HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4: Voters' Pamphlet/Appointment of Committees
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Action: Approval of Motions Relating to Production of a Voters’ Pamphlet for the
November 4, 2008, Election
Meeting Date: July 28, 2008 Agenda Item Number: 4
Department: City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Mary Feldman
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-8353
ISSUE STATEMENT
The purpose of this item is to initiate the production of a voters’ pamphlet for the general election on
November 4, 2008, and to appoint the members of the voters’ pamphlet proponent committees.
BACKGROUND
On July 14, the City Council approved a resolution referring to the voters a Charter Amendment on the
Police Auditor. On July 28, the council is scheduled to take action on a resolution placing a general
obligation (GO) bond for street preservation on the November 2008 ballot.
(This agenda item assumes that the council voted to refer the GO Bond to the voters at the November 4,
2008, 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 and thus requires a request for
contingency funds. Production costs, including mailing, for the voters’ pamphlets the past few years
have averaged between $20,000 and $25,000. Taking into account increased costs for postage and
labor, staff estimates that this pamphlet will cost approximately $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 at the July 28 meeting.
Z:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080728\S0807284.doc
COUNCIL OPTIONS
1. The council may approve motions to produce and expend funds on a voters’ pamphlet and appoint
councilors to a proponent committee.
2. The council may determine that Eugene Code provisions notwithstanding, the impacts of adoption of
the city measures amending the Charter and implementing a bond measure are not substantial
enough to warrant the expense of preparation and distribution of a voters’ pamphlet.
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends approval of the motions to produce and pay for a voters’ pamphlet and
to appoint members of the proponent committee.
In some previous elections, the City has produced neutral informational tabloids for voters. A request to
authorize such a tabloid is being considered separately.
SUGGESTED MOTIONS
A. Move to direct the City Manager to publish and distribute a local voters’ pamphlet for the
election scheduled for November 4, 2008, on measures concerning a charter amendment relating to
the Police Auditor and a GO bond to fund street preservation, and to authorize the expenditure of
funds from the General Fund contingency account that are required to produce that voters’ pamphlet.
B. Move to appoint Councilors _______________, _______________, and _______________ to the
voters’ pamphlet proponent committee for the Police Auditor Charter Amendment.
C. Move to appoint Councilors _______________, _______________, and _______________ to the
voters’ pamphlet proponent committee for the Street Preservation GO Bond ballot measure.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Mary Feldman , City Recorder
Telephone: 682-8353
Staff E-Mail: mary.h.feldman@ci.eugene.or.us
Z:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080728\S0807284.doc