Thanks Greg. Good analysis. Marge From: Greg Blaine [mailto:gblaine_at_(domainremoved) Sent: Tuesday, October 3, 2017 3:59 PM To: city.council_at_(domainremoved) Subject: FW: Big Issue: How should Menlo Park's voting system change? Dear Council Members, In reading the Staff Report and the Shenkman letter, I believe that for now all Menlo Park need do is ".advise (Shenkman) by no later than October 3, 2017 as to whether you would like to discuss a voluntary change to its current at-large system" to avoid forcing them to seek judicial relief. I recommend that Menlo Park contact Shenkman and accept their offer to discuss a voluntary change to its current at-large system, to avoid forcing them to seek judicial relief. They appear to be well-informed and might be able to give us some (free) guidance about how to accomplish this efficiently, how other jurisdictions did it, who might best be able to help us, best practices going forward, etc. Then, staff can present a range of approaches for consideration. The staff recommendation seems like a panic response and it doesn't appear they read the letter to the last sentence. The resolution does not need to be passed in such a rushed fashion with little public input. Greg Blaine (415) 215-2755 mobile From: Menlo Park's Future [mailto:menlofuture_at_(domainremoved) Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2017 11:37 AM To: Menlo Park's Future Subject: Big Issue: How should Menlo Park's voting system change? Big Decision and One Day to Make It on a Mega Issue for Menlo Park Fellow Residents On Aug 21 the City was told that it had 45 days to switch to district elections and to decide how-not whether--district elections should be set up. To avoid a lawsuit, the reply must be transmitted by Oct. 5. On Oct 4, at 7:30 pm, City Council will take up the issue-which is obviously huge. Staff recommends that the City Council consider and select one or more of the following options: 1. Adopt Resolution of Intention to Transition from At-Large to By-District Elections and authorize City Manager to enter into Contract with National Demographics Corporation to assist in transition 2. Authorize City Manager and City Attorney to Negotiate and Enter into Contract with National Demographics Corporation to Work with the City in exploring transition to by-district elections. 3. Direct City Attorney and City Manager to Explore Transition from City At-Large Elections to "AtLarge From" District Elections in 2018. 4. Appropriate $75,000 from General Fund reserves to cover costs of the above. Disclaimer: I am no expert on this issue and have not yet formed an opinion. But I do believe the Staff Report https://www.menlopark.org/DocumentCenter/View/15679 > opens many questions and is, most emphatically late, giving the Council, and the Public, exactly one day to announce our city's intention of making some switch. The Staff Report includes the letter threatening the law suit, and the legal grounds for that threat. I also believe this issue should have been considered earlier because Menlo Park is an obvious target for such a suit-and several counties and cities have already had to change. Here are some questions I have: * Could we declare Menlo Park to be a charter city, and what additional options, if any, would that confer? This is not an option listed above. * As a General Law City, could we have ranked choice voting-even though this is not common for a general law city, or do we need to be Charter City to do this? I believe in Ranked Choice Voting for all elections. It is explained in the Staff Report . https://www.menlopark.org/DocumentCenter/View/15679 > * Are districts based on demographics alone or on number of registered voters? This is not clear. And how do the registered voters stack up among the protected Latinos and Blacks in Menlo Park? * Why does Staff recommend we transition to "an at large by district election," rather than an "at large from district election?" Or is it recommending both? * What other options could we be exploring? And do we have to decide which option right now? Although current City Council members will not lose their seats during their elected term, how will we ensure that their choice of system and district lines are not just determined by self interest. At what point, if any, should the public vote. These are top-of-head questions. I am sure more will come to mind. Please email your thoughts, questions-and ideas-- to City.Council_at_(domainremoved) Sincerely, Lee Duboc (menlofuture_at_(domainremoved) --- You are currently subscribed to menlofuture as: mblaine_at_(domainremoved) Virus-free. https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai gn=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient&utm_term=link> www.avast.com Received on Tue Oct 03 2017 - 17:44:34 PDT
