Item A: Resolution on Gas Tax to Ballot

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date the City Recorder certifies the referendum petition, unless the City Council calls an earlier election. In no event may the council call an election on a referendum measure for a date sooner than 66 days from the date the City Recorder certifies the referendum petition. Therefore, if the council wants to send the gas tax sunset referendum to the voters at the May election, the council needs to act before March 15, 2008. The election on the gas tax sunset will take place in September unless the council calls an earlier election. A May Presidential Primary Election is likely to have higher voter turnout than a September Special Election. The cost of a special election in September would be the sole responsibility of the participating jurisdiction, which could be Eugene alone. If that were the case, Eugene’s cost is estimated to be approximately $150,000. The council may also choose to vote to urge adoption of the referred measure, order submission of an alternative measure to be voted on at the same election as the referred measure, or simply repeal Ordinance 20401. The council may vote to urge adoption of Ordinance 20401 at any time between now and the election. If the council chooses to order submission of an alternative measure or measures to be voted on at the same election as the gas tax sunset, that election must take place in September, as there is not enough time at this point to allow for a ballot title appeal before the City Recorder must submit the council-referred measure or measures to Lane County Elections for inclusion on the ballot for the May election. If the election is not held until September, the council may act at any time between now and mid-July to repeal Ordinance 20401. Upon repeal of Ordinance 20401, $0.02 of the motor vehicle fuel dealers tax will sunset, leaving the City gas tax at $0.03 per gallon. Motion to authorize production of a voters’ pamphlet For elections at which City of Eugene measures are placed before the voters, the City has customarily prepared and mailed voters’ pamphlets to all residential addresses within the city. Voters’ pamphlets include the caption, question, and summary of each City ballot measure (including EWEB measures), the resolution referring the measure to the voters, and arguments and rebuttals from proponent and opponent committees for each measure. Additional arguments in favor or opposing the ballot measures are included when submitted by petition or paid for by individuals or groups. The pamphlet also may contain paid statements from the City Council, EWEB, School Districts 4J and 52 candidates, as well as ballot measure information for EWEB or school district measures. General information about the election process and how electors may complete it is also part of the pamphlet. Costs for the voters’ pamphlet vary depending on the number of pages required, which is dictated by the number of measures being considered and the number of arguments and candidate statements submitted; and on postage costs, which are dictated by current rates and the number of addresses in the data base. Costs for publishing the November 2007 pamphlet, which included two City of Eugene ballot measures, were approximately $21,000. Costs include advertising for members of the voters’ pamphlet opponent committees and solicitation of additional arguments. While only one ballot measure would be included in the May 2008 pamphlet, pages would also be required for candidates who may wish to participate. There are expected to be additional costs because there is likely to be a higher number of households receiving the pamphlet, and printing and advertising costs continue to increase. F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080310\S080310A.DOC