Item A: Resolution on Gas Tax to Ballot

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Action: Resolution Calling a City Election on May 20, 2008, for the Purpose of Referring to the Electors of the City of Eugene Ordinance No. 20401 Amending Section 3 of Ordinance No. 20337, to Extend the Sunset of $0.02 Per Gallon of the Motor Vehicle Fuel Dealer’s Business License Tax Until February 28, 2011; and Approval of Production of Voters’ Pamphlet and Appointment of Members to Voters’ Pamphlet Proponent Committee for the Referred Ballot Measure on Ordinance No. 20401 Meeting Date: March 10, 2008 Agenda Item Number: A Department: City Attorney/City Manager’s Office Staff Contacts: Jerry Lidz/ Mary Feldman www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Numbers: 682-5080/682-8353 ISSUE STATEMENT The attached resolution provides that if the requisite number of valid signatures were filed on February 27, 2008, then the election on the gas tax sunset would occur at the May 2008 election rather than the September 2008 election. The second part of this item is to be considered only if the council adopts the proposed resolution calling a May 2008 election. If that resolution is approved, the council is asked to approve a motion directing the City Manager to publish a voters’ pamphlet for the May 20, 2008, Primary Election. In a second motion, the council is also asked to appoint up to three members to the Voters’ Pamphlet Proponent Committee for the ballot measure on Ordinance No. 20401. BACKGROUND Resolution Calling a May Election On January 28, 2008, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 20401, which amended Section 3 of Ordinance No. 20337 to extend the sunset of $0.02 per gallon of the City’s motor vehicle fuel dealer’s business license tax, maintaining the tax at its current rate of $0.05 per gallon until February 28, 2011. On February 27, 2008, referendum petitioners submitted over 11,000 signatures to the City Recorder. At this time, the number of valid signatures is not known, and consequently, it is not known whether the ordinance was successfully referred. If that information is known by the March 10 council meeting, that information will be provided to the council. (The County Elections Division has until Thursday, March 13 to complete its verification process, although it may be able to complete it sooner.) Eugene City Code section 2.981(2)(b) provides that an election on a referendum measure shall be held on the next available election date under State law that is more than 90 days after the F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080310\S080310A.DOC