San Mateo City Has Two Measures On November Ballot

SAN MATEO, CA — San Mateo City voters will have two local ballot measures to consider for the November 7, 2017 election. The City of San Mateo has recently produced a short video to provide voters with an overview of ballot measures B and H. Ballot Measure B proposes to amend the City of San Mateo’s City Charter to change the timing of the city’s general municipal elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years.

A new state law, Senate Bill 415, calls for moving all municipal elections to even-years by no later than November 2022 if there is 25% less voter turnout for the most recent odd-year election. The City of San Mateo’s four-year average even-year turnout was 68.2% and the November 2015 election had a voter turnout of 33.1%. While some cities and districts have been able to make this change directly through their elected representatives, the City of San Mateo’s City Charter requires that municipal elections be held in odd-numbered years.

Changing the charter to allow the City to move to even-year elections requires a vote of the people, which is why Ballot Measure B has been placed on this year’s ballot. Ballot Measure B also includes a provision to extend the terms of current council members elected in 2015 and 2017 for a period of one year.

Ballot Measure H covers a variety of additional language clean-up to the City Charter. Among these are updating the title of Personnel Director to Human Resources Director; allowing the City Council to hold public meetings in locations other than just City Hall; and revising the Fiscal Administration provisions to conform with state law and current practices.

To learn more about these ballot measures, go to http://www.cityofsanmateo.org/election

— SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION BY: The City Of San Mateo / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone