2018 2:00:00 PM

Monday, June 25, 2018 2:00 PM
Council Chambers, Legislative Bldg, 745 4th St., Sparks, NV

General Business: 9.5

Title: Consideration, discussion and possible appointment of two committees to prepare arguments and rebuttals advocating and opposing approval of the advisory question adopted by Resolution No. 3334 on May 29, 2018 asking voters if the office of the Sparks City Attorney should continue to be an elected, non-partisan office from the following pool of candidates listed in alphabetical order: Gary Hules, Bob Jacobson, Bob LaRiviere, Zanny Marsh, Tina Spencer, Dennis White.

Petitioner/Presenter: Stephen W. Driscoll, City Manager/Teresa Gardner, City Clerk

Recommendation: The Council appoint the committee or direct the City Manager

Financial Impact: N/A

Business Impact (Per NRS 237):
A Business Impact Statement is not required because this is not a rule.

Agenda Item Brief:

Resolution No. 3334 was adopted by the City Council on May 29, 2018 to place an advisory question on the November 2018 Sparks General Election ballot asking Sparks' voters if the office of the Sparks City Attorney should continue to be an elected, non-partisan office within Sparks' government. Information was presented by City Attorney Chet Adams and included arguments for and against and rebuttals (attached).

NRS Chapter 295.217 instructs the city clerk to locate persons who favor approval and who oppose approval and recommend persons to be appointed to the committee to prepare the arguments. If the Council fails to appoint a committee, NRS 295.271 (6) directs the city clerk, in consultation with the city attorney, to prepare an argument advocating approval and opposing approval.

Background:

The Sparks City Council approved an interlocal agreement (AC-5436) with the County of Washoe on January 22, 2018 to conduct the 2018 primary and general elections. Section 3 of that agreement says the City shall provide the wording of issues for the ballot questions and arguments for and against.

Analysis:

The advisory question and the associated arguments are due to the Washoe County Registrar of Voters by July 20. In an effort to expedite the process, the city clerk recruited potential committee members from the current Charter Committee because they already have knowledge related to appointed and elected city attorneys.

Based on guidelines approved by the Washoe County Registrar of Voters, guidelines were prepared by the city clerk to be followed by the argument committees and are attached to this staff report.

Alternatives:

Council could appoint a committee pursuant to NRS 295.217 (1) b.

Council could not appoint a committee and direct the city clerk, in consultation with the city attorney, prepare the arguments per NRS 295.217(6).

Council could direct the City Manager to another option.

Recommended Motion:

I move to appoint Gary Hules, Bob Jacobson and Dennis White to the argument committee in favor of the advisory question and Bob LaRiviere, Zanny Marsh, and Tina Spencer to the argument committee in opposition of the advisory question.

Attached Files:

R3334 advisory question.pdf

2018 Argument Committee Guidelines 06-18.pdf

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