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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 390-06City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL CITY MANAGER OCTOBER 10, 2006 DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER CMR: 390:06 RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF CALIFORNIA PROPOSITIONS 1C, 1E, 84, 86, AND 89; AND OPPOSITION TO PROPOSITION 90, FOR NOVEMBER 7, 2006 ELECTION RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council adopt resolutions of support for propositions 1C, 1E, 84, 86, and 89; and a resolution opposing Proposition 90. BACKGROUND On September 18, 2006, Council directed staff to prepare resolutions in support of the following ballot measures: Proposition 1C - Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006 Proposition 1E - Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Act of 2006 Proposition 84 - Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 Proposition 86 - Tobacco Tax Act of 2006 Proposition 89 - California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2006 Council further directed staff to prepare a resolution opposing Proposition 90, the Government Acquisition and Regulation of Private Property Initiative. The ballot measures will be voted on by the citizens of the State of California at the November 7, 2006, election. DISCUSSION Council discussed these ballot measures at its September 18, 2006, meeting. Council voted 8-0, Council Member Cordell absent, to support propositions 1C, 1E, and 84, and voted no on Proposition 90. Council voted 5-3 to support propositions 86 and 89. Staff has prepared the resolutions as directed by Council and they are attached to this report. CMR:xxx:06 Page 1 of 2 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This staff report does not represent a project under the (CEQA). ATTACHMENTS California Environmental Quality Act Attachment A: Attachment B: Attachment C: Attachment D: Attachment E: Attachment F: Resolution to support Proposition 1C, the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006 Resolution to support Proposition 1E, the Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Act of 2006 Resolution to support Proposition 84, Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 Resolution to support Proposition 86, the Tobacco Tax Act of 2006 Resolution to support Proposition 89, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2006 Resolution to oppose Proposition 90, the Government Acquisition and Regulation of Private Property Initiative PREPARED BY: Assistant to the City Manager CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: SON Assistant City Manager CMR:xxx:06 Page 2 of 2 ***Not Yet Approved***Attachment A RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO TO SUPPORT PROPOSITION IC -THE HOUSING AND EMERGENCY SHELTER TRUST FUND ACT OF 2006 WHEREAS, Californians need greater choice and a sufficient supply of affordable homes for working families and vulnerable people, including homes for disabled people, seniors and families, homes near day care and services, and homes nearer to jobs; and WHEREAS, it has been demonstrated that a state investment in housing creates local housing opportunities, in that the last state housing bond, Proposition 46, the Housing Bond of 2002, brought millions of dollars into Santa Clara County for housing; and WHEREAS, Proposition 46 funds will~be depleted by 2007 and the need for affordable housing remains urgent in that in the Bay Area, a worker must earn $23 per hour to afford to rent a typical 2-bedroom apartment, and a family must make at least $166,000 per year to buy the average single family home, and 32,000 people remain homeless each night; and WHEREAS, to continue the successes of Proposition 46, the California Legislature has placed Proposition IC, the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006, on the November ballot as part of a long-term plan to rebuild California; and WHEREAS, Proposition IC will dedicate and protect funds to create housing options for 20,000 working families to buy a home, 6,500 college graduates, retired seniors and essential public safety workers to afford rent in their communities, 2,000’ homeless families and individuals to find safe shelter and services, and 2,800 farm workers to be housed through the following programs: Multifamily Housing Program - $395 million to build apartments for seniors, families, foster youth and people with disabilities; Emergency Housing Assistance Program - $50 million to build and renovate emergency shelters and transitional rental 061004 jp 6050048 ***Not Yet Approved*** homes for homeless families with children, battered women, and individuals; Supportive Housing Program - $195 million to build apartments with support services for people with chronic disabilities,such as mental illness or physical disabilities; Farm Worker Housing Grant Program -- $135 million to build for-sale and rental homes for agricultural workers; CaI-HOME Program - $300 million homeownership programs; to fund a range of California Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program - $200 million to provide assistance in the form of second loans for down payment and closing costs; Building Equity and Growth in Neighborhoods -$125 million for local jurisdictions to adopt measures to support affordable housing; Affordable Housing Innovation Fund - encourage development of innovative approaches to housing development; and $i00 million to and cost-saving Housing Infrastructure Programs - $1.35 billion to provide infill and transit-oriented housing and other infrastructure needs related to home development. