Title
Receive and accept the certified results of the examination of initiative petition "Prohibit Fracking and Oil and Natural Gas Well Stimulation Treatments, Prohibit Oil and Natural Gas Wastewater Injection and Impoundment, and Limit New Oil and Natural Gas Operations in Unincorporated Monterey County".
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Receive and accept the certified results of the examination of initiative petition "Prohibit Fracking and Oil and Natural Gas Well Stimulation Treatments, Prohibit Oil and Natural Gas Wastewater Injection and Impoundment, and Limit New Oil and Natural Gas Operations in Unincorporated Monterey County".
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Members of the public submitted to the Elections Department an initiative to limit and prohibit oil drilling and extraction in Monterey County. Pursuant to the Elections Code, County Counsel prepared a Ballot Title and Summary that was included on the petition for circulation. In accordance with Elections Code Section 9115, the Registrar of Voters is submitting the Certificate of Initiative to your Board. The Certificate of Initiative shows:
• the total number of petition signatures obtained;
• the results of the examination of a random sample of 500 signatures
Pursuant to Elections Code Section 9115, since the number of petition signatures exceeded 500, a random sample was drawn using a methodology so that every signature filed with Elections would have an equal opportunity of inclusion in the sample. Election Code Section 9118 requires the initiative petition to be signed by voters not less in number than 10 percent of the entire vote cast in the county for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election preceding the publication of the notice of intention to circulate an initiative petition. The statement of votes cast for the November 4, 2014 shows a total of 73,906 votes cast for Governor. Each petition signature selected through the random selection process was then examined against the related voter's record of registration to determine validity. Of the 500 signatures verified in the random sampling, 379 were deemed valid, 121 signatures were found not sufficient. The projected number of valid signatures on the petition is 12,187 or 16 percent of the votes cast for Governor in the last gubernatorial election. In this case, the examination process was completed and it was determined that there were sufficient signatures to warrant further action on the petition.
The petition proponents have been informed of the sufficiency of the petition.
County Counsel will present to the Board your options for next steps under the Elections Code.
Copies of the Certificate to Initiative are on file with the Clerk of the Board.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel collaborated on, reviewed and approved the recommendation.
FINANCING:
There will be no additional cost to the County General Fund associated with receiving the certification.
Prepared by: Approved by:
____________________________________ _______________________________
Izabela Lesik x 1491 Claudio Valenzuela x 1499
Management Analyst Registrar of Voters
Attachments:
Certificate to Initiative