08/09/1989 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. denied a ballot title, the council could direct the City Attorney to draft language for a ballot title that is of legislative character. Councilors agreed to include a section in the Code giving the City Attorney the authority to reject a prospective petition that is not of legislative character. Mr. Holmer noted his opposition to this proposal. Mr. Biedermann described several changes to the referendum/initiative process, which he described as IIhousekeeping" measures. One of these changes would require that measures be filed with the Finance Officer no less than 45 days prior to the election. This 15-day extension would give the City Recorder more time to verify signatures. Mr. Holmer said he sympathizes with the pressures on the City Recorder but said he is uncomfortable lengthening the process. Another change would require the nominating petition to be filed at least 75 days prior to the election; this change represents a five-day increase. Mr. Holmer said the State requires that nominating petitions be filed at least 70 days prior to an election. He thought that the City's process should be kept in sync with the State's. Ms. Fieland stated that the City Recorder's Office needs additional time because of its interaction with the County. The City needs to verify signatures on the 70th day and turn in the signatures to Lane County Elections; this does not give the City Recorder enough time to verify signatures on petitions submitted at the last minute. Mr. Biedermann said staff is proposing to change the number of days for e verification of signatures on a petition by the Finance Officer from 10 to 15. Ms. Fieland said implementation of this change will bring the City into compliance with State laws and will eliminate the need to pay overtime to employees to meet the 10-day time limit. Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Mr. Bennett, to direct staff to draft an ordinance reflecting the discussion above and that a public hearing be scheduled. The motion passed 5:0:1, with Mr. Holmer abstaining. IV. REPORT ON VOTERS' PAMPHLET Barb Bellamy, City Manager's Office, said that as originally envisioned, most voters' pamphlets would require only eight pages, at an approximate cost of $6,5000 for printing and mailing. Pamphlets published to date have ranged from 8-24 pages and have been more costly than anticipated. This is due in part to increasing postage rates and printing costs. Additional factors are publication size, staffing level, City Attorney assistance required by the committee drafting the neutral statement, and Lane County Elections charges for signature verification on arguments. Ms. Bellamy reviewed three options: 1) retain the ordinance, which allows the council to determine, for each election, whether a local voters' pamphlet should be published; 2) repeal the local voters' pamphlet ordinance; and 3) consider ways to reduce City costs . MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 9, 1989 Page 5