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Title:
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Consideration of a Position of Support for Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Measure R on the November 4, 2008 Ballot.
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City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council consider a position of Support for Metropolitan
Transportation Authority’s Measure R on the November 4, 2008 ballot.
BACKGROUND:
On July 24, 2008, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of
Directors placed a new half cent sales tax measure for Los Angeles County on the
November 4, 2008 ballot. According to Metro this ballot measure, known as
Measure R, would finance dozens of transportation projects ranging from pothole
repairs, major highway construction, the purchase of clean fuel buses, and the
construction of new rail lines spread throughout the county. This is part of Metro’s
effort to keep pace with major population and job growth. The Board of Directors
approved an ordinance including an expenditure plan that spells out in project detail
how the sales tax – estimated to generate $30-$40 billion over the next 30 years –
would be spent. These monies also could be leveraged with state, federal and
private sector funding. The Metro Board also passed a resolution formally requesting
the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to place the ordinance on the ballot
for the Nov. 4, 2008 countywide general election.
If the measure garners at least a two thirds vote, it would become law in January
2009. The ballot measure also is contingent on Governor Schwarzenegger’s
signature of AB 2321 (Feuer), which would give Los Angeles County authority to
levy the tax if voters approve it. The City Council took a position of Support for AB
2321 on July 21, 2008.
Meeting Date: 09/22/08 Item Number: A-4
AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of a Position of Support for Metropolitan
Transportation Authority’s Measure R on the November 4, 2008 Ballot.
Contact Person/Dept.: Shelly Wolfberg Phone Number: (310) 253-6008
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification:
Master E-Mail Notification List (09/17/08).
Department Approval:
Martin R. Cole (09/15/08)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (09/16/08)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by N. Kimball) (09/17/08)
City Manager Approval:
Jerry B. Fulwood (09/17/08) City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
The new sales tax would fund projects in Metro’s Expenditure Plan to help address
gridlock in the heavy traffic areas of our region. It would finance such new transit
projects as the Westside Subway Extension and Exposition Boulevard Light Rail
Transit line on the Westside, both high priority projects for the member cities of the
Westside Cities Council of Governments. Funding from this measure is also
identified for a rail connection to LAX, extending the Metro Green Line to the South
Bay corridor, a downtown rail connector that would make transfers on the light rail
lines seamless, and much more.
In addition, the 88 cities and county unincorporated areas would receive 15 percent
of sales tax revenue for local transit services, street resurfacing, left hand turn
signals, bikeways, pedestrian improvements and other local transportation priorities.
Twenty percent of the monies would help subsidize countywide bus operations,
which will help keep fares low for seniors, students and commuters. Another five
percent will pay for Metrolink operations, maintenance and expansion and for
purchasing Metro Rail train cars, rail yards and other system improvements.
To ensure that money will be spent in Los Angeles County for exactly what voters
were promised, the ballot measure calls for an annual independent audit and report
to taxpayers and ongoing monitoring and review of spending by an independent
taxpayer oversight committee. The Los Angeles Economic Development
Corporation found the tax increase would cost residents $25 more per person
annually. Residents will pay about 42 percent of the sales tax raised with
businesses and tourists contributing the remaining amount.
This evening, the City Council is being asked to consider taking a position of support
for Measure R, which will appear on the November 4, 2008 County wide ballot.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
There is no fiscal impact for the City Council to support Measure R. If Measure R
passes, the sales tax rate in Los Angeles County would increase from 8.25% to
8.75% and Culver CityBus would receive additional transit funds for operations and
transit capital projects. Staff would return at a later date for any future funding
requests regarding Measure R.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. County of Los Angeles Ordinance #08-01 “Traffic Relief and Rail Expansion
Ordinance” and Expenditure Plan.
City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
MOTION:
That the City Council:
1. Adopt a position of Support for Measure R; or
2. Provide other direction to staff.