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7.
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| City Council Regular Meeting |
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| BACKGROUND |
The attached Resolution calls the November 5, 2019, Joint General Election to elect Councilmembers in Places 1, and 2 and for the Mayor for a three-year term to begin November 2019 and ending 2022.
The City Secretary’s office again has taken the lead to work with the different entities about the future of elections in our jurisdictions, many of which are in more than one County. Discussions have revolved around these entities to sign agreements each with Bexar, and Guadalupe counties for their respective elections. By holding elections this way, many benefits are realized:
Entities will divide the costs proportionately thereby creating a savings to each entity
Utilize common Early Voting and Election Day poll locations/Vote Centers
Utilize common voting equipment
Utilize common voting clerks
Reduce Voter confusion and difficulty by only having to go to one location for all elections
Open more Early Voting locations within the different counties
Utilization of Vote Centers for both Bexar and Guadalupe County on election day
Guadalupe County has not received any final word from Comal on their locations, but theirs was approved through Commissioners Court on June 25, 2019.
We were informed by Comal County that they have started submitting their application to the Secretary of State to use Vote Centers in November. If they are approved, Guadalupe County would not be able to handle the Comal portion of the City of Schertz Election, and we would have to contract with them, but as of the date of this writing Guadalupe is currently planning on handling it as always, but we need to be aware of the possibility of this change. The estimated cost portion for Comal County would be an additional $3,055.12. Comal County application has not been approved by their Commissioners Court as of this date. When approved, they will submit to the Secretary of State. The last day for submission of the application is August 22, 2019. I have attached a copy of their Contract which has been reviewed and approved by our Purchasing Department as well as a copy of their draft early voting locations. The early voting locations has not been approved by their Commissioners Court. This will take place in August.
On election night, the City Secretary will take the unofficial results from the counties and tally the results for posting at City Hall and on the City website.
Action on this item will authorize staff to finalize agreements with Bexar, and Guadalupe counties and their respective Election Administrators to conduct the City election, as well as finalize a Joint Elections Contract with other entities. Should Comal County obtain approval for Vote Centers the City of Schertz will need to contract with Comal County. Comal County has not received approval at this time but if they obtain approval we will need to revisit contracting with them.
The City Secretary has posted notice of filing for application for place on the General Election ballot information on the city’s website, bulletin board and in the Schertz magazine. The first day to file for place on the General Election ballot is Saturday, July 20, 2019, but since City Offices are closed date moves to Monday July 22, 2019 and the last day to file for place on the November 5, 2019 General Election ballot is Monday, August 19, 2019 by 5:00 p.m. Candidate packets are available on line as well as can be picked up in the City Secretary’s office.
Bexar County and Guadalupe County met with their Commissioners court and were approved for their early voting and election day vote center locations. Bexar County will also be utilizing Vote Center Locations on election day. This means that any Bexar County registered voter can vote at any Bexar County Election Day Location, regardless of the precinct in which they reside.
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| GOAL |
| To successfully call the November 5, 2019, General election and execute appropriate documents with the Election Administrators of Bexar and Guadalupe Counties to conduct our election. |
| COMMUNITY BENEFIT |
| To hold joint elections with the various entities for the November 5, 2019, General, Special and other elections with the Election Administrators of Bexar and Guadalupe Counties thus utilizing common early voting and election day vote centers for all our registered voters. This will also save the tax payers money as the different entities also holding elections during this time will share costs. |
| SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION |
It is recommended Council approve Resolution No. 19-R-81 calling the November 5, 2019, City of Schertz Joint General Election and approving contracts with the Elections Administrators of Guadalupe and Bexar County Election Administrators to conduct the election and approving joint election agreements.
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| FISCAL IMPACT |
Estimated Costs are:
$19,250.50 for Guadalupe and Comal Counties (if we were the only entity…it is likely that this will go down due to other entities sharing the cost). This amount does cover the Guadalupe County Election Administrator to run the Comal County portion of our voters.
$3,000.00 for Bexar County (if we were the only entity…it is also likely that this will go down due to other entities sharing the cost). $3,100.00 for Comal County should we have to contract with them.
Estimated cost for publication of election notice both in English and Spanish two times is $6, 000.00. Total estimated cost $31,350.50.
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| RECOMMENDATION |
It is recommended Council approve Resolution No. 19-R-81 calling the November 5, 2019, City of Schertz Joint General Election and approving contracts with the Elections Administrators of Guadalupe and Bexar County Election Administrators to conduct the election and approving joint election agreements.
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