TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Emergency
Ordinance Amending Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 11.04.130 Relating to
Distribution of Newsletters during Campaigns
This
report recommends that Council adopt an emergency ordinance amending Santa
Monica Municipal Code Section 11.04.130 relating to the distribution of
newsletters during campaigns.
Santa
Monica Municipal Code Section 11.04.130 prohibits the distribution of city
newsletters or similar matter within 88 days prior to any municipal election.
If
the newsletter mailing prohibition were to apply to the upcoming (March 21,
2003) Special Election, the spring issue of the city’s “SeaScape” newsletter,
with the included community programs class schedule (“RecScape”) timed
specifically spring class registration, could not be distributed to Santa
Monica residents. Both customer service
and City revenues would be adversely affected if classes must be cancelled or
remain unfilled. This would be the
second issue of the bimonthly newsletter eliminated in one fiscal year, as the
mid-fall SeaScape was not distributed due to the November General Election.
While
staff can adjust reasonably for general election schedules, well known in
advance, special elections called as a result of qualified voter initiatives or
to fill unexpected Council vacancies pose publication schedule challenges that
adversely affect the community due to of lack of notice for events, classes,
programs, and workshops.
There
will be no inclusion of or reference to the March 21, 2003 mail-in election in
SeaScape. Ample notice will be given,
however, through mailed ballots, local media, City TV and the City website. To ensure that the community receives
critical class, program and service information in a timely manner, an
emergency ordinance is recommended to amend the Municipal Code related to
mailing of newsletters prior to special elections. The emergency ordinance is attached for Council consideration and
action.
The
recommended action has no direct budget impact.
Staff
recommends that Council adopt the attached emergency ordinance related to
distribution of newsletters during campaigns.
Prepared
by: Marsha Jones Moutrie, City
Attorney
Judy Rambeau, Assistant to the City Manager,
Community Relations
Attachment: Emergency
Ordinance