HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/16/1996, 1A - ADVISORY BALLOT MEASURE FOR LONG-TERM OPEN SPACE AND PARK FINANCING council
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: Ken Hampian, Assistant City Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Advisory Ballot Measure for Long-tern Open Space and Park Financing
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution submitting an advisory ballot measure to the voters at the General Municipal
Election to be held on November 5, 1996, to determine whether the voters would support the
establishment of a long-term open space and park financing program, consistent with the
recommendations of the Open Space Financing Task Force.
DISCUSSION
Background
The preservation of open space within and around the community was established by the City
Council as a Major City Goal for the 1995-97 Financial Plan. To pursue the implementation of
this goal, the Open Space Financing Task Force was created by the Council on November 7,
1995. The mission of the Task Force was to develop recommendations for the City Council
regarding the best strategy for the long-term funding of open space protection.
The Task Force began meeting in February 1996,and over the course of several weeks developed
a preliminary Task Force Report. This report was distributed to dozens of community
organizations, and public comment was received at a community forum held on Monday, April
29th. Following the forum, the Task Force refined its recommendations and completed its final
report for Council consideration. On June 11, 1996, the City Council considered the report and
directed staff to move forward with the preparation of an advisory ballot measure. In taking that
action, the Council made the following modifications to the recommendations of the Task Force:
• Reduced the amount to be raised annually through a community-wide assessment district
from $1-5 million to $1 million; and
• Reduced from 5 years to 4 years the period of time to elapse prior to a comprehensive
program review and evaluation.
All other.recommendations of the Open Space Financing Task Force, as outlined in their June
1996 Report, were endorsed by the City Council. These recommendations included provisions
related to open space maintenance, the establishment of an oversight committee, the allocation
of 25 percent of the new funds toward parkland acquisition and development, special accounting
for the funds, and others.
On June 20, 1996, the Open Space Financing Task Force held its final meeting. During this
meeting, the Task Force endorsed the modifications to their recommendations, as made by the
/A-1
Council Agenda Report - Advisory Ballot Measure for Long-tern Open Space/Pailk Financing
Page 2
City Council on June 11. Thus, the final Task Force recommendations are now inclusive of $1
million annual funding level and the four-year cycle for comprehensive review. The Task Force
was also briefed on the proposed ballot language, as outlined below.
Pmoosed Advisory Measure LanLyUage
Following the June 11th Council meeting, a staff team consisting of the City Attorney, Finance
Director, Natural Resources Manager, Assistant City Clerk and Assistant CAO met to discuss the
ballot measure process and to draft proposed advisory measure language. The proposed language
would read as follows:
MEASURE A - ADVISORY VOTE ONLY
YES
Should the City form a city-wide assessment district for open space
protection and park acquisition and development that would raise $1
million annually for this purpose, in accordance with the program NO
guidelines recommended by the Open Space Financing Task Force?
The language above was drafted to be as clear and concise as possible. By including "... in
accordance with the program guidelines recommended by the Open Space Financing Task Force,"
excessive detail in the ballot language is avoided. However, the key components of the program
will be outlined in the City Attorney's impartial analysis, and/or will be described in the ballot
arguments, whichever is most appropriate and acceptable to the County Clerk.
Next Stens
Following adoption of the proposed resolution, the City Attorney will draft his impartial analysis,
and the process for obtaining ballot arguments will be initiated, as outlined in Attachment 2.
CONCURRENCES
The proposed ballot measure language has the concurrence of the Open Space Financing Task
Force, which also recommended that this be the first City measure on the ballot.
FISCAL EMPACT
According to the Assistant City Clerk, it is estimated that placing this advisory measure on the
November election will cost between $1,500 and $2,000 (primarily for printing costs). The costs
may vary somewhat, depending upon the number of arguments or rebuttals submitted.
Attachment
• Resolution for Proposed Advisory Measure
• Ballot Argument Process
M_Z
RESOLUTION NO. (1996 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SAN LUIS OBISPO SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS AT
THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER S. 1996, AN ADVISORY MEASURE
RELATIVE TO A CITY-WIDE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT
FOR OPEN SPACE PROTECTION AND PARK
ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT
WHEREAS, the City Council established the preservation of open space as a Major City
Goal for the 1995-97 Financial Plan period; and
WHEREAS,in November 1995 the City Council created the Open Space Financing Task
Force to develop recommendations on the best strategy for funding the long-term protection of
open spaces; and
WHEREAS, on June 11, 1996, the Task Force presented its final recommendations to the
City Council, including that the Council form a city-wide assessment district for open space
protection and park acquisition and development purposes; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved the recommendations of the Task Force with
certain modifications that were later endorsed by the Task Force; and
WHEREAS, California Elections Code Section 9603 authorizes cities to hold an advisory
election in consolidation with any regular or special election for the purpose of allowing voters
to voice their opinions on substantive issues, with the understanding that the results of any such
advisory election will not be binding on the city.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SAN LUIS OBISPO AS FOLLOWS:
1. An advisory measure is hereby ordered to be submitted to the voters at the General
Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 1996;
2. The proposed advisory measure will read as follows:
-------------
MEASURE A - ADVISORY VOTE ONLY
FFShould form a ci YES
ty ty-wide assessment district for open space park acquisition and development that would raise $1
mlion annually for this purpose, in accordance with the program NO
guidelines recommended by the Open Space Financing Task Force?
