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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/17/2007 - STAFF REPORTS - 5.B. O�pALMS.4 U N C. CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT DATE: OCTOBER 17, 2007 NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: APPROVING A VOLUNTARY PILOT CITY POLLWORKER PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS CERTAIN CITY EMPLOYEES TO WORK AT THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY, AS ELECTION OFFICERS FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager BY: James Thompson, City Clerk SUMMARY The City Council will consider a resolution approving a temporary voluntary pilot program which would allow certain City employees to work at the polls on election day. RECOMMENDATION: 1. Adopt Resolution No. "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A VOLUNTARY PILOT CITY POLLWORKER PROGRAM, ALLOWING CERTAIN CITY EMPLOYEES TO WORK AT THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY, AS ELECTION OFFICERS." 2, Direct the City Clerk to prepare a report on the success and effectiveness of the pilot program, along with recommendations for a permanent program if appropriate. STAFF ANALYSIS: The Registrar of Voters has indicated that it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit capable, reliable election officers to work the polls on election day, especially in the City of Palm Springs. The 14 hour days, low stipend, increasing number and complexity of election regulations affecting the polling place, all contribute to difficulty in recruiting individuals who are willing and able to serve in this important role. For the upcoming and future elections, the Registrar of Voters has doubled the number of polling locations in the City, based in part of the City's request after the November 2006, election. Although the increase in the number of locations should allow Palm ITEM NO. City Council Staff Report October 17, 2007-- Page 2 City Pollworker Program Springs residents to exercise their democratic franchise in a more convenient and timely manner, the number of pollworkers to staff the polls will also double. As of September 26, 2007, the Registrar of Voters indicated that she needed sixty (60) poll workers for the City of Palm Springs. Additionally, the State Legislature has approved a bifurcated Presidential Primary Election in February 2008; hence we are facing 4 elections in the City during the next 12-month period (November 2007, February 2008, June 2008 and November 2008), This may lead to additional pollworker fatigue requiring even greater outreach to recruit sufficient pollworkers to staff the upcoming elections. In 2001, the County of Riverside implemented a successful County Pollwoker program, whereby a County employee may voluntarily work at the polls on election day as an alternate duty assignment, not have to use his/her leave time, and receive the County pollworker stipend. This program was modeled after successful programs in Los Angeles, Alameda and other counties. Such programs are analogous to other public employees who do not lose leave time when they are carrying out jury duty or military reserve duties, which are equally important in defending the democratic process. The City Pollworker program is proposed to operate in the same fashion with additional restrictions on the placement of City workers within the City boundaries. City employees on a voluntary basis could request to work at the polls on election day. (Approximately 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM). Employees could receive their normal daily salary from the City (no overtime) while being reassigned. Additionally, the employee would receive the stipend paid by the County for additional volunteer work beyond his/her normal work day (currently $125 for Inspectors or $90 for Precinct Officers). The program requires that all employee requests would be subject to the discretion of the Department Director to ensure each Department remains adequately staffed; sworn and critical public safety staff, City Clerk staff, and all employees that are grant and/or other program funded would not eligible to serve. Additionally, the City Clerk feels that having a City pollworker at a polling location that can be in direct contact with the City Clerk, will be able to respond to a polling place issue faster than the County. Due to the voluntary component of the program, it is not subject to meet and confer; however, the City Clerk did notify all City Bargaining Units of the proposed program, in the spirit of fostering communication and coordination on issues which benefit their membership. No negative feedback was received by any of City's Bargaining Unit. The proposed program is a temporary pilot program through the February 2008, California Presidential Primary, and would not be extended without further City Council action. The City Clerk shall present a report on the effectiveness and impacts of the program after the February, 2008 Primary Election. �VYlUP�4i City Council Staff Report October 17, 2007 -- Page 3 City Pollworker Program FISCAL IMPACT: No direct fiscal impact, as employees working at the polls daily salaries are fully budgeted; additionally, no loss of