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION i. The City Council hereby expresses its strong support for Proposition IC, the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006, and urges localvoters to support the measure. SECTION 2. The City Council and staff are authorized to provide impartial informational materials on the initiative as may be lawfully provided by the City’s representatives. No public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the initiative. SECTION 3. The residents of the City of Palo Alto are encouraged to become well informed on the initiative and its possible impacts. 061004 jp 6050048 ***Not Yet Approved*** SECTION 4. The Council finds that this is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Mayor APPROVED: City Attorney City Manager Director of Administrative Services 061004 jp 6050048 ***Not Yet Approved***Attachment B RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO TO SUPPORT PROPOSITION IE,THE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND FLOOD PREVENTION ACT OF 2006 WHEREAS, Proposition IE, the Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Act of 2006, is a statewide ballot measure that will go before California voters on the November 2006 ballot; and WHEREAS, Proposition IE is part of a $37 billion infrastruchure package approved by the Legislature and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in May; and WHEREAS, if approved by voters, Proposition IE would authorize $4.1 billion in general obligation bonds to make critically needed improvements to California’s levee system and better protect the state from flooding; and WHEREAS, Proposition IE would provide $3 billion to improve and maintain levees and other flood control facilities in the Central Valley and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, an area increasingly vulnerable to large-scale levee failure that could leave more than 23 million Cal.ifornians without a key water supply source; and WHEREAS, Proposition IE would provide $500 million to help fund the state’s share of local flood control projects outside the Central Valley for the next i0 years; and WHEREAS, Proposition IE would provide $290 million for new levees, flood corridors and bypasses, as well as for completion of flood hazard maps and floodplain mapping; and WHEREAS, Proposition IE would provide $300 million in grant funding for local projects to control storm water runoff consistent with integrated regional water management efforts; and WHEREAS, passage of Proposition IE would ensure that investments are made in flood control projects and facilitiesto help protect communities and infrastructure from destructive floods; 061004 jp 6050049 ***Not Yet Approved*** NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION i. The City Council hereby expresses its strong support for Proposition IE, the Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Act of 2006, and urges local voters to support the measure. SECTION 2. The City Council and staff are authorized to provide impartial informational materials on the initiative as may be lawfully provided by the City’s representatives. No public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the initiative. SECTION 3. The residents of the City of Palo Alto are encouraged to become well informed on the initiative and its possible impacts. SECTION 4. The Council finds that this is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Mayor APPROVED: City Attorney City Manager Director of Administrative Services 061004jp 6050049 ***Not Yet Approved***Attachment C RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE cITY OF PALO ALTO TO SUPPORT PROPOSITION 84 -THE SAFE DRINKING WATER, WATER QUALITY AND SUPPLY,FLOOD CONTROL,RIVER AND COASTAL PROTECTION BOND ACT OF 2006 WHEREAS, California growth in the coming’ years, expected by 2040; and is facing enormous population with 25 million new residents WHEREAS, current funding for natural resource and environmental protection programs is critically low, making up less than 1% of the overall state budget; and WHEREAS, Proposition 84 is a measure that will provide $540 million, payable from the state’s General Fund, for improving natural resources and water programs that will appear on the November 2006 statewide ballot; and WHEREAS, Proposition 84 will include funding for state projects and grants in the following areas: Clean up of polluted waters, including the waters of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and protecting them from further contamination to ensure safe drinking water; and Funding development of river parkways, restoring and protecting urban streams, and keeping contaminated storm water runoff out of rivers, lakes and streams; and Programs to protect the San Francisco, Santa Monica and San Diego bays and their watersheds, as well as providing funding to protect California’s ocean waters; and Identification and mapping of high-risk flood areas, and the inspection and repair of levees and flood control facilities; and Projects that will expand and restore the state park system to reflect the state’s growing population and provide funding for the creation of parks in communities that are park-poor, as well as funding nature education 061004 jp 6050050 ***Not Yet Approved*** opportunities to promote resources; and public access to natural Programs to protect and preserve California’s forests, farms and ranches; and Projects to support sustainable development of California’s cities, schools and neighborhoods, while stimulating investments in water use efficiency and conservation. