Ohlson stated there is no reason to change to a coordinated election in odd years
and expressed support for coordinated even year elections beginning in 2024.
Chair Canonico asked if there would be anything that would prevent the extension of Council terms
should an April 2023 election not occur. City Attorney Daggett replied that would need to be a topic
of discussion for the Committee. She stated having the April 2023 election to fill terms could be a
possibility and stated the various aspects of the timing could be built into the ballot issue approving
any change to a coordinated election.
Vice Chair Arndt and Councilmember Ohlson commented on the benefits of having more voters per
election which may result from changing to coordinated elections.
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d. Ranked Choice Voting
Chief Deputy City Clerk Knoll stated the earliest ballot on which this item could appear would be
November 2022 and the earliest it could be implemented, should voters also approve a switch to
November elections, would be November of 2023. She noted the use of ranked choice voting could
only occur if the County uses a system certified by the Secretary of State for use in a ranked choice
voting election. She noted the November 2022 election would not be certified until about three
months after preparations for the April 2023 election would occur.
Councilmember Ohlson stated he would need to see some proof that implementation could not
occur by the April 2023 election and stated the consultant funding could be used to hire additional
staff if necessary.
Chief Deputy City Clerk Knoll noted candidate guidelines include election information and there
would be differences based on which type of election is run, including different certification dates
and potentially different vendors.
Committee members and staff discussed certification dates and swearing in dates. City Attorney
Daggett noted a specific swearing in date could be set, but it would need to be far enough out to
allow for recounts.
Chair Arndt opposed the last timeline for swearing in and the immediately following retreat to
determine Council priorities.
Councilmember Ohlson stated the Committee needs to know what resources are needed in order
to implement ranked choice voting for the April 2023 election, if approved in November of 2022.
e. Public Financing of Elections
Interim City Clerk Pusheck stated interns are working on collecting data from peer cities and will be
returning with information during the first quarter of 2022.
f. Election Oversight Board
Interim City Clerk Pusheck stated interns are working on collecting data from peer cities and will be
returning with information during the first quarter of 2022.
g. Partisan/Non-partisan Elections
City Attorney Daggett asked if the Committee views this as an immediate issue or more of a long-
term topic.
Councilmember Ohlson stated he has preferred non-partisan elections; however, he believes those
have not occurred in practice in years, therefore, he would rather see partisan elections. He
suggested the topic could still be placed on the same ballot with other questions.
City Attorney Daggett noted the main change with a partisan election involves the establishment of
political parties to determine who candidates on the ballot would be.
Chair Canonico supported prioritizing ranked choice voting and November elections over changing
to partisan elections. Councilmember Ohlson agreed with prioritizing those; however, he suggested
they could potentially all move forward simultaneously.
City Attorney Daggett requested a prioritization of the seven items.
Councilmember Ohlson noted redistricting has to be done. Vice Chair Arndt stated she would like
to have that done by April.
Councilmember Ohlson suggested the next priority should be campaign financing improvements,
followed by November elections and ranked choice voting.
City Attorney Daggett noted the budgeting process will be starting again in March and April and
having some direction on public election financing could be beneficial at that time.
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Councilmember Ohlson suggested public financing and the election oversight committee would be
the next priorities.
5. OTHER BUSINESS
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at 1:26 PM.
MINUTES APPROVED AT THE NOVEMBER 15, 2021 ELECTION CODE COMMITTEE MEETING