grant or program revenue as City employees that are fully funded by grants or other program funding are not eligible for the pilot program. Undetermined loss of productivity for Departments who may have City staff at the polling locations and not performing their routine assignments on election day. Minimal development and administration by the City Clerks Department, within current budgeted and staffing parameters. Y MES THOMPSON, CITY CLERK DAVID H. READY.50TYVANAGER Attachments: Proposed Resolution 600003 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A VOLUNTARY PILOT CITY POLLWORKER PROGRAM, ALLOWING CERTAIN CITY EMPLOYEES TO WORK AT THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY, AS ELECTION OFFICERS. WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that the foundation of democracy is dependent upon ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the electoral process through the volunteer services of knowledgeable, capable individuals who staff the polling locations in the City of Palm Springs; and WHEREAS, it has become increasingly difficult to recruit capable, reliable election officers to work the polls on election day; and WHEREAS, City employees are a natural resource to serve in this capacity through their public service experience and ability to communicate effectively State laws and regulations to the public; and WHEREAS, the conduct of elections has become incredibly complex and partnerships between the County and the City will further result in an improved election day process, and will provide a reasonable benefit to the City, its residents and voters. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Voluntary Pilot City Pollworker Program is hereby approved. a. City employees, on a voluntary basis, may request to work at the polls on election day as election officers. (Approximately 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM). Employees will receive their normal daily salary and benefits (but no overtime) from the City while being reassigned. Volunteer employees will not be required to use accumulated leave balance, and will be accounted as if they were reporting for a regular work day. Additionally, the employee will receive the stipend paid by the County of Riverside (currently $125.00 for Inspectors or $90.00 for Precinct Officers, plus $20.00 for attending training) for the volunteer community service work beyond his/her normal work day- b. City employees who desire to volunteer their service as election officers will apply through the City Clerk, who shall coordinate such service with the County of Riverside, Registrar of Voters. 000091-" Resolution No. Page 2 C. State law requires that election officers attend a training session prior to each election. The training will be conducted by the Registrar of Voters and scheduled at a time which will not impact the City employee's regular work assignments. d. The Registrar of Voters shall keep the City Clerk apprised and informed of City employees who volunteer for service on election day in terms of their attendance. e. The Registrar of Voters shall pay City employees their election day stipend at the same time and in the same manner as all other community service pollworkers (generally within 2 to 3 weeks of election day). f. Sworn and critical public safety employees, and City Clerk staff are not eligible to serve as City Pollworkers on election day. g. City employees that are 100% grant or other program funded, that prohibits work on other than the grant and/or funded programs, are not eligible to serve as City Pollworkers on election day. h. All employee requests are at the discretion of the Department Director, to ensure the Department is adequately staffed for that day. i. City employees must be assigned to a Palm Springs voting precinct. In general, the Registrar of Voters may only assign one City employee to each voting precinct, unless extenuating circumstances exist and are approved in advance by the Program Administrator. j. City employees must be at least 18-years old on election day, and registered to vote in California. k. The City Manager or his/her designee shall be the Program Administrator for the voluntary Pilot Program, and may promulgate further rules and/or regulations to effectuate the program, that are not inconsistent with this resolution. SECTION 2. The pilot Voluntary City Pollworker program is in full force and effect through the February, 2008, Statewide Primary Election, and shall only be extended by further action of the City Council. SECTION 3. The City Clerk is hereby directed to prepare a report, within 45-days after the expiration of the pilot program, outlining the success and effectiveness of the pilot program, along with recommendations for a permanent program if appropriate. ADOPTED THIS 171H DAY OF OCTOBER, 2007. David H. Ready, City Manager 00917 Resolution No. Page 3 ATTEST: James Thompson, City Clerk CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS ) I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No. is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on this 171h day of October, 2007, by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: James Thompson, City Clerk City of Palm Springs, California