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION i. The City Council hereby expresses its strong support for Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006, and urges local voters to support the measure. SECTION 2. The City Council and staff are authorized to provide impartial informational materials on the initiati%e as may be lawfully provided by the City’s representatives. No public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the initiative. SECTION 3. The residents of the City of Palo Alto are encouraged to become well informed on the initiative~and its possible impacts. // // // // // // // // // 06! 004 jp 6050050 ***Not Yet Approved*** SECTION 4. The Council finds that this is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Mayor APPROVED: City Attorney City Manager Director of Administrative Services 061004 jp 6050050 ***Not Yet Approved***Attachment D RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO TO SUPPORT PROPOSITION 86 -THE TOBACCO TAX ACT OF 2006 WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act of 2006 is a state initiative which, if passed by voters in November 2006, would raise the state’s tobacco tax by an additional $2.60 per pack; and WHEREAS, according to the California Department of Health Services, the tax increase alone would prevent 700,000 children currently under 17 years of age from becoming smokers in adulthood, high school and middle school student smoking prevalence would decline by 42.8%, and more than half a million smokers in California would quit smoking; and WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act would produce more than $2 billion in annual revenue to fund children’s health insurance, emergency room care, nursing education, disease prevention, medical research and programs that will reduce smoking, especially among children; and WHEREAS, 4.5 million Californians smoke and nearly 75,000 a year try their first cigarette, and these smokers put a significant burden on the economy and the hospitals and healthcare systems in Santa Clara County in direct and indirect medical costs, worker absenteeism, and lost productivity; and WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act would significantly reduce the burden on state and local healthcare agencies of treating the uninsured by providing basic health insurance coverage including primary care and hospitalization to California’s 800,000 uninsured children by expanding eligibility and simplifying enrollment in the state’s Medi-Cal and Healthy Families public health insurance programs for children; and WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act would provide funding for outreach to enroll currently eligible children into the Medi-Cal and the Healthy Families programs, generating additional revenues to local communities including $1,112 annually in state and federal funding for each child enrolled or a total of $390 million in additional annual revenue if all currently eligible children are enrolled; and 061004 jp 6050051 ***Not Yet Approved*** WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act is expected to generate significant additional savings for the 17 counties operating their own children’s health coverage initiatives because these children would now be eligible for state programs funded by tobacco tax revenues; and WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act would provide more than 700 community-based clinics throughout the state, including 26 clinic sites in Santa Clara County alone, with much needed dollars to continue to provide primary health care services to uninsured and underinsured children and adults, thereby alleviating the overuse of local emergency rooms; and WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act is expected to reduce state and local government healthcare costs over time through reduced tobacco use and tobacco related disease as well as through expanded state health programs; and WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act will provide needed funds for emergency rooms and critical care services, and reducing smoking and funding emergency care will help keep community emergency rooms open; and, WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act will increase sales tax~ revenues to local, governments by tens of millions of dollars annually; NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the Ci.ty of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION i. The City Council hereby expresses its strong support for Proposition 86, the Tobacco Tax Act of 2006, and urges local voters to support the measure. SECTION 2. The City Council and staff are authorized to provide impartial informational materials on the initiative as may be lawfully provided by the City’s representatives. No public funds shall be used to campaign~ for or against the in±tiative. SECTION 3. The residents of the City of Palo Alto are encouraged to become well informed on the initiative and its possible impacts. 