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Agenda 08/08/2023 Item #16J1 (To approve an Interlocal Agreement for Election Services for 11-28-23, City of Everglades City General Election)16.J.1 08/08/2023 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recommendation to approve an Interlocal Agreement for Election Services for the November 28, 2023, City of Everglades City General Election. OBJECTIVE: To obtain approval of an Interlocal Agreement for Election Services with the Collier County Supervisor of Elections and the City of Everglades City for election services for the November 28, 2023, City of Everglades City General Election. The agreement is between the Collier County Board of Comissioners, as owner of the voting and ballot tabulation equipment, the Collier County Supervisor of Elections, as custodian of the County's voting and ballot tabulation equipment, and the City of Everglades City, as the party holding the election and paying for election services. CONSIDERATIONS: The past practice in Collier County has been for the Board of County Commissioners, as the owners of the voting equipment, to authorize the use of county -owned voting equipment for municipal and district elections. In accordance with past practice, the attached Interlocal Agreement identifies the equipment and services that will be provided to conduct the November 28, 2023, City of Everglades City General Election, and the respective duties and responsibilities of the parties. FISCAL IMPACT: The Collier County Supervisor of Elections will submit an itemized bill to the City of Everglades City to be paid to the Collier County Board of County Commissioners for services rendered. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, is approved as to form and legality and requires majority vote for approval. -JAK GROWTH MANAGEMENT INPACT: There is no Growth Management Impact associated with this request. RECOMMENDATION: That the Collier County Board of County Commissioners approves the proposed Interlocal Agreement for Election Services and authorizes its Chair to execute the agreement. Prepared by: Melissa R. Blazier, Supervisor of Elections ATTACHMENT(S) 1. Interlocal Agreement Everglades City Election - rev. 7.14.23 (PDF) Packet Pg. 886 16.J.1 08/08/2023 COLLIER COUNTY Board of County Commissioners Item Number: 16.11 Doc ID: 26215 Item Summary: Recommendation to approve an Interlocal Agreement for Election Services for the November 28, 2023, City of Everglades City General Election. Meeting Date: 08/08/2023 Prepared by: Title: Management Analyst II — County Manager's Office Name: Geoffrey Willig 07/25/2023 3:40 PM Submitted by: Title: Deputy County Manager — County Manager's Office Name: Amy Patterson 07/25/2023 3:40 PM Approved By: Review: Office of Management and Budget County Attorney's Office Office of Management and Budget County Manager's Office Board of County Commissioners Debra Windsor Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Christopher Johnson Additional Reviewer Geoffrey Willig Level 4 County Manager Review Geoffrey Willig Meeting Pending Completed 07/25/2023 3:47 PM Completed 07/26/2023 9:49 AM Completed 07/26/2023 2:42 PM Completed 07/28/2023 9:30 AM 08/08/2023 9:00 AM Packet Pg. 887 16.J.1.a INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR ELECTION SERVICES By and Among the City of Everglades City, Collier County, and the Collier County Supervisor of Elections This Agreement for Election Services (Agreement) is for the November 28, 2023, City of Everglades City General Election, and is by and among the City of Everglades City ("City"), Collier County, by and through the Collier County Board of County Commissioners ("County"), as owners of the County's voting and ballot tabulation equipment, and the Collier County Supervisor of Elections ("Supervisor"), as custodian of the County's voting and ballot tabulation equipment. WITNESSETH In consideration of these premises, the sum of Ten Dollars ($10.00), and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby mutually acknowledged, it is agreed by and between the parties as follows: 1. This Agreement is entered into pursuant to the provisions of the Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1969, set forth in § 163.01, et seq., Fla. Stat., and is further authorized pursuant to the parties' respective home rule powers granted by the Florida Constitution or general law. 2. The City represents that under the terms of the City Charter, the City is responsible for the N conduct of all its municipal elections except when the City chooses to call a special election to be held by mail ballot. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to imply that the County or the N Supervisor interpreted the provisions of the City's charter or is interfering in any way with the City's exercise of its home rule powers pursuant to the conduct of the 2023 City of Everglades City General Election. L 3. To facilitate the City's conduct of its November 28, 2023, election, the Supervisor shall perform those duties expressly and implicitly contained in this Agreement. 4. There will be no early voting in the November 28, 2023, City of Everglades City General Election. 5. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the County agrees to deploy the following items to conduct the 2023 City of Everglades City General Election: • 2 DS200 optical scanners; • 2 EViDs; • 2 ExpressVote ADA units; • All precinct signs and required notices; • 1 precinct file caddy and supplies; • 3 voting booths and 1 tabletop voting booth; and • 1 cell phone for use by the Clerk. Packet Pg. 888 16.J.1.a 6. The City is responsible for providing the final list of qualified candidates to the Supervisor immediately after the qualifying period ends. 7. The Supervisor is responsible for preparing all voting equipment and materials for the election to the standards established by the Florida Election Code and the Division of Elections. The City is responsible for any direct costs associated with the same. 8. The Supervisor is responsible for the timely delivery and retrieval of all voting equipment and supplies. The City is responsible for any direct costs associated with the same. 9. The City is responsible for any direct costs needed to use or prepare polling places for the election. 