Item 6: Approval of Motions Relating to Voter's Pamphlet

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Action: Approval of Motions Relating to Production of a Voters’ Pamphlet for the November 6, 2012, Election Meeting Date: July 9, 2012 Agenda Item Number: 6 Department: City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Beth Forrest www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5882 ISSUE STATEMENT The purpose of this item is to initiate the production of a voters’ pamphlet for the general election on November 6, 2012, and to appoint the members of the voters’ pamphlet proponent committee. BACKGROUND On July 9, the council is scheduled to take action on a resolution placing a general obligation (GO) bond for street preservation on the November 2012 ballot. (This agenda item assumes that the council votes to refer the GO Bond to the voters at the November 6, 2012, election). RELATED CITY POLICIES EC 2.993 (2) requires the city manager to publish and distribute a local voters’ pamphlet for elections in which a city measure is on the ballot. EC 2.996 (1)(b) establishes that for City Council-referred measures, the argument in favor and the rebuttal to the opposition argument are to be prepared by one or more of the councilors who voted in favor of the measure. Production of a voters’ pamphlet is not a regularly budgeted item. Production costs, including mailing, for the voters’ pamphlets the past few years have averaged between $15,000 and $25,000. The time required for printing a pamphlet and preparing it for mailing are set by production schedules of mailing services and commercial printers. Pamphlet content and deadlines for its preparation and mailing are established by Eugene Code 2.993 through 2.997. To meet those deadlines, council action is needed before July 25. COUNCIL OPTIONS 1. The council may approve motions to produce and expend funds on a voters’ pamphlet and appoint councilors to a proponent committee. S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120709\S1207096.doc