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C. MAYOR & CiTY COUNCIL FROM: CLERK -ADMINISTRATOR PAULEYV� DATE: AUGUST 17, 1989 SUBJECT: CONSOLIDATED LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS On August lbth, I attended a special meeting of a sub -committee of the League of Minnesota Cities' Elections Committee regarding the referenced subject. Attached please find a 2 page report entitled, "Status of Proposals for Consolidated Local Government Elections" which lays out the issue very well. This movement to consolidate local elections apparently began when school districts were required by the Legislature in 19e8 to abide by State election laws when, ir. the past, they had their own law. Secretary of State Growe has taken this one steo further by suggesting that all local government elections, county and below, be held in November of odd numbered years. Federal and State Elections would still be held in November of even numbered years. Some of the concerns voiced during this meeting were, 1. Could result in Home Rule Charters calling for elections in even numbered years being preempted. 2. Which jurisdiction will be responsible for ensuring the lawful conduct of elections and how will costs be distributed? 3. The one concern that overroad any others was that there is no consistency in jurisdictional boundaries which can result in the need for multiple ballots for small areas of a community, delays in the voting process and voter frustration. For example, the City of Blaine is in 3 school districts, 3 county districts, 3 legislative and senatorial districts, and has 3 Council districts with none of the boundaries being consistent. In one Blaine precinct it would be necessary to have 39 different ballots in order to conduct a consolidated election. Luckily Mounds View does not face those same problems. Attached is a survey from the League of Minnesota Cities requesting the City's official position on a variety of issues relating to the consolidated election issue, the requirement that school districts hold their excess levy referenda at the November general election, and proposed legislation regarding ethical conduct and financial disclosure. We are asked to return this on August 21st, therefore i am requesting yo your direction on each one of these questions at this time.