Election-year change heads to ballot

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

A proposed amendment to the City of Santa Barbara’s Charter changing city elections to even-numbered years will appear on the ballot this November.
City Council agreed to take the issue to the voters at its weekly meeting yesterday after discussing the consequences of adding the municipal election to the state and federal election cycle.
City officials agreed that the switchover will save money and that more people visit the polls during federal and state elections. However, they expressed concern that voters may lose interest in local issues when faced with nationwide or statewide topics.

“It’s a tough call, and I think that’s why we give this one to the voters,” Councilmember Das Williams said.
By working with state and federal resources, Santa Barbara will not spend as much as it would by hosting its own election, city staff said. Also, data shows more people visit the polls when federal and state issues are on the ballot, staff said.
Councilmember Helene Schneider gave statistics comparing voter turnout in Santa Barbara versus Carpinteria, which has its municipal elections in even years. Santa Barbara municipal turnouts tend to fall in the 40 percent range, while Carpinteria sees voter turnouts in the 60 to 80 percent range, she said, adding, “That’s a big difference.”
However, voter fatigue may outweigh that increase in voters, city officials said. Municipal issues will be placed at the end of the ballot, and by the time voters wade through the federal and state sections, they may not have the patience to sift through more topics.
“Getting down to the bottom of the ballot ... should be particularly examined,” Councilmember Iya Falcone said.
If the amendment is approved, it will add a year to the term of those in office. Some community members present at the meeting said they don’t believe that will be a factor.
Voters will be aware that the three Councilmember seats up for grabs this fall will come with a five-year term instead of a standard four-year term, Santa Barbara resident Steve Amerikaner said. “It’s difficult for me to imagine that people would be influenced by that factor,” Amerikaner said.
The City Council agreed that it should not take a stance on the proposed amendment, since it will affect those term limits. Any written position statements by the Council would appear first in ballot information packets, city staff said.
“We’re not impartial, so we have no business writing a pro or con,” Councilmember Iya Falcone said.
The Council agreed to hold off on other potential amendments to the Charter, including amendments that would give the Council the power to determine residency requirements for city boards and commissions, combine the Park Commission and the Recreation Commission, and change the number of seats on the Harbor Commission and Architectural Board of Review.
Councilmember Schneider stressed that those issues are still important, and should be addressed in municipal elections next year.