Fail: 3,359 / 36.86% Yes votes ...... 5,754 / 63.14% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Summary Prepared by City Attorney Arnold M. Alvarez-Glasman:

INITIATIVE MEASURE TO CHANGE THE METHOD BY WHICH CITY VOTERS ELECT MEMBERS TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM AN “AT-LARGE” PROCESS TO A “BY-DISTRICT” SYSTEM

The purpose of this initiative is to amend the West Covina Municipal Code to change the method by which City voters elect members to the City Council from an “at-large” process to a “by-district” system.

The City of West Covina currently elects its City Council members with an “at-large” method of election. This means that all qualified residents in the City are eligible to seek any open seat on the City Council and, in turn, all registered voters in the City may vote for City Council members, without regard to where in the City the voters reside.

The initiative proposes that the City be divided into five (5) separate districts, with each district containing approximately one-fifth (1/5) of the City’s population. The voters in each district will vote for one (1) candidate that must reside within the district. The candidate who receives the highest vote in the district will then fill the seat designated for that district on the City Council. This initiative would change the election structure of the City of West Covina by allowing each voter to elect one (1) council member from their specific district and would eliminate the current method which permits the voters to elect all five (5) council members city-wide.

The initiative defines the five (5) districts and sets forth the maps of each district. The initiative requires the City Council to adjust the boundaries of each district if a district’s population changes by more than two percent (2%) following a decennial federal census. The City Council must consider specific factors in adjusting the boundaries, and the City Council must hold at least one (1) public hearing before adopting an ordinance adjusting the boundaries.

The initiative also requires the City Council to change the boundaries in the event the City annexes territory with a population of more than 2,000 persons.

If adopted, the initiative will not affect current council members whose terms have not yet expired, but will take effect at the first election for an open seat.

This Ballot Title and Summary has been prepared pursuant to California Elections Code Section 9203.

Impartial Analysis from Arnold M. Alvarez-Glasman, City Attorney

Measure D is a citizen initiated initiative which seeks to change the manner in which members of the City Council are elected from an “at-large” process to a “by district” method.

Since the City’s formation, members of the City Council have been elected on a city-wide, at-large basis. This means that every voter residing in West Covina has the opportunity to vote for each of the five members elected to the City Council. Individuals who wish to run for any of the five offices of the City Council may reside anywhere within the City of West Covina. This process of electing the City Council is known as an “at-large” election method. This is the current manner in which members of the City Council are elected.

This Measure proposes to change the current at-large election system to a by district election system. A by district system would establish five different geographical regions or “districts” within the City. The district election system would require that each of the Councilmembers reside and be elected by the voters living within that district. Measure D, if adopted, would establish that the voters of each district would elect one councilmember who resides within their district, but that voters would not elect the other four members of the City Council who reside in other districts.

This Measure would not change the term of offices of members of the City Council which would remain at a four-year term. The districts as defined by the Measure are set forth in the text of the Measure.

A “Yes” vote would result in a change in the manner in which members of the City Council are elected to a by-district system. Voters from each district would elect their one City Councilmember who would be required to reside in that district.

A “No” vote would not change the current system of electing members of the City Council. All five City Councilmembers would be elected by all voters residing in the City of West Covina on an at-large basis. Submitted by:

City of West Covina