Title
Resolution to Permanently Relocate Precinct 1-4 from the Ann Arbor Community Center, 625 N. Main Street, to Second Baptist Church, 850 Red Oak Drive, beginning with the Statewide General Election on Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Memorandum
Precinct 1-4 (Ward 1, Precinct 4), previously located at the Ann Arbor Community Center, 625 N. Main, was temporarily housed at Community High School during the 2017 elections for what was understood to be due to a temporary construction project at the Community Center. The additional precinct could be accommodated at Community High in 2017 as the co-located precincts were consolidated during the 2017 local elections and operated as one large precinct.
The City Clerk’s Office was planning to return to the Community Center for the 2018 elections and was notified in May 2018 by the Center’s director, Rev. Yolanda Whiten, that the Community Center is terminating its relationship with the City and will no longer be available for use by the City as a polling location. See attached letter. The Center has also denied the City’s request to honor the polling location agreement, requiring 180 days written notice of termination, which would have allowed us to operate through the 2018 Election cycle. Due to the extremely short notice, the City Clerk’s Office was not able to secure a permanent polling location in time for the August Primary on August 7 and the precinct was located temporarily at Second Baptist Church, home to Precinct 5-3. The fellowship hall at Second Baptist Church was large enough to accommodate both precincts and there were no reported issues in August. The City Clerk’s Office continues to search for a permanent polling location for Precinct 1-4 in the downtown and closer to the former site. However, we are requesting to continue the relationship with Second Baptist Church indefinitely, so that voters in this precinct can have some consistency and permanent voter ID cards can be sent in advance of the November 6 General Election.
At its meeting on Thursday, May 31, 2018, the City Election Commission recommended approval of the temporary relocation of Precinct 1-4 to Second Baptist Church, 850 Red Oak Drive, recognizing the immediate need of a temporary site for the August 7 Primary, the close proximity of the church to the registered voters, and the large available space and accessible entrance. At its meeting on Friday, August 24, 2018, the Commission recommended approval of the continuation of the precinct-polling place at Second Baptist Church.
Upon approval by City Council, the City Clerk’s Office will mail new voter ID cards to each affected voter in Precinct 1-4, in addition to other City Communication methods, such as press releases, website posting, and social media. Signage will also be posted at the Ann Arbor Community Center on Tuesday, November 6.
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, will no longer be available for use as a City polling location;
Whereas, The City Clerk located a suitable temporary polling place location for Precinct 1-4 for the August 7 Primary, which due to its accessible facilities and close proximity to the original site minimized any adverse impacts to voters;
Whereas, The temporary polling location at Second Baptist Church, 850 Red Oak Drive, was utilized with no reported problems during the August 7, 2018 Primary Election;
Whereas, No other sites in the immediate vicinity of the previous location at the Community Center at 625 N. Main have been identified for use as a polling location; and
Whereas, The continued use of Second Baptist Church will minimize additional voter confusion and is easily accessible for all voters;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the permanent relocation of Precinct 1-4 to Second Baptist Church, 850 Red Oak Drive, beginning with the November 6, 2018 General Election; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator and the City Clerk be authorized to take all action necessary to implement this resolution.
Sponsored by: City Election Commission