10. The City is fully responsible for any loss of or damage to voting equipment, supplies or consumables used exclusively to conduct the 2023 City of Everglades City General Election. 11. The City is responsible for properly safeguarding any ballots in its custody. 12. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the County or the Supervisor to purchase or acquire any additional voting equipment, supplies or consumables outside the County's current inventory. 13. Neither the County nor the Supervisor shall be held accountable for equipment needs not u-- specified in this Agreement. Untimely requests for voting equipment, supplies or consumables N create no duty or obligation for the County or Supervisor to perform. M N 14. The Supervisor is responsible for programming the election, designing the ballot, and producing and delivering a sufficient quantity of ballots to conduct the election. The City is responsible for any direct costs associated with the same. L 15. The Supervisor is responsible for tabulating and reporting the results. The City is responsible for any direct costs associated with the same. 16. The City shall be present for the logic and accuracy test, which is scheduled for the Tuesday before the election at the Supervisor's office at 10:00 a.m. 17. The Supervisor is solely responsible for the content and format of all ballots, vote -by -mail balloting materials, affidavits, affirmations and training materials used in the 2023 City of Everglades City General Election. 18. The Supervisor is responsible for selecting and training the election workers, and the development of training materials. The City Clerk or an authorized City representative shall attend at least one (1) training session. 19. The City shall be liable for all actions taken by the election workers in executing the 2023 City of Everglades City General Election. The City shall enforce § 102.031(4) and (5), Fla. Stat. 2 Packet Pg. 889 16.J.1.a (4)(a) No person, political committee, or other group or organization may solicit voters inside the polling place or within 150 feet of a secure ballot intake station or the entrance to any polling place, a polling room where the polling place is also a polling room, an early voting site, or an office of the supervisor where vote -by -mail ballots are requested and printed on demand for the convenience of electors who appear in person to request them. Before the opening of a secure ballot intake station location, a polling place, or an early voting site, the clerk or supervisor shall designate the no -solicitation zone and mark the boundaries. (b) For the purpose of this subsection, the terms "solicit" or "solicitation" shall include, but not be limited to, seeking or attempting to seek any vote, fact, opinion, or contribution; distributing or attempting to distribute any political or campaign material, leaflet, or handout; conducting a poll except as specified in this paragraph; seeking or attempting to seek a signature on any petition; selling or attempting to sell any item; and engaging in any activity with the intent to influence or effect of influencing a voter. The terms "solicit" or "solicitation" may not be construed to prohibit an employee of, or a volunteer with, the supervisor from providing nonpartisan assistance to voters within the no -solicitation zone such as, but not limited to, giving items to voters, or to prohibit exit polling. (c) Each supervisor of elections shall inform the clerk of the area within which soliciting ° is unlawful, based on the particular characteristics of that polling place. The supervisor or v the clerk may take any reasonable action necessary to ensure order at the polling places, to including, but not limited to, having disruptive and unruly persons removed by law N enforcement officers from the polling room or place or from the 150-foot zone surrounding to the polling place. N (d) Except as provided in paragraph (a), the supervisor may not designate a no - solicitation zone or otherwise restrict access to any person, political committee, candidate, or other group or organization for the purposes of soliciting voters. This paragraph applies a) to any public or private property used as a polling place or early voting site. c (e) The owner, operator, or lessee of the property on which a polling place or an early voting site is located, or an agent or employee thereof, may not prohibit the solicitation of voters by a candidate or a candidate's designee outside of the no -solicitation zone during polling hours. (5) No photography is permitted in the polling room or early voting area, except an elector may photograph his or her own ballot. The Supervisor shall train all deputies on the above -referenced rule. 20. The Supervisor is responsible for all vote -by -mail ballot processing, including signature verification. The City is responsible for any direct costs associated with the same. 21. The City is responsible for preparing and publishing notices for the 1 st Notice of Election, 2nd Notice of Election, Book Closing, the Logic and Accuracy Test and all Canvassing Board meetings, and the Sample Ballot, in accordance with general law, and obtaining the affidavits of publication. Packet Pg. 890 16.J.1.a 22. The City shall provide for its own Canvassing Board. The Supervisor shall provide a location at the Supervisor's office for the Board's use, as needed, and shall cooperate with the Board in providing information and documentation necessary for the Board's functions. 