Sep 10, 2007

Library bond may face low voter turnout

Ballot to include 10 charter amendments

By Melanie Carroll / Daily News Staff Writer

A controversial measure that would allow Sunnyvale to sell $108 million in general obligation bonds for a new public library has something going for it: Location, location, location - on the ballot, that is.

But an anticipated low voter turnout this year may not bode well for the library measure, experts say.

The bond measure known as Measure B is slated to be the first one voters consider when they cast their ballots on Nov. 6, according to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. Two-thirds of voters need to approve it for it to pass. Ten charter amendments will follow, each requiring a simple majority. The city has said the charter changes are largely house-keeping in nature.

"That's a lot to put on the ballot all at once," said Terry Christensen, a political science professor at San Jose State University.

Having the bond measure at the top of the list is a good idea since voters sometimes don't complete their ballots when faced with a multitude of items, political observers say.

John Pilger, a spokesman for Sunnyvale, said the ballot order is established by the county registrar of voters.

"Voting for ballot measures tends to fall off as you move down the ballot, especially when there are major candidate races," said Kenneth Kennedy, a political science professor at the College of San Mateo.

There are four open city council seats and seven candidates vying for them. The only incumbent not facing a challenger is Mayor Otto Lee.

Still, the election likely won't see a big turnout this year without a state race.

"I usually apply the 10 percent rule, which says that state elections are 10 percent less turnout than national, local would be 10 percent less than state, etc." Kennedy said.

On average, Sunnyvale generally has about a 20 percent voter turnout, Christensen said.

Low voter turnout is generally not good for bond measures since more "conservative" voters are likely to partake in the election, he said.

The proposed charter changes include Measure I, which would drop the requirement that the city manager live in Sunnyvale. City Manager Amy Chan lives in Palo Alto and also has a residence in Sunnyvale, where officials say that the change is necessary because the current rule violates the state constitution.

The city is aiming to comply with the state law, said Bob Murray, president of Bob Murray & Associates in Sacramento, an executive recruitment firm that helps match candidates with government agencies.

"You can't require someone" to live in the city where they work, Murray said.

Sunnyvale's current law wouldn't stand up in court, Christensen said.

If Measure G is passed, council members could have more than four excused, paid absences from city council meetings.

"That seems like a lot to me," Christensen said. "People expect them to be present" at meetings.

The panel typically meets four times a month, once a week, on Tuesday nights. Sunnyvale does not include provisions for maternity or paternity leave, and Council Member Melinda Hamilton has pointed out that this measure could address that. Hamilton has taken two three-month maternity leaves since being elected in 2003, but only missed three meetings during the time she was not on leave.



Other charter amendments on the November ballot are:



_ Measure C: It limits a council member to serving eight years in any 12-year period, not including appointment to an unexpired term of less than two years. If passed, a council member would be required to wait four years before running for re-election a third time.

_ Measure D: Allows a board or commission member to serve two terms on the same panel without a break and allows members to serve simultaneously on a different board or commission, if the council approves it. Currently, a two-year break is required and a member must complete an existing post before jumping to another one.

_ Measure E: The provision holds that if two employee-nominated members of the Personnel Board are not nominated and elected within six months of a vacancy then the city council may fill the vacancies by direct appointment. It approved, it means that members of local, state or national partisan political organization may serve on the board.

_ Measure F: It adds new language that provides for budget review and recommendations by all boards and commissions, not only the Library Board and Parks and Recreation Commission.

_ Measure J: It requires the annual submission of a 10-year balanced budget that includes level of service information, historical financial trend data and charts for easy understanding. It provides for appropriations for capital improvement projects that extend into the following fiscal year, unless completed, closed out or the council takes action to modify it.

_ Measure K: It provides for certification of election results at the first meeting in January. It also allows for study sessions and closed sessions in locations other than council chambers and to certify election returns and provide for sanctions for disorderly conduct. The measure clarifies that the city clerk reports to the city manager, and to allow for publication on the Internet.

_ Measure L: Calls for a city manager pro tem to be appointed during an absence of more than two weeks. Says that the city manager and city attorney can be terminated without cause and that the city manager appoints the city clerk. It also requires the city attorney's approval for outside counsel, and that the lowest bidder for public works contracts must be responsive and responsible.



E-mail Melanie Carroll at mcarroll@dailynewsgroup.com.