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Because the Pleasanton Municipal Code does not set a date for the City's municipal election, Pleasanton, as a general law city, relies on the election dates established by State Iaw. The Elections Code provides that a general municipal election shall be held on a date defined in Elections Code §1000 and 1301, which includes the State -wide primary election on June 8, 2010, and the State -wide general election on November 2, 2010. With these two election dates available in 2010, staff does not recommend a special stand -alone election on another date (at least 88 days from Council action). Although a special election is allowed by law, it would be costly to have the ROV hold a special election just for Pleasanton, when the City can consolidate with the already scheduled June 8th or November 2nd election dates, when a regular /general municipal election may occur. Accordingly, assuming that the Council accepts the City Clerk's certification, the Council must first determine whether to: (a) rescind the ordinance in its entirety; or (b) to call for an election. If this matter is placed before the voters, Council must determine whether to place it on the June 8, 2010 ballot, the November 2, 2010 ballot, or set a different, special election date. Once an election date is established, Council must adopt ballot language (i.e., how the ballot question will be framed), direct the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis, establish the dates for submittal of ballot arguments [including whether to allow for rebuttal arguments] and determine if any member of the Council will write or sign any of the ballot arguments either for or against the matter. Election Timetables. Assuming that the Council decides to submit the matter to the voters, the following are the respective procedural deadlines for the June 8th and November 2nd elections: Action June 8, 2010 Nov. 2, 2010 Last day to order election and March 12 August 6 consolidate Deadline for direct arguments March 19 August 13 Deadline for rebuttal arguments March 26 Auc,�ust 20 Ballot Language. If Council decides to proceed with an election, staff suggests that the Council consider one of the following ballot questions: Option 1: Shall Ordinance 1961, approving the Oak Grove development project subject to conditions, located in Pleasanton's Southeast Hills, be approved? 2 Government Code §36503 provides, in relevant part, that: "...a general municipal election shall be held on a date prescribed by Section 1301 of the Elections Code. 3 Elections Code §1000 and 1301. The Elections Code uses the terms general municipal election and regular municipal election interchangeably. 4 As these are the absolute deadlines allowed by the Elections Code, recommended deadlines for arguments would be for earlier dates to accommodate printing deadlines. Page 3 of 6