23. The City shall be responsible for retention and destruction of any election materials in its custody in conformity with applicable State and Federal laws. 24. With the exception of activities relating directly to the Supervisor's determinations regarding voter registration and eligibility, and to the extent permitted by law, the City shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the County and the Supervisor, their officers, agents, and w employees, from and against any and all actions, in law or in equity, from liability or claims for damages, injuries, losses, and expenses including attorney's fees, to any person or property which a may result now or in the future from City's activities associated with the 2023 City of Everglades > City General Election, arising out of or resulting from any and all acts of omission or commission v relating to the 2023 City of Everglades City General Election or the City's responsibility under this Agreement. Further, to the extent permitted by law, the City shall indemnify, defend and hold M harmless the County and the Supervisor, their officers, agents and employees, from and against any and all actions, in law or in equity, from liability or claims for damages, injuries, losses, and w' expenses, to any person or persons authorized by the City, its employees, or agents to participate c in the 2023 City of Everglades City General Election when not otherwise authorized or eligible, or from events relating expressly to the 2023 City of Everglades City General Election. In v defending the County and the Supervisor from any indemnified claim, the City shall not settle anyLO such claim without first receiving the consent of the County and the Supervisor, such consent not N to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The County and/or the Supervisor shall also have the right to participate in their own defense against any indemnified claim with counsel of their own choice, at their own expense and at their option. 25. All costs, including attorney's fees and court costs, shall be paid by the City for: • litigation involving payment due to the County or Supervisor and for collection for any judgment recorded against the City; and litigation involving the 2023 City of Everglades City Election whether brought by an elector, the U.S. Department of Justice, or others. 26. The fee to use the voting equipment is $100 per voting unit and $50 per electronic pollbook (EViD). The fee shall cover wear and tear on the equipment and any costs needed to service or repair the equipment used in the 2023 City of Everglades City General Election. In the event the cost of such replacement parts exceeds the amount of the fee, the City shall reimburse the County for the difference. 27. In addition, the City agrees to pay the direct costs for election programming, election worker training, ballot design, paper ballots, and vote -by -mail materials. 28. The City is responsible for direct payment of all election workers and mailing their checks. 4 Packet Pg. 891 16.J.1.a 29. The Supervisor will bill the City within ten (10) business days after the election is certified. 30. The City shall pay all election costs within thirty (30) days of receiving the bill from the Supervisor. 31. The rates to be used by the Supervisor are as follows: • the actual cost in staff time, using base salary only, for work solely performed in support of the 2023 City of Everglades City General Election; • $.10 per page for 8.5" x I I" or 8.5" x 14" copies; • $.15 per page for duplexed copies; and • any other expenditures required to conduct the 2023 City of Everglades City General Election and paid for by the Supervisor. 32. The City is responsible for all direct costs of its election, whether or not said costs are listed in this Agreement. 33. The City's failure to comply with any of these provisions, as determined by the Supervisor, shall constitute adequate grounds for termination of this Agreement for convenience by the Supervisor, on behalf of the Supervisor and the County, upon five (5) calendar days' notice from the Supervisor to the City. However, any such termination for convenience by the Supervisor shall not relieve the City from fully complying with any of its outstanding obligations under this Agreement. M 34. The City shall obtain or maintain an insurance policy which shall name the County as additionally insured or agree to provide coverage through the City's self-insurance and shall assure that the County will have no financial obligation which includes the City's responsibility for paying any deductible for any damages to the County's voting equipment used in the election. A copy of the City's Certificate of Insurance identifying the County as an additional insured shall be provided c to the County. 2 35. In the event there is an election protest, contest or sequestration order arising from the 2023 City of Everglades City General Election involving any component of the County's voting system and/or equipment which would preclude its further use until the matter has been resolved by the courts, and the County has an election scheduled where the equipment must be used, the City shall make a $25,000 security deposit to the County within ten (10) calendar days of the issuance of the sequestration order for the voting and/or tabulation equipment involved. The unused balance on the security deposit shall be returned to the City when the legal matter has been resolved and the equipment has been returned. 36. This Agreement shall be valid only for the November 28, 2023, City of Everglades City General Election. 37. In the event any part of this Agreement is determined to be unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, said ruling shall not invalidate the remaining parts of the Agreement. 5 Packet Pg. 892 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto authorize this Agreement and affix their hand and seal this day of , 2023 by the City Council of the City of Everglades City, and this day of , 2023 by the Collier County Board of County Commissioners and the Supervisor of Elections of Collier County. ATTEST: Crystal K. Kinzel, Clerk , Deputy Clerk Approved a tifor a� legality for the County: _ A Jeffrey A. Iq!a1zkovj' County Attorney ATTEST: Dottie Smallwood, City of Everglades City, City Clerk Approved as to form and legal sufficiency for the City: Zach Lombardo, City of Everglades City, City Attorney Collier County Board of County Commissioners Rick LoCastro, Chair Collier County Supervisor of Elections i A I elissa R. BlazierV Upervisor of Elections City of Everglades City N v ti L Howie Grimm, City of Everglades City, , Mayor = Packet Pg. 8 3