061004 jp 605005 ! ***Not Yet Approved*** SECTION 4. The Council finds that this is not a project Under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney Mayor APPROVED: City Manager Director of Administrative Services 061004 jp 6050051 ***Not Yet Approved***Attachment E RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO TO SUPPORT PROPOSITION 89 -THE CALIFORNIA CLEAN MONEY AND FAIR ELECTIONS ACT OF 2006 WHEREAS, the amount of money needed in order to run for public office and to compete against privately funded interest groups and Political Action Committees [PACs] has grown phenomenally in politics at the local, state, and national levels in the past several years; and WHEREAS, the current privately funded system hinders the average citizen lacking great wealth from participating effectively in the political arena, thus undermining the democratic process; and WHEREAS, full public funding of political campaighs will both improve voters’ access to. their elected officials and free elected officials from spending inordinate amounts of their time fundraising; WHEREAS, Proposition 89, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2006, is a measure on the November 2006 ballot to help limit the influence of special interests and level the playing field so that ordinary citizens from diverse backgrounds can run for office; and WHEREAS, Proposition 89 will reduce or eliminate the perception that special interests and wealthy private contributors exert undue influence over candidates and elected officials, by ensuring that legislators are more likely to represent a broad segment of the population rather than a narrow range of special interests; and WHEREAS, Proposition 89 will reduce funding disparities between candidates and help new .candidates become more competitive; and // 061004 j p 6050053 ***Not Yet Approved*** WHEREAS, Proposition 89 will release candidates from the pressures of fundraising and give them more time to discuss issues of real concern with a broader segment of the electorate; and WHEREAS, Proposition 89 will limit big political donors to $7,500 per year in contributions to independent expenditure committees; and WHEREAS, provisions; and Proposition 89 features strong enforcement NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION i. The City Council hereby expresses its strong support for Proposition 89, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2006, and urges local voters to support the measure. SECTION 2. The City Council and staff are authorized to provide impartial informational materials on the initiative as may be lawfully provided by the City’s representatives. No public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the initiative. SECTION 3. The residents of the City of Palo Alto are encouraged to become well informed on the initiative and its possible impacts. // // // // // // // // // 061004 jp 6050053 ***Not Yet Approved*** SECTION 4. The Council finds that this is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Mayor APPROVED: City Attorney City Manager Director of Administrative Services 061004 jp 6050053 ***Not Yet Approved***Attachment F RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO TO OPPOSE PROPOSITION 90 -THE GOVERNMENT ACQUISITION AND REGULATION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY INITIATIVE. WHEREAS, Proposition 90 is an initiative on the November 2006 ballot which purports to be about eminent domain reform, but would cost state and local governments billions and undermine Palo Afro’s ability to plan for and protectits communities; and WHEREAS, Proposition 90 would allow individuals tosue claiming a new law or regulation has impacted the value of their property or business, and would cost taxpayers millions in litigation fees; and WHEREAS, Proposition 90 would severely restrict the ability of voters and local and state agencies to enforce laws that protect the coastline, preserve open spaces and farmland, protect air and water quality, and protect environmentally sensitive areas; and WHEREAS, Proposition 90 would discourage cities from enacting new consumer protection and criminal laws, because the initiative could require new taxpayer payouts for laws protecting consumers from identity theft, fraud and other crimes if the offending business claims that such laws harm their business; and WHEREAS, Proposition 90 would prevent local governments from acquiring property for the purpose of cleaning up blight, eliminating slum lords, building affordable housing and potentially providing public facilities operated by private for-~ profit.agencies; and WHEREAS, if local and state agencies had to spend billions of dollars defending against lawsuits each time they enacted public interest measures, such spending would dramatically reduce resources available for local police and fire protection, emergency response and other local services; and 061004 j p 6050054 ***Not Yet Approved*** WHEREAS, after a similar law was passed in Oregon, more than 2,200 claims were filed against the state, seeking over $5 billion in payments that Oregon taxpayers could ultimately have to pay; and WHEREAS, the League of California Cities and the California Redevelopment Association are strongly opposed to Proposition 90, because they believe it is misleading to say that it resolves eminent domain concerns, when ultimately it goes far beyond eminent domain and will enact constitutional amendments that will cost taxpayers billions in added costs, harm the environment, and hurt California cities’ ability to protect neighborhoods; and NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION i. The City Council hereby expresses its strong opposition to Proposition 90, the Government Acquisition and Regulation of Private Property Initiative, and urges local voters to oppose the measure. SECTION 2. The City Council and staff are authorized to provide impartial informational materials on the initiative as may be lawfully provided by the City’s representatives. No public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the initiative. SECTION 3. The residents of the Gity of Palo Alto are encouraged to become well informed on the initiative and its possible impacts. // // // // // // // // 061004 jp 6050054 ***Not Yet Approved*** SECTION 4. The Council finds that this is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Mayor APPROVED: City Attorney City Manager Director of Administrative Services 061004 jp 6050054