/A-3
Resolution
Re Open Space Financing Task Force
Page 2
3. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and shall
publish and circulate the resolution in accordance with the requirements of the
California Elections Code.
4. This resolution shall take effect upon its adoption.
On motion OE--., seconded by
and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
the foregoing resolution of appreciation was adopted this day of 1996. .
Allen K Settle, Mayor
ATTEST:
Bonnie Gawf, City Clerk
APPROVED:
*fgens O' A;eay::!�—
CITY CLERK MEMORANDUM
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June 20, 1996
TO: Open Space Funding Task Force
FROM: Kim Condon, Assistant City Cler
SUBJECT: PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING DIRECT&REBUTTAL ARGUMENTS ON
CITY MEASURES
Whenever any City measure qualifies for the ballot, whether it be by initiative, referendum, or
by a majority vote of the legislative body, pursuant to Elections Code § 9282, "the legislative
body, any member of the legislative body authorized by that body, or any individual voter or
bona fide association of citizens, or any combination of voters and associations, may file a
written argument for or against any City measures. No argument shall exceed 300 words in
length." Attached is a word count standard sheet for use in writing the argument. Words in the
title shall not be counted when determining the length of the argument (Exhibit A).
Arguments must be titled either "Argument in Favor of Measure(Letter), or "Argument Against
Measure (Letter)" and include a statement as indicated in Exhibit B.
The last day to submit direct arguments to the City Clerk's Office is tentatively scheduled for .
Tuesday, July 30, 1996. The City Attorney's Impartial Analysis, not to exceed 500 words,
would be submitted on that same date.
Upon selecting one argument in favor and one argument against the measure for printing and
presentation to the voters at the November 5 municipal election, the City Clerk shall send copies
of the argument in favor of the measure to the authors of the argument against, and copies of
the argument against to the authors of the argument in favor. The rebuttal arguments, not to
exceed 250 words, must be filed with the City Clerk's Office not more than ten days after the
date for filing direct arguments, Wednesday, Friday, August 9, 1996 at 5:00 p.m. Rebuttal
arguments shall be printed in the same manner as the direct arguments. Each rebuttal shall be
titled "Rebuttal to Argument in Favor of Measure.(X)," or "Rebuttal to Argument Against
Measure (X)."
If more than one argument for or more than one argument against the measure is submitted, the
City Clerk shall give preference and priority, in the order named, to the arguments of the
following;
1. City Council or members authorized by it.
2. Individual voter or bona fide association of citizens, or combination of voter
associations, who are bona fide sponsors of the measure.
3. Bona fide association of citizens.
4., Individual electors (registered voters). (E.C. § 9287)
No more than five signatures shall appear on any argument. In case any argument is signed by
more than five persons, the signatures of the fust five shall be printed.
(E.C. § 9283)
*NOTE: If an argument or rebuttal is submitted on behalf of an organization, the name of the
organization and the name of at least one of its principal officers must be listed.
If you have any questions on this process, please call the City Clerk's Office at 781-7103.
Attachments:
- Exhibit A - Word Count Standard
- Exhibit B - Statement Accompanying Argument
c: John Dunn, City Administrative Officer
Jeff Jorgensen, City Attorney
Ken Hampian, Assistant City Administrative Officer
0110
mEETING AGENDA
DATE 74-9 ITEM # ��---
July 14, 1996
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
Regarding the agenda for July 16, 1996:
It would be wonderful if you reject the idea of adding a property tax for open space in the first
place, however, since you will elect to place the issue on the Nov. '96 ballot, I strongly
recommend you make two points perfectly clear in the language you use in the ballot to the
voters...1)There are no plans as to which property the new taxes will buy and...2) There are no
plans to quit collecting these new taxes. If you cannot be honest about these points, then we have
real problems in this town!
Also,we are now apparently in discussion about dropping plans for water from Nacimiento.
Every time we attempt to get water, it is either too expensive or there are too many legal or
environmental loopholes to jump through. Quit the baloney!!! Fight for water. (By the way,
your staff never satisfactorily answered my proposal of last Spring to dam the creek above town,
thereby killing three birds with one stone...flood control, reduce flow under Higuera for simpler
bridge repair, and an additional supply of water for the city...once again I was sloughed off with
the answer that it is too expensive.)
Sincerly,
. JAY
Lawrence Pennington
761 Grove St.
SLO, CA 93401
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