Budget and Oversight of Public Elections Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 ELECTIONS COMMISSION
BUDGET AND OVERSIGHT
OF PUBLIC ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
City Hall, Room 421
City andCounty of San Francisco
Minutes of the Meeting Held
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
(Approved: __________ )
1. Call to Order and Roll Call. Chairperson Matthews called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. PRESENT: Commissioners Richard P. Matthews, Rosabella Safont, Gerard Gleason, Deputy City Attorney Mollie Lee and Deputy Director Budget and Personnel of Elections Aura Mendieta.
2. Discussion and possible action to approve the Budget and Oversight of Public Elections Committee minutes for March 4, 2009. The Roll Call Vote to approve the minutes was UNANIMOUS.
3. Director’s Report on preparations for the May 19, 2009 Statewide Special Election. Deputy Director Mendieta reported that pollworker recruitment has begun, warehouse staff has been hired to prepare for supply arrivals, the Voter Information Pamphlet (VIP) has been sent for printing, ballots are arriving, a vote-by-mail application went on the DoE’s website today, and 153 precincts have been consolidated (originally there were 561, now there are 409). The number of precincts removed is due to the elimination of inaccessible sites (21 were reduced to 13 sites), and smaller sites which had less than 300 square feet of space (69 were reduced to 32 sites). The Department’s goal is that polling sites not have less than 500 square feet of space, and area topography, geography and nature barriers (freeways, reservoirs, parks) are taken into account. Precincts were paired to not exceed 2000 voters. Voters will be informed of these changes by a postcard notice which will also include a vote-by-mail application, a new polling place address will be printed on the back of their VIP, and by a notice posted at the voter’s previous polling location.
Deputy Director Mendieta gave the Committee a list of all current polling sites which included four locations yet to be determined.
Commissioner Gleason asked if the Department had a map of the precinct areas, and if the Commission could be given samples of all voter information regarding the precinct changes. Deputy Director Mendieta said that the map is not yet completed.
Deputy Director Mendieta reported that the VIP for the May election is currently on line and that mention is included about the changes in poll locations.
Commissioner Matthews noted that the Commission was broadly supportive of consolidation of precinct locations in the past. However, some members of the public and newspaper editorials have voiced concerns about consolidations. He said the Elections Commission needs to be prepared with as much information about the recent consolidations as possible.
Deputy Director Mendieta said that the consolidations will result in monetary savings because of the reductions in Field Election Deputies, fewer pollworkers, Sheriffs, deliveries of equipment to sites, and less vehicles. She estimated a savings of $200,000 from these eliminations.
Commissioner Safont asked if there would be a consolidation of voting equipment at the consolidated polling sites. Deputy Director Mendieta answered that because the ballot for the May election will be a single card, there will be one machine for each precinct.
Commissioner Gleason suggested that there be two different colored secrecy sleeves used at consolidated polling sites to differentiate the ballots, by precinct, at such sites.
Commissioner Matthews said that in his experience he has seen as many as three precincts at one location (like a large recreation room at a school) in some cities, and the situation was “madness”.
Commissioner Matthews asked if, down the road, consolidated precincts could become officially one precinct. Deputy City Attorney Lee answered that this would require a more rigorous process subject to more regulation.
Commissioner Gleason said that with the upcoming 2010 Census, and the increase of vote-by-mail voters, the 1000 voters per precinct regulation should be reviewed for amendment.
4. Director’s Report on the status of the Elections Department Draft Budget for FY 2009 – 2010. Deputy Director Mendieta reported that the Mayor’s Office is still reviewing the DoE budget and therefore there have been no changes to date. Director Arntz attended the Budget and Finance Committee of the Board of Supervisors hearing today regarding the Department’s supplemental request for the May election and the reimbursement revenue deficit from City College’s election of $247,000. The request will be sent to the full Board with recommendations. It appears that City College’s invoice will be paid to the DoE.
5. Discussion and possible action regarding issues pertaining to the Elections Commission’s oversight of the next election. Chairperson Matthews reviewed the discussion and consensus from a previous full Commission meeting regarding Commissioners’ being deputized to observe anything pertaining to the elections process. Commissioner Gleason reminded the Committee that the Commission agreed that it would credential its members for each election. He reminded the Committee that many Commissioners will be working as pollworkers or inspectors during elections.
Chairperson Matthews asked the Deputy Director if there was a mechanism for voters to offer feedback on the election. Deputy Director Mendieta replied that voters could email any feedback to [email protected] on the DoE’s website.
6. Discussion regarding items for future agendas. Commissioner Safont requested an update of the information requested at this meeting. Commissioner Gleason requested that the full Commission be made aware that the May Commission meeting will be a day after the May 19, 2009 Statewide Special Election and we typically do not meet that soon after an election.
ADJOURNMENT at 6:30 pm.