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Department Approval gi� REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Date: March 22, 2010 Item No.: �� City Manager Approval Item Description: Adopt an Ordinance Amending Title 103.01 Section B, City Primary Election Date and Title 1010.03 Section 10, Posting Political Signage BACKGROUND Minnesota has traditionally held the primary for statewide offices in September, but recent federal changes require states to begin mailing absentee ballots 45 days before an election. This will help ensure that military and overseas voters have enough time to return their absentee ballots to be counted in an election. Governor Pawlenty signed into law a provision that changes the date of the primary election to the second Tuesday of August. Currently Roseville's City Code sets the date for the primary election to the first Tuesday after the second Monday in September. Roseville's current sign ordinance restricts placing political signs until August 1, in years with state general elections. Under this provision, candidates and political campaigns would have seven to 13 days to post signs before the new primary election date. POLICY �BJECTIVES Bring the City Code into compliance with recently passed legislation changing the election date to August. Allow political campaigns to post campaign signs 46 days before a primary election. FINANCIAL IMPACTS None STAFF RECOMMENDATION Approve ordinance that changes the City's primary election to the same date that the state holds a primary election in even years. Approve ordinance that modifies the date that political campaigns can post political signs. REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION Approve ordinance that changes the City's primary election to the same date that the state holds a primary election in even years. Approve ordinance that modifies the date that political campaigns can post political signs. Prepared by: William J. Malinen Page 1 of 2