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BACKGROUND The Registrar of Voters has certified that Councilmember Thorne has received the highest number of votes for Mayor and he will be sworn in as Mayor on December 4, 2012. Once he is sworn in as Mayor, there will be a vacancy on the Council. Under these circumstances, as set forth in State law and as provided in the Municipal Code, the City Council shall immediately call for a special election to fill the vacancy, with the special election to be held on the next regularly scheduled election date not less than 114 days from the call of the special election. Gov't. Code, Section 36512 (c)(2); Pleasanton Municipal Code, Section 2.04.030. In odd numbered years, the regularly established election dates are the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June; and the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. In addition, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May and the last Tuesday in August are established vote by mail mailed ballot election dates. Because the March date occurs within the required 114 day requirement it is not an option. Therefore, if the Mail Ballot Election option was selected, the earliest the election could be held would be May 7, 2013. The earliest a standalone special election could be held would be June 4, 2013. Either the mail ballot election and/or the standalone special election options are available to the City Council for filling the City Council vacancy. The Vote by Mail option requires all votes to be cast by mail only. The standalone special election allows for voting at polling places or by mail. As a note, 47 percent of registered voters cast Vote by Mail ballot in the November 6, 2012 election. The County Registrar of Voters estimates the cost to conduct a standalone special election between six and eight dollars per voter. This estimate excludes Sample Ballot costs, postage, and Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese translations. At the high end, the cost could be $347,500. As indicated, previously the cost of the Mail Ballot Election is estimated at $250,000. The table below summarizes the two election options: Election Option Date Ballots Est. Cost Standalone Election June 4, 2013 Polling LocationsNBM $347,500 Mail Ballot Election May 7, 2013 Mail Only $250,000 Based on the benefits of electing the new council member as quickly as possible, election costs and the public acceptance/use of mailed ballots, staff is recommending the Mail Ballot Election option. Assuming that Council calls for a special election, the attached resolution establishes the policies for that election. Other than the election being a VBM ballot, the procedures mirror those that were adopted for the November 2012 election including the estimated cost and deposit for printing and mailing of Candidates Statements. Page 2 of 5