Madeira Beach staff proposes moving municipal elections to November; commissioners back placing charter amendment on ballot

City staff presented draft ordinances and a staff memo proposing amendments to the Madeira Beach charter to move municipal elections from March to November, align candidate qualifying periods with the June schedule, and establish transitional term extensions to preserve staggered seats.

The proposed amendments would: change the municipal election date to November (or alternatively accommodate a March 2027 transition), shift qualifying periods to the first two full weeks of June, clarify when terms commence following certification, and include temporary extensions to avoid shortening existing terms. Staff noted cost advantages — last March’s municipal election cost the city about $7,000 whereas placing the city election on the November general election would cost roughly $300 per election — and said November timing historically improves turnout.

Commissioners generally supported pursuing the November option, asked staff to prepare a first reading and public hearing at the July meeting, and directed staff to prepare voter education materials and Spanish translation for the ballot question. Staff said the deadline for placing a question on the November ballot requires ballot language early and that the deadline to submit final ballot material is August 7; the board agreed to move the item to the next meeting for first reading.