Title
Resolution to Approve and Accept a Grant from Washtenaw County Government for Assistance of Acquisition of New High-Speed Voting Equipment and Appropriate Funding ($15,000) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
The City Clerk’s Office has been notified by the Washtenaw County Clerk that they are providing partial funding opportunities for local municipalities within Washtenaw County to procure additional voting equipment, including high-speed equipment and/or additional tabulators. $15,000 is being offered to Ann Arbor for the purchase of high-speed equipment. The City Clerk’s Office recently received approval from City Council for the purchase of this equipment and is seeking approval for the additional grant funds to further offset the cost.
Over time, the acquisition of the high-speed equipment is expected to reduce labor costs and time for counting ballots. The August Primary saw a record high of 75 election inspectors in the counting boards, in order to manage the number of ballots received and the time to process them through traditional tabulators. The high-speed equipment will allow for another record number of ballots with more efficient tabulation.
Staff
Prepared by: Jacqueline Beaudry, City Clerk
Reviewed by: Betsy Blake, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Reviewed by: John Fournier, Assistant City Attorney
Approved by: Tom Crawford, Interim City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City Clerk’s Office has seen an increased demand for absent voter ballots, due to the passage of Proposition 18-3, “Promote the Vote” and the promotion of no-reason absentee voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas, It is anticipated that nearly 60,000 ballots may be requested by Ann Arbor voters prior to November 3;
Whereas, The City Clerk’s Office recently acquired a new high-speed vote tabulator from Hart Intercivic to improve efficiency in the absent voter count board;
Whereas, The Washtenaw County Clerk previously selected Hart InterCivic as the vendor for County election equipment, including vote tabulators accessible voting terminals and high-speed equipment; and
Whereas, The Washtenaw County Clerk has offered to assist local clerks in the acquisition of additional tabulation equipment for the processing of absentee ballots on November 3;
RESOLVED, That City Council authorizes the acceptance of and drawing down of grant funds from the Washtenaw County Government in the amount of $15,000;
RESOLVED, That City Council appropriates $15,000 to the Major Grants Fund expenditure budget for the purpose of acquiring a new high-speed tabulator with the source of revenue being the grant funds from the Washtenaw County Government;
RESOLVED, That City Council approves a transfer of these funds from the Major Grants Fund to the General Fund as a reimbursement for incurred expenses related to the acquisition of the new Hart Voting equipment;
RESOLVED, That City Council appropriates $15,000 to the FY21 General Fund revenue and expenditure budget of the City Clerk’s Office with the source of revenue being a transfer from the Major Grants fund;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute any agreements related to the grants referenced herein after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator and City Clerk be authorized to take all appropriate actions to implement this resolution including execution of any grant awards documentation or amendments that do not exceed the amounts authorized herein.