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<br />ECC <br />UGENE ITY OUNCIL <br />AIS <br />GENDA TEM UMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Action: A Resolution Calling a City Election on November 6, 2012, for the Purpose of <br />Submitting an Advisory Measure to the Legal Electors of the City of Eugene Concerning <br />Constitutional Rights of Corporations <br /> <br /> <br />Meeting Date: July 23, 2012 Agenda Item Number: 6 <br />Department: City Attorney’s Office Contact: Glenn Klein <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-8447 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br /> <br />The City Council will consider calling an election on November 6, 2012, for the purpose of submitting <br />an advisory measure to the electors concerning the constitutional rights of corporations. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />On February 15, 2012, the council adopted Resolution No. 5055 asserting that corporations, unions and <br />special interest groups should not have the constitutional rights that natural persons possess. Common <br />Cause Oregon has requested that the council refer a measure to the voters of the City of Eugene to <br />express their opinions on the constitutional rights of corporations. On July 9, 2012, the council directed <br />the City Manager to bring back a resolution calling an election on November 6, 2012, for this purpose. <br /> <br />If the council refers the advisory question, the council also will need to appoint up to three councilors to <br />serve on the proponents’ committee to write the argument in favor of the measure. Additionally, the <br />council will need to authorize the expenditure of funds for the additional costs, including publication of <br />the advertisement for the opponents’ committee, publication of notice related to the measure, and the <br />printing of the additional pages for the voters’ pamphlet (ballot measure; resolution; proponents’ and <br />opponents’ written arguments and rebuttals; and any other argument for or against the measure). <br /> <br />The council has also asked what measures had been referred to the electors in the last ten years. The <br />measures referred since 2002 are as follows: <br />2011:  <br /> <br />Temporary income tax for schools. <br />2008:  <br /> <br />Gas tax sunset extension. <br />  <br /> <br />GO bonds for street preservation projects. <br />  <br /> <br />Police Auditor Charter amendment changes. <br />2007:  <br /> <br />3¢ gas tax. <br />  <br /> <br />Urban Renewal Plan for amendments Downtown. <br />2006:  <br /> <br />Local option levy for Library. <br />  <br /> <br />GO bonds for Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Projects. <br /> <br />S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120723\S1207236.doc <br />