Item Coversheet
Commission Agenda Item
 

MEETING DATE:  1/25/2016

SUBJECT:  Proclamation Calling the 2016 City Election

PREPARED BY:  Alan Henderson, Deputy City Clerk

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve the calling of the election, specifying open seats, length of terms, time, and place for the April 2016 City  Commission Election by having Mayor Coerper read the Proclamation.

 

Summary

City of Alachua Code of Ordinance Section 14-2 states, "Regular elections shall be held on the second Tuesday in April of each year for the election of Mayor and City Commissioners whose terms of office expire." City Code also stipulates that any "...runoff election shall be held on the third Tuesday following the former election day..."

 

Election Day will be Tuesday, April 12, 2016. In the event no candidate receives a majority (more than 50 percent) of the votes cast, the runoff election shall be Tuesday, May 3, 2016.

 

According to City Code Section 14-5 the Mayor shall issue his proclamation calling the election. "Such proclamation shall specify what officers are to be elected, the length of time such officers are to serve, the time and place of holding such election ..."

 

The election for 2016 will be for Seat 1 (Mayor) with a three-year term, Seat 2 with a three-year term, and any other item that may be included on the ballot.

 

The qualifying period will be from Noon, Thursday, February 18, to Noon, Thursday, February 25.

 

The polling places will be located at the Hal Brady Recreation Complex, CSI, Inc., and the Cleather Hathcock, Sr., Community Center.

 

Per City Code Section 14-18, "The City Commission hereby declines to participate in the early voting procedure for its municipal elections."

 

The qualifying fee and alternate petition process have not changed since last year. This information may be found in the City Code Section 14-8. The qualifying fee set by Ordinance, payable to the City of Alachua from the campaign account, is $25.

 

The State Election Assessment fee is set by State Statute at 1% of Commission compensation. The State Election Assessment fee must also be paid from the campaign account.

 
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Yes
BUDGETED: Yes
FUNDING SOURCE:  General Fund
 
COMMISSION GOALS:
Economic Development, Quality of Life, Community Enhancement, Strengthen Community Services

 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Election Proclamation
Election Calendar