HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 9468
CITY OF PALO ALTO OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
July 30, 2018
The Honorable City Council
Palo Alto, California
Readoption of a Resolution Placing a Measure on the November 6,
2018 General Election Ballot to Increase the City’s Transient
Occupancy Tax (TOT) by One and One-half Percentage Points to Make
Minor Revisions to the Ballot Language
From: Joint Report of the City Clerk and City Attorney
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution that:
1. Rescinds previously-adopted Resolution No. 9778 that submitted a measure to the voters at the
general election on November 6, 2018 to increase the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) by
one and one-half percentage points, using ballot language that would have been required under
a potential statewide initiative Constitutional measure that has since been withdrawn; and
2. Submits the same measure to the voters at the general municipal election on November 6, 2018
to increase the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) by one and one-half percentage points,
using updated ballot language.
Background
On June 18, 2018, the City Council adopted a Resolution submitting a one and one-half percent
TOT increase to the voters for the November general election. The Council supported the use of
procedural language that would have been required if an initiative Constitutional measure that
had qualified for the November ballot (“the California Business Roundtable Initiative” or “CBRI
Initiative”) had been placed on the ballot and adopted by voters. Staff Report of June 18, 2018 ,
Action Minutes of June 18, 2018
On June 28, 2018, the proponents of the CBRI Initiative pulled it from the November ballot,
after reaching a compromise with the state legislature and Governor.
Discussion
Now that it is clear that the procedural requirements in the CBRI Initiative will not be imposed
on cities, staff recommends revising the ballot language to remove the protective language
inserted to comply with the CBRI measure. In addition to this change, the language includes
minor revisions for grammar and compliance with ballot requirements.
Resource Impact
Minor changes to the ballot language have no resource impact.
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Environmental Review
This action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Resolution Submitting Measure re TOT to Voters with Attached Proposed
Ordinance (PDF)
Department Head: Molly Stump, City Attorney
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