AGENDA ITEM REPORT
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A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR DESIGNEE, TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE BROWARD COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS PROVIDING FOR HIRING, TRAINING, ASSISTING, AND PAYING POLL WORKERS, AS WELL AS FOR THE DELIVERY AND PICK-UP OF ELECTION EQUIPMENT FOR THE MARCH 14, 2023, MUNICIPAL ELECTION; PROVIDING FOR FUTURE AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT.
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BACKGROUND:
Section 301(c) of the City Charter provides that the election of Commissioners be held on the second Tuesday in March in years when the Commissioners’ terms have expired. The Commission terms for Districts A and D are expiring in March 2023.
Section 708 of the City Charter provides for the City Clerk to make all necessary arrangements for the holding of all City elections, and allows the City Clerk to employ or contract with the Broward County Supervisor of Elections (SOE) for a sufficient number of clerks and inspectors to adequately staff each polling place. Furthermore, Section 8-101 of the City Code allows the City Clerk to delegate any or all of the responsibilities for administrating the election to the SOE, subject to approval by the City Commission.
The attached form agreement is presented in preparation for the forthcoming Municipal Election with the authority to negotiate any unforeseen changes that may occur.
DISCUSSION:
To secure an agreement for the March Election, the City Manager, or designee, must have the authority to negotiate and amend the form election agreement, in substantially the form as provided, such that any language changes thereto are non-material, and such changes to the agreement are approved as to legal sufficiency by the Office of the City Attorney; and authorizing the City Manager to execute amendments to the election agreement. Exhibit “A” is the cost estimate in the amount of $106,100 provided by the SOE office, dated March 15, 2022. On September 14, 2022, City Clerk Joseph Kavanagh confirmed with Broward SOE Finance staff that this estimate is still accurate based on the 2023 March Election with one (1) ballot question.
Through this agreement, the SOE Office will use its resources to hire, train, assist, and pay poll workers, including Voting Service Technicians (VSTs), on behalf of the City for the March 2023 Election. The agreement also covers the delivery and pick-up of election equipment from the polling places as well as the publication of a sample ballot in accordance with Section 101.20 of the Florida Statutes.
The hiring, training, assisting, and payment of poll workers is an efficient and beneficial service provided by the SOE Office for Broward municipalities whose elections are held in March. The SOE has continued to support local governments by extending its services for municipal elections.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
REVENUES: $ 0
EXPENDITURES: $ 106,100
BUDGETED? Yes
NOTES: The above expenditure amount is an estimate and is accounted for in the FY2023 Budget - Account No. 0121-4905, City Clerk Elections.