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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 05/15/2007 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 063, 2007, AMENDIN ITEM NUMBER: 8 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: May 15, 2007 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Wanda Krajicek SUBJECT Second Reading of Ordinance No. 063, 2007, Amending Certain Sections in Chapter 7 of the City Code Relating to the Board of Elections. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Ordinance, unanimously adopted on First Reading on May 1, 2007, amends the City Code to conform the Code to the City Charter, as amended by the voters on April 3, 2007, and to accurately reflect the duties of the Board of Elections. ATTACHMENTS 1. Copy of First Reading Agenda Item Summary- May 1, 2007. ATTACHMENT 1 ITEM NUMBER: 15 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: May 1, 2007 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL FF: Wanda Krajicek SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No.063,2007,Amending Certain Sections in Chapter 7 of the City Code Relating to the Board of Elections. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Ordinance amends the Ci Code t onfo t dyte ity Charter, as amended by the voters on Apri13, 2007, and to cur 1 efl th dutieoazd of Elections. BACKGROUND The Election Board was created in 1954. The purpose of the Election Board was to assist with the conduct of elections and to certify the election results. The Election Board consisted of two citizens appointed by the City Council, and the City Clerk. Prior to the age of technology and mail ballot elections,the Election Board was very involved in the conduct of elections. Election Board members recruited individuals to serve as polling place judges, often relying on friends, relatives and church members. This was truly a function that benefitted from community networking. However,as technology developed to manage lists of volunteers using databases, it became more efficien for staff o assume the role of recruiting and managing polling place judges. Certification o lect esu h a o effortless through the use of technology. In the past, verifi tion of res exe se in calculation and recalculation until the Board was satisfied th a ers er ccurate. In 1995, when the City conducted its first mail ballot election, the need for polling place judges became obsolete. Since 1995,the role of the Election Board has continually declined. In 2005,with only one citizen member in place on the Board,the role was limited to certifying the results of the election. May 1, 2007 -2- Item No. 15 An amendment to the City Charter to modify the composition of the Election Board, to consist of the City Clerk, the Chief Deputy City Clerk, and the Municipal Judge,was approved by the voters at the April 3, 2007 election. This Ordinance amends Chapte e o c ta' references to the composition and compensation of the Bo of Ele ns, n 2 of the City Code relating to the duties of the Municipal Judge. C' Opy ORDINANCE NO. 063, 2007 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS IN CHAPTER 7 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS RELATING TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WHEREAS,on April 3, 2007,the electorate of the City approved certain amendments to the City Charter; and WHEREAS, one such amendment was an amendment to Article VIII, Sections 5 and 7 of the Charter, pertaining to the composition of the Board of Elections and the certification of election results; and WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section 5 of the Charter, as amended, provides that the Board of Elections shall consist of the City Clerk,Chief Deputy City Clerk,and Municipal Judge,and that the Board shall be responsible for any election duties specified in the Charter and for such additional duties related to the conduct of elections as may be established by Council by ordinance; and WHEREAS, Chapter 7 of the City Code contains sections relating to the membership,term, compensation, and duties of the Board of Elections which are now inconsistent with the new composition and duties of the Board under the foregoing Charger amendment; and WHEREAS, staff recommends that Chapter 7 of the City Code be amended to conform the City Code to the City Charter and to accurately reflect the duties of the Board of Elections. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section1. That Article It, Division 2ofChapter 7oftheCodeof theCityof Fort Collins is hereby amended to read as follows: DIVISION 2. BOARD OF ELECTIONS See. 7-26. Duties. The Board of Elections, as established in Article VIII, Section 5 of the Charter, shall be responsible for certifying the results of all City elections in the manner described in Article V III, Section 7 of the Charter, and shall have such other duties related to the conduct of elections as may be established by the Council byordinance. Section 2. That Article II,Division 3 of Chapter 7 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended to read as follows: DIVISION 3. ELECTION JUDGES Sec. 7-41. Appointment. The City Clerk shall appoint judges for each precinct in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Division 2 of this Chapter. See. 7-42. Compensation. Pursuant to the recommendation of the City Clerk, the judges of the election shall receive compensation for their services as a judge at any election in an amount established by the City Council by resolution. The City Clerk shall select one(l)of the election jud es in each precinct to deliver the election returns registration book J g P g or list and other election papers and supplies to the City Clerk. The judges selected shall be paid an additional amount as set by the City Council for the performance of such service. Section 3. That Section 2-493 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 2-493. Municipal Court; duties of the Municipal Judge. The Municipal Court shall be in the charge of the Municipal Judge,who shall be directly responsible to the City Council for the functions and duties of the Municipal Court. The Municipal Judge shall serve as a member of the Board of Elections in accordance with the provisions of Article V III, Section 5 of the Charter. Introduced,considered favorably on first reading,and ordered published this lst dayof May, A.D. 2007, and to be presented for final passage on the l , ay of May, A.D. 2007. May r ATTEST: ALL lf� City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading this 15th day of May, A.D. 2007. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk -3-