City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 5, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 2, Section 2-2-10 (F) and (J) to Rename the Maury School Election District and Voting Location to the Naomi L. Brooks School Election District And Voting Location and to Rename the Cora Kelly Center Election District and Voting Location to the Cora Kelly-“Chick” Armstrong Center Election District and Voting Location. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Renaming two election districts (i.e., precincts) to match the new names of the facilities where voting in these districts occurs.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council pass on first reading and schedule for second reading, public hearing and final passage on May 15, 2021 of the ordinance (Attachment 1) to rename the Maury School Election District and voting location to the Naomi L. Brooks School Election District and voting location, effective for all elections after July 1, 2021 and rename the Cora Kelly Center Election District and voting location to the Cora Kelly - “Chick” Armstrong Center Election District and voting location.
BACKGROUND: The Alexandria Electoral Board, which is a bipartisan board comprised of three members who are appointed by the Alexandria Circuit Court for staggered three-year terms, is responsible for making recommendations to City Council concerning changes in precinct boundaries, polling places, and for establishing new precincts. City Council has the statutory authority to make these changes.
DISCUSSION: On April 15, 2021 the Alexandria Electoral Board unanimously voted to recommend that City Council make the following changes:
• Rename the Maury School District and voting location to the Naomi L. Brooks School District and voting location, effective all elections after July 1, 2021.
o Background: Due to Alexandria School Board’s April 8th decision to rename the Matthew Maury Elementary School to the Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School, the Electoral Board has determined, that it is necessary to rename the precinct and polling place. The Alexandria School Board announced the change to the school’s name will be effective July 1, 2021.
o Notification to voters and Fiscal impact: If Council approves this ordinance, the Electoral Board will send a notification to all affected voters as required in the Code of Virginia § 24.2-306. This notification will be sent after the July 1, 2021 effective date. It will cost approximately $2,100 to send this notification to the 2,800+ registered voters in the affected precinct. This amount can be accommodated within the budget for the Office of Voter Registration and Elections.
• Rename the Cora Kelly District and voting location to the Cora Kelly-“Chick” Armstrong District and voting location.
o Background: The Electoral Board recommends renaming the Cora Kelly Election District and voting location to the Cora Kelly - “Chick” Armstrong Center, to reflect the change in the name to the recreation center.
o Notification to voters and Fiscal impact: If Council approves this ordinance, the Electoral Board will send a notification to all affected voters as required in the Code of Virginia § 24.2-306. It will cost approximately $3,300 to send this notification to the 4,400+ registered voters in the affected precinct. This amount can be accommodated within the budget for the Office of Voter Registration and Elections.
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment 1: Ordinance Cover
Attachment 2: Proposed Ordinance
STAFF:
Laura Triggs, Deputy City Manager
Angela Maniglia Turner, General Registrar and Director of Elections
Joanna Anderson, City Attorney
Shawn Lassiter, Assistant City Attorney
Morgan Routt, Director, Office of Management and Budget
Casey Leigh Clark, Elections Manager