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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.22.2002 (2)COUNCIL WORK SESSION January 22, 2002 4:30 p.m. Council Chambers Members present: .Berry, Welper, Greenwood, Clark, Jordan, Hurley, Getty. Moved by Jordan, seconded by Hurley that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Three. Motion carried. The City Clerk reviewed the primary and runoff election process. Iowa law provides cities with a variety of choices for the election of city officials. There are four nomination processes: 1. Primary Election (candidates file nomination petitions) 2. Runoff Election (candidates file nomination petitions) 3. Nomination by Petition, with only one election 4. Nomination by Convention, with only one election The type of nomination process must be certified by the city clerk to the county auditor no later than 77 days before the regular city election. After certification, the nomination process cannot be changed unless the change will go into effect only for later elections. PRIMARY ELECTION The filing period for cities with primary elections is shorter and earlier than it is for other cities. Candidates file nomination petitions to get on the ballot. The number of signatures needed by each candidate is determined by the number of votes cast for that office at the previous election. (The petition must be signed by eligible electors equal in number to at least two percent of those who voted to fill the same office at the last regular city election, but not less than ten persons.) If there are one or two or no candidates for an office no primary election is held for that office. If there are more than two candidates for an office, a primary election is held four weeks before the regular election. Only the offices with more than two candidates are included on the ballot at the primary election. The two candidates who receive the most votes are declared nominated and their names appear on the ballot at the regular city election. RUNOFF ELECTION This option must be adopted by ordinance. Candidates file nomination petitions to get on the ballot. The number of signatures needed by each candidate is determined by the number of votes cast for that office at the previous election. (The petition must be signed by eligible electors equal in number to at least two percent of those who voted to fill the same office at the last regular city election, but not less than ten persons.) All of the candidates' names appear on the ballot at the regular city election in November. Only candidates who receive a majority of the votes can be declared elected. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast for an office, or if a write-in winner declines to accept election, a runoff election is held for those offices four weeks after the regular election. No more than two candidates for each office are declared nominated and their names appear on the ballot at the runoff election. (Those two receiving the highest number of votes cast for that office in the regular city election.) Candidates for the runoff election cannot withdraw. Listed below are the two nomination processes currently allowed by the City of Waterloo NOMINATION BY PETITION, CHAPTER 45 The number of signatures needed on a nomination petition is based upon the population of the city (Waterloo's population requires 25 signatures on the petition.) The regular city election is the only election held if nominations under chapter 45 have been adopted. No primary or runoff elections are required. The candidates who receive the greatest number of votes for each office on the ballot are elected. The City of Waterloo currently allows nominations under either chapter 45 or chapter 44. Council Work Session January 22, 2002 Page 2 NOMINATIONS BY CONVENTION, CHAPTER 44 Candidates are nominated by conventions of nonparty political organizations. Iowa law requires that a minimum number of people attend the convention or the convention is not valid. The convention must be attended by at least ten eligible electors, including at least one eligible elector from one-half of the voting precincts in the city. The regular city election is the only election held if nominations under chapter 44 have been adopted. No primary or runoff elections are required. The candidates who receive the greatest number of votes for each office on the ballot are elected. The City of Waterloo currently allows nominations under either chapter 45 or chapter 44. Councilperson Getty stated he is in favor of a primary election. Councilperson Welper stated that he has concerns about a primary election because some citizens will not vote in the primary and will wait for the municipal election. Councilperson Welper stated we need to get citizens involved using the Waterloo Courier and the government access channel to poll the citizens. Councilperson Jordan stated he feels a lot of people do not think about an election that early. Councilperson Hurley stated that the primary election in Cedar Rapids generated a lot of voters. Nancy Eckert, City Clerk, reported that this information can be put on the city's website that will allow the citizens to vote for their choice of election. Councilperson Greenwood suggested that the City Clerk make a presentation for the government access channel. A consent agenda was reviewed. The consent agenda shall consist of non -controversial items that will be listed such as department reports, applications and communications not requiring action by the council. All items listed under the consent agenda will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a request is made prior to the time the council votes on the motion. The vote on the consent agenda will be immediately following approval of the council agenda. The minutes of the council meeting will list each item that was approved. Councilperson Getty requested that the City Clerk do a consent agenda using items from next week's council meeting. Councilperson Jordan requested that the council agenda be put on the government channel bulletin board each week. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Hurley, seconded by Jordan that the meeting be adjourned at 4:50 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk