The item was the last on the agenda that night but the few remaining residents, the council members, planning commissioners and others at the meeting all spoke out against it.

Howe asked city staff in October to look at the possiblity of shifting election years as a potential cost-saving move for the city. According to Santa Clara County estimates, having elections in even-numbered years could cost between $2 and $3 per voter, as opposed to between $5 and $7 for voters in odd-numbered years, as is Sunnyvale's current practice.

In addition, consolidated elections typically draw higher voter-turnouts because of concern over national and regional issues also on the ballot. But in return, as has been shown in studies of other California cities, the increase in savings and turnout is met with a decrease in interest in local issues and tougher, more expensive campaigns for local candidates because they have to compete with national races for attention.

In a February survey, the city of Clovis reported that they had switched from even to odd-year elections and while there were higher costs, there was a better focus on local issues.

It was that trade-off that led to the turn against Sunnyvale even considering its changing its elections to even years.

"We get what we pay for; we get a good election by having it in an off year," said Thom Mayer, chairman of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. "You'll get better expression of the issues in the local election if we don't have all the noise of the regional and national elections."

According to a study of election costs in Sunnyvale, the 2003 election only drew 15,455 voters, roughly 27 percent of those registered, and cost $167,330. The 2000 election, coinciding with the presidential race, drew 72 percent of registered voters, some 60,000, and only cost $18,122.

The idea of potential savings lost its influence when Councilman Fred Fowler questioned how much would actually be saved and was not given an answer by city staff because actual figures depend on which issues are involved, which races are voted on and other undetermined factors.

Sunnyvale resident Ken Jorgensen said that while the idea of saving money was appealing, at this point there are too many questions to consider such a drastic change.

Councilwoman Melinda Hamilton spoke out against the change, saying that the higher turnouts associated with larger elections do not necessarily mean a better vote on local issues, because smaller city items are placed well below the high-profile national items on the ballot. Her sentiment was echoed by many on the dais and in attendance, that by having a separate, local election, voters' attention is focused on learning about the issues that will directly affect their city.

"It may be true that there will be a lower voter turnout, but it will be a more educated turnout," said Harriet Rowe, a frequent council watcher, who sat through the four-hour meeting.

In addition to changing costs, turnout and focus, the change to elections would also change the office terms for council members. If the study had been approved, and the date were changed, Council Seats 1 through 3, held by Fred Fowler, Julia Miller and Mayor John Howe, respectively, would have 12 months added to their term. The remaining four seats would have 12 months either added or subtracted to make up the difference. This could result—if not remedied with the introduction of two-year terms for some members—in a seven-seat turnover in the next election.

It was also suggested in the report to council that if a council member were to serve four years and then take two years off, the council member would be available to serve two consecutive four-year terms after the break. Vice Mayor Dean Chu questioned this, because he felt that allowing an official to potentially serve 12 years out of 14 was against the city's vision for officials. He asked that a study be undertaken on that issue at a later date.

With so many uncertainties, and the potential de-emphasis of local issues, the feasibility study died before it could begin.

"Let's leave it like it is. It isn't broken, we don't need to fix it," Mayer said.