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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2F: Approval of Production of Voters' Pamphlet ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Approval of Production of Voters’ Pamphlet Meeting Date: June 12, 2006 Agenda Item Number: 2F Department: City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Mary Feldman www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-8353 ISSUE STATEMENT The council is asked to approve a motion directing the City Manager to publish a voters’ pamphlet for the November 7, 2006, General Election. BACKGROUND On May 22, 2006, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 4868 referring to the legal electors of the City of Eugene a measure authorizing a Four-Year Local Option Levy for the funding of Library Operations. At the same meeting, the council also adopted Resolution No. 4869 calling a City election on November 7, 2006, for the purpose of referring to the electors a measure authorizing the issuance of a maximum of $25,490,000 of General Obligation Bonds for Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Projects. 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 City Council, EWEB, and 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 2005 pamphlet, which included a single City of Eugene ballot measure were approximately $15,000. Costs include advertising for members of the voters’ pamphlet opponent committees and solicitation of additional arguments. The additional pages required for the November 2006 pamphlet, the higher number of households receiving it, and increases in printing and advertising costs could as much as double the cost of the 2006 pamphlet. L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060612\S0606122F.doc Staff will inform the council of final costs once the determining variables are established by early fall. The council can expect the appropriation to occur on Supplemental Budget #1. Directing staff to begin preparation of the voters’ pamphlet at this time rather than later could avoid higher production costs that result when quick printing and processing turnaround is required. RELATED CITY POLICIES Eugene Code 2.993(2) requires that: “The city manager shall publish and distribute a local voter’s pamphlet for each election in which a city measure is on the ballot unless: (a) The city measure is placed on the ballot by petition or council action occurring less than 55 days before the election date; or (b) The council determines that the environmental, economic and social impacts of adoption of the city measure are not substantial enough to warrant the expense for preparation and distribution of a voter’s pamphlet.” COUNCIL OPTIONS 1. Council can approve the motion to publish a voters’ pamphlet. 2. Council can make a determination that the impact of adoption of both the PROS Bond measure and the Library Levy measure is insufficient to warrant the expense of publishing a voters’ pamphlet and direct that one not be prepared. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends that the City publish a voters’ pamphlet for the 2006 election. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to direct the preparation and distribution of a voters’ pamphlet for the November 7, 2006, election. ATTACHMENTS A.Ballot Title for Parks and Open Space General Obligation Bonds B.Ballot Title for Four-Year Local Option Levy for Library Operation Funding FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Mary Feldman, City Recorder Telephone: 541-682-8353 Staff E-Mail: mary.h.feldman@ci.eugene.or.us L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060612\S0606122F.doc ATTACHMENT A Parks and Open Space General Obligation Bonds CAPTION: BONDS FOR PARKS, ATHLETIC FIELDS AND PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE QUESTION: Shall City of Eugene acquire parkland, develop parks and athletic fields by issuing up to $27,490,000 in general obligation bonds? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11 b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution. SUMMARY: If approved, the proceeds from the sale of the bonds will be used for costs related to the purchase ofland for parks and open space, and the construction and improvement of park facilities. Projects anticipated to receive funding through the bonds include: . purchasing land for neighborhood and community parks in the Bethel, River Road/Santa Clara, south Eugene, Willakenzie and Willow Creek areas . purchasing land to expand Amazon Park and parkland in front of the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House . expanding and constructing park facilities at Golden Gardens Park . purchasing land for the preservation of natural open spaces near the Ridgeline Trail, the Willamette River and Gillespie Butte . developing a West Eugene Wetlands Education Center in partnership with other federal and local agencies . refurbishing existing synthetic-surface ball fields, and developing new fields and related facilities (such as restrooms, lights and bleachers), in partnership with the Eugene 4J and Bethel school districts. Bond costs are estimated to average about $0.15 per $1000 of assessed value per year over the life of the bonds. 001428l9.DOC ATTACHMENT B Four Year Local Option Levy For Library Operation Funding CAPTION: QUESTION: SUMMARY: OO142820.DOC FOUR-YEAR LOCAL OPTION PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR LIBRARY OPERATIONS Shall City of Eugene impose $2,687,500 each year for four years to fund library operations beginning in fiscal year 2008? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent. In May 2002, the voters of the City of Eugene approved a four- year local option property tax levy in the amount of $4,900,000 per year. The monies have funded library operations, including branch libraries, purchasing library materials, extending library hours, and adding additional library staff. The levy is set to expire on June 30,2007. Beginning July 1,2007, this new local option levy would renew a portion of the funding for the services now covered by the expiring levy. Ifpassed, the proposed levy of$2,687,500 per year would total $10,750,000 over four years. It is estimated that the levy will average about $0.23 per $1000 of assessed value per year over the four-year period of the levy. The estimated tax cost for this measure is an ESTIMATE ONLY based on the best information available from the county assessor at the time of the estimate.