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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 12/07/2010 - ITEMS RELATING TO A CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE RE DATE: December 7, 2010 STAFF: Wanda Krajicek • • • Items Relating to a Citizen-Initiated Ordinance Pertaining to the Implementation of Ranked Voting in Fort Collins Elections. A. Presentation of a Petition for a Citizen-Initiated Ordinance That Would Implement Ranked Voting in Fort Collins Elections,Which Petition Has Been Certified by the City Clerk as Sufficient for Placement on a Regular Municipal Election Ballot. (No Action Needed) B. First Reading of Ordinance No. 133, 2010, Pertaining to the Implementation of Ranked Voting in Fort Collins Elections. (Option 1) OR Resolution 2010-075 Submitting a Proposed Citizen-Initiated Ordinance Pertaining to the Implementation of Ranked Voting in Fort Collins Elections to a Vote of the Registered City Electors at the Next Regular Municipal Election on April 5, 2011. (Option 2) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City Clerk's Office received an initiative petition on November 24, 2010, which has been determined to contain a sufficient number of signatures to place an initiated measure before the registered electors of the City. Pursuant to the City Charter, upon presentation of an initiative petition certified as sufficient by the City Clerk, the Council must either (1) adopt the proposed ordinance without alteration within 30 days (Option 1); or (2) submit such proposed measure, in the form petitioned for, to the registered electors of the city(Option 2). If the Council chooses to submit the proposed measure to the voters, Resolution 2010-075 would submit the measure and establish the ballot language for the measure. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The City Clerk's Office has certified a sufficient number of signatures on an initiative petition received on November 24,2010. Under Article X of the City Charter, 2,517 signatures of registered electors(at least 10%of the total ballots cast in the last regular City election)are required to place an initiative on a regular election ballot. Upon presentation of an initiative petition certified as to sufficiency by the City Clerk, the Council must either adopt the proposed ordinance without alteration or submit the proposed measure in the form petitioned for, to the registered electors of the city. The purpose of the initiated measure is to amend the City Code by the addition of a new Section 7-104 so as to require that all races for Mayor or Councilmember which include at least three candidate be conducted using a ranked voting method that is consistent with CRS 1-7-1003. The text of the proposed ordinance is as follows: WHEREAS,The current"plurality"elections often produces results in which candidates are elected without a clear majority of the vote and contributes to the"spoiler"effect,and, WHEREAS,Ranked voting-allows voters to express fuller preferences by rank-ordering candidates,is more likely to produce a majority winner, mitigates the "spoiler" effect, and creates incentives for greater participation in elections and for positive campaigning;therefore, BE IT ENACTED by the voters of the city of Fort Collins that City Code be amended by the addition of a section 7-104 reading: "All races for Mayor or Councilmember including at least three candidates shall be conducted using a ranked voting method consistent with CRS 1-7-1003." December 7, 2010 -2- ITEM 27 STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution submitting the proposed measure to the voters. ATTACHMENTS 1. Petition certification ATTACHMENT 1 STATE OF COLORADO ) COUNTY OF LARIMER ) SS. ) CITY OF FORT COLLINS ) PETITION CERTIFICATION I, the undersigned, duly appointed and authorized City Clerk of the City of Fort Collins, Colorado do hereby certify that a petition received from Wanda Mayberry on November 24, 2010, requesting that Council place an initiated ordinance on the ballot for the regular biennial City election occurring on April 5, 2011, has been determined to contain at least 2,517 signatures of registered voters who live within the Fort Collins city limits, and the petition is determined to be sufficient to require placement of the measure on a regular municipal election ballot. Said ordinance requires the implementation of ranked voting in City elections. Dated at Fort Collins, Colorado this 1st day of December, A.D. 2010. 4�a ?,Cq$ Wanda M. Krajicek, CitKlerk .'a . 0 C Log .moo OPTION 1 ORDINANCE NO. 133, 2010 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS IMPLEMENTING THE USE OF RANKED VOTING IN CITY ELECTIONS WHEREAS,The current"plurality"elections often produces results in which candidates are elected without a clear majority of the vote and contributes to the "spoiler" effect, and, WHEREAS, Ranked voting allows voters to express fuller preferences by rank-ordering candidates, is more likely to produce a majority winner, mitigates the "spoiler" effect, and creates incentives for greater participation in elections and for positive campaigning; therefore, BE IT ENACTED by the voters of the city of Fort Collins that City Code be amended by the addition of a section 7-104 reading: "All races for Mayor or Councilmember including at least three candidates shall be conducted using a ranked voting method consistent with CRS 1-7-1003." Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 7th day of December,A.D.2010,and to be presented for final passage on the 21 st day of December,A.D.2010. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on the 21 st day of December, A.D. 2010. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk OPTION 2 RESOLUTION 2010-075 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS SUBMITTING A CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RANKED VOTING IN CITY ELECTIONS AT THE NEXT REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTION ON APRIL 5 , 2011 WHEREAS , under Article X, Section I of the City Charter, the registered electors of the City have the power to propose a measure to the City Council, and if the City Council fails to adopt a measure so proposed, then to adopt or reject such ordinance or resolution at the polls ; and WHEREAS , an initiative petition relating to the implementation of ranked voting in City elections has been submitted to the City, and the City Clerk has certified said petition as sufficient for submission of the initiated ordinance to a vote of the people at a regular municipal election; and WHEREAS, the City Clerk has presented said petition to the City Council as provided in Article X, Section 5 (f)(4) of the City Charter; and WHEREAS , under Article X, Section I (e) of the City Charter, upon presentation of an initiative petition certified as to sufficiency by the City Clerk, the City Council must either adopt the citizen-initiated ordinance without alteration within thirty (30) days or submit said citizen- initiated ordinance in the form petitioned for, to the registered electors of the City; and WHEREAS , under Article X, Section 6 of the City Charter, upon ordering an election on any initiative or referendum measure, the Council shall, after public hearing, adopt by resolution a ballot title and submission clause for the measure; and WHEREAS , the ballot title for the measure must identify the measure as either a city initiated or citizen initiated measure; and WHEREAS the submission clause must be brief, must not conflict with those selected for any petition previously filed for the same election, and must unambiguously state the principle of the provision sought to be added. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows : Section 1 . That there is hereby submitted to the registered electors of the City at the next regular city election to be held on Tuesday, April 5 , 2011 , the following proposed citizen-initiated ordinance : WHEREAS, The current "plurality" elections often produces results in which candidates are elected without a clear majority of the vote and contributes to the "spoiler" effect, and, WHEREAS, Ranked voting allows voters to express fuller preferences by rank-ordering candidates, is more likely to produce a majority winner,mitigates the"spoiler"effect,and creates incentives for greater participation in elections and for positive campaigning;therefore, BE IT ENACTED by the voters of the city of Fort Collins that City Code be amended by the addition of a section 7-104 reading:"All races for Mayor or Councilmember including at least three candidates shall be conducted using a ranked voting method consistent with CRS 1-7-1003." Section 2. That the foregoing proposed citizen-initiated ordinance is hereby submitted to the registered electors of the City at said regular municipal election in substantially the following form: PROPOSED CITIZEN-INITIATIVE ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO RANKED VOTING An ordinance •amending the City Code by the addition of a new section 7-104 requiring that all races for Mayor or Councilmember which include at least three (3) candidates be conducted using a ranked voting method that is consistent with the requirements of state law. FOR THE ORDINANCE AGAINST THE ORDINANCE Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 7th day of December A.D. 2010. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk