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CC - (1) Adoption of a Resolution Amending the Questions to be Submitted to Voters at the Special Municipal Election to be Held in the City on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, to (A) Delete Three Questions Relating to Proposed Amendments to the Charter of the City of Culver City; and (B) Add One Question Relating to a Clean Water Parcel Tax; and (2) Discussion of the Creation and Appointment of Members to an Ad-Hoc Subcommittee to Draft Ballot Argument(s) for the Clean Water Parcel Tax.
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Meeting Date: 07/25/2016
Contact Person/Dept: Serena Wright/Administrative Services Director
Jeff Muir/Chief Financial Officer
Phone Number: 310-253-5640
310-253-5865
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (07/19/16)
Department Approval: Serena Wright, Administrative Services Director (07/18/2016)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council:
(1) Adopt a resolution amending the ballot questions to be submitted to voters at the Special Municipal Election to be held in the City on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 to:
a. Delete three questions relating to proposed amendments to the Charter of the City of Culver City; and,
b. Add one question relating to a Clean Water Parcel Tax.
(2) Discuss the creation of an Ad Hoc Subcommittee, and appoint members thereto, to draft the primary argument for the Clean Water Parcel Tax and require the Subcommittee to complete its work in time to present to the City Council at its meeting on August 8, 2016.
BACKGROUND
Charter Amendments
At its Regular Meeting of March 14, 2016, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2016-R018 which gave notice of holding a Special Municipal Election in the City on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, for the purpose of submitting to the voters the following four ballot measures relating to proposed Charter amendments:
a. Change the appointing authority and the reporting responsibilities of the Fire Chief and Police Chief from the City Council to the City Manager
b. Provide for the ineligibility of a person who has resigned from the City Council to run for the Office of City Council Member for a period of four years from the date of such resignation
c. Change term limits for City Council Members from the current two full terms to three full terms with such change becoming effective for City Council Members assuming office after November 8, 2016; and,
d. Authorize the City Council to determine the dates of Regular Meetings of the City Council.
Resolution No. 2016-R019 was also adopted on March 14, 2016, which requested that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles consolidate the City’s Special Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election.
At its Regular Meeting of May 9, 2016, there was consensus from the City Council to re-agendize a discussion of the four ballot measures previously approved for placement on the ballot.
At its Regular Meeting held on July 11, 2016, the City Council considered these four ballot measures and determined to delete three of the four previously approved measures. Specifically, the City Council directed that the following three measures be deleted from the ballot:
e. Provide for the ineligibility of a person who has resigned from the City Council to run for the Office of City Council Member for a period of four years from the date of such resignation
f. Change term limits for City Council Members from the current two full terms to three full terms with such change becoming effective for City Council Members assuming office after November 8, 2016; and,
g. Authorize the City Council to determine the dates of Regular Meetings of the City Council.
Clean Water Parcel Tax
Also at its meeting of July 11, 2016, the City Council considered adding a Clean Water Parcel Tax and directed staff to return with a Resolution to place such measure on the ballot for the November 8, 2016 Special Municipal Election.
DISCUSSION
Ballot Measures
Pursuant to the City Council’s direction on July 11, 2016, staff recommends the City Council adopt a proposed Resolution which will amend Resolution No. 2016-R018 and Resolution No. 2016-R019, which will ultimately result in the following two measures being placed on the ballot for the November 8, 2016 Special Municipal Election:
1. Change the appointing authority and the reporting responsibilities of the Fire Chief and Police Chief from the City Council to the City Manager
2. Establish a Clean Water Parcel Tax to fund compliance measures required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program (Exhibit A of the Resolution includes the proposed text of the Ordinance that will establish the parcel tax.)
Ballot Arguments
At its Regular Meeting of March 14, 2016 City Council created an Ad Hoc Subcommittee comprised of Mayor Clarke and Vice Mayor Cooper to prepare ballot arguments for the proposed measures related to the Charter amendments. Staff recommends the City Council discuss whether to create an additional, separate and distinct Ad Hoc Subcommittee for the purpose of writing the ballot argument for the Clean Water Parcel Tax. If such a Subcommittee is created, each of the two Subcommittees must work strictly on their own measures and there cannot be any overlap of the work, due to Brown Act considerations. If the City Council determines not to establish a second Subcommittee, staff recommends it adopt a motion confirming that the already established Ad Hoc Subcommittee (Mayor Clarke and Vice-Mayor Cooper) shall prepare ballot argument for the Clean Water Parcel Tax measure.
Per City Council’s previous direction, the Subcommittee(s) will bring back draft arguments, which may not exceed 300 words, to the full City Council for review and acceptance. These ballot arguments must be presented at the August 8, 2016 City Council meeting for consideration and adoption via resolution in order to ensure timely submittal to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Office by close of business on August 19, 2016. Once approved by City Council and submitted to the County, the arguments will be placed on the voter sample ballot.
Rebuttal arguments are due 10 days after the primary arguments are due and shall not exceed 250 words. The deadline for submission of rebuttal arguments to the City Clerk’s Office would be no later than close of business (5:30 PM) on August 29, 2016.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The estimated cost to consolidate the election with Los Angeles County is $100,000, and has already been included in the Fiscal Year 2016/17 Adopted Budget based on the City Council action of March 14, 2016.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Resolution, including Exhibit A
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Adopt the Proposed Resolution Amending the Questions to be Submitted to Voters for the Special Municipal Election to be Held in the City on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 to: (A) delete three questions relating to proposed Charter Amendments and (B) add one question relating to a proposed clean water parcel tax, including Exhibit A (the text of the newly added clean water parcel tax measure); and,
2A. Discuss whether to create an Ad Hoc Subcommittee, and appoint members thereto, to draft the primary argument for the Clean Water Parcel Tax and direct the Subcommittee to complete its work in time to present to the City Council at its meeting on August 8, 2016;
OR
2B. Confirm the previously created Ad Hoc Subcommittee (Mayor Clarke and Vice-Mayor Cooper) shall also prepare primary argument for the Clean Water Parcel Tax and direct the Subcommittee to complete its work in time to present to the City Council at its meeting on August 8, 2016.