Chapter 2.34
ELECTIONS*
* Editor’s Note: Ords. 81-08 and 83-19 were originally adopted as § 2.34.010, Filing nomination papers for elective offices, and § 2.34.020, Notice of elections. Ord. 85-50 repealed and replaced Ch. 2.34 as derived from Ords. 81-08, 83-19 and 83-24.
Sections:
2.34.020 Filing of nomination papers for elective offices.
2.34.030 Impartial analysis of measure.
2.34.010 NOTICE OF ELECTION.
Whenever an election called by the city for the submission of any question, proposition, or office to be filled is consolidated with an election held or administered by the county, and such questions, proposition, or office to be filled is to appear upon the same ballot as that provided for such election held or administered by the county, the city clerk shall, at least ninety days, and not more than one hundred twenty days, before the date of the election cause a notice of the election to be published pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code. The notice shall be headed “Notice of Election,” and shall contain a statement of:
(a) The time of the election;
(b) The offices to be filled, specifying full term or short term, as the case may be.
In cases of a municipal election in which both offices are to be filled and one or more measures are to be voted on, the city clerk shall consolidate the notice of election and the notice of measure to be voted on into one notice published pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code.
(Ord. 85-50 §§ 1, 2 (part), 1985).
2.34.020 FILING OF NOMINATION PAPERS FOR ELECTIVE OFFICES.
Whenever an election called by the city for the filling of elective offices is consolidated with an election held or administered by the county, candidate nomination papers shall be filed not earlier than the one hundred thirteenth nor later than 5:00 p.m. on the eighty-eighth day prior to the date of election in the office of the city clerk. If nomination papers for an incumbent elective officer of the city who is eligible for re-election are not filed by 5:00 p.m. on the eighty-eighth day before the election, the voters shall have until 5:00 p.m. on the eighty-third day before the election to nominate candidates other than the incumbent for such elective office. This extension of time shall not apply where an incumbent elective officer of the city is not eligible for re-election pursuant to Section 601 of the Charter of the city of Santa Cruz. Except as provided in this section, nominations for elective offices in the city of Santa Cruz shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Elections Code of the State of California, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, insofar as the same are not in conflict with the Charter of the City of Santa Cruz or ordinances adopted pursuant thereto.
(Ord. 85-50 § 2 (part), 1985).
2.34.030 IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE.
From and after the effective date of this section whenever any measure qualifies for a place on the ballot pursuant to Chapter 3 of Division 5 of the Elections Code of the State of California (commencing with Section 4000), or pursuant to local ordinance adopted under the authority of Section 706 of the Charter of the City of Santa Cruz, the chief finance officer of the city shall prepare an impartial analysis of the measure describing the measure and including a fiscal analysis of the measure showing the amount of any increase or decrease of revenue or cost to the city government. The analysis shall be written in clear and concise terms which will be easily understood by the average voter and shall avoid the use of technical terms wherever possible.
In accordance with standard contract procedures, the chief finance officer of the city may contract for professional writers, educational specialists, or other personnel for assistance in writing an analysis that fulfills the requirements of this section. The chief finance officer may also request the assistance of any city department, agency or official in preparing the analysis. The analysis shall be included in the sample ballot materials.
(Ord. 89-05 §§ 1, 2, 1989).
2.34.040 DISTRICT ELECTIONS.
(a) In furtherance of the purposes of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 and consistent with the City Charter, six councilmembers shall be elected by district, and there shall be one at-large, directly elected mayor.
(b) Six city council districts are hereby established, as shown and numbered on the map entitled City of Santa Cruz District Map 602, a copy of which shall be maintained on file in the office of the city clerk.
(Ord. 2022-06 § 7, 2022).