Title
Resolution to Temporarily Relocate Precincts 1-1, 1-4, 1-12 and 4-1 for the May 8 Special Election due to Construction Projects at the Michigan Union and Ann Arbor Community Center
Memorandum
The City Clerk’s Office has been notified by the Ann Arbor Community Center staff that the 2017 construction project at the Community Center at 625 N. Main, the permanent polling location of Precinct 1-4, has not yet been completed and the building remains unusable as a polling place. The City Clerk’s Office utilized nearby Community High School at 401 N. Division in 2017 as a suitable temporary relocation, due to its close proximity to the Community Center and is proposing to continue the temporary relocation for the upcoming May election. The relocation to Community High will also allow for precinct consolidation with the existing Ward 1 precincts at this site. Affected voters will return to their usual polling place at Community Center for the remainder of the 2018 elections.
The City Clerk’s Office has also been notified by the University of Michigan that the Michigan Union, located at 530 S. State Street, will be under renovation for nearly two years, beginning in April 2018. The Michigan Union currently hosts precincts 1-1 and 1-12 in Ward 1 and precinct 4-1 in Ward 4. The Clerk’s Office has worked with the University to secure temporary polling places for the upcoming May Special Election for each of these precincts. Due to the anticipated low voter turnout on May 8, it is recommended that the Michigan Union precincts be relocated to sites where they can be consolidated and/or co-located with existing precincts. The City Clerk’s Office is proposing that precincts 1-1 and 1-12 be temporarily located in the Michigan League, 911 N. University, and precinct 4-1 be temporarily located in the UM Coliseum, 721 S. Fifth, where it can be consolidated with precinct 4-3.
At its meeting on Tuesday, February 27, the City Election Commission recommended approval of the proposed temporary relocations and approved the consolidation of Precincts 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4 at Community High School, Precincts 1-1 and 1-12 at the Michigan League, and Precincts 4-1 and 4-3 at the UM Coliseum for the May 8 Special Election, recognizing low voter turnout in previous special elections in May.
Upon approval by City Council, the City Clerk’s Office will mail postcard notices of the temporary change to each affected voter in Precincts 1-1, 1-4, 1-12, and 4-1, in addition to other City Communication methods, such as press releases, website posting, and social media. Signage will also be posted at the Community Center and the Michigan Union on May 8, alerting voters of the change.
The City Clerk’s Office is requesting that City Council authorize the City Clerk and the City Administrator to take any necessary action to implement this resolution.
Staff
Prepared by: Jacqueline Beaudry, City Clerk
Approved and Sponsored by: City Election Commission
Approved by: Howard S. Lazarus, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Michigan Election Law, 168.662 (1), requires that the legislative body in each city shall designate and prescribe the place or places of holding an election in the city, and shall provide a suitable polling place for each precinct for use at each election;
Whereas, The City Clerk’s Office has been notified by Ann Arbor Community Center staff that the Community Center at 625 N. Main, the permanent polling location of Precinct 1-4, remains under construction for renovation and remodeling work for the May 8 Special Election and will be unusable as a polling place during that time;
Whereas, The City Clerk’s Office has been notified by the University of Michigan staff that the Michigan Union at 530 S. State, the permanent polling location of Precincts 1-1, 1-12 and 4-1 will be under construction for renovation and remodeling work for the May 8 Special Election and will be unusable as a polling place during that time; and
Whereas, The City Clerk has located suitable temporary polling place locations for Precincts 1-1, 1-4, 1-12 and 4-1, which due to the close proximity to the permanent sites and the accessibility of the proposed temporary locations, minimizes any adverse impacts to voters;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the temporary relocations of Precinct 1-4 to Community High School, 401 N. Division; Precincts 1-1 and 1-12 to the Michigan League, 911 N. University; and Precinct 4-1 to the Michigan Coliseum at 721 S. Fifth Avenue for the May 8, 2018 Special Election; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator and the City Clerk be authorized to take all action necessary to implement this resolution and notify affected voters of the changes.
Sponsored by: City Election Commission