10C Action 2008 0721 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ballot Measure Overview Report 3 July 21, 2008 A public safety parcel tax measure was placed before the voters in 2004 and failed. Placing a police services measure on the November 2008 ballot may have some support due to recent discussions by the community related to crime, as well as several community-based neighborhood safety groups having been created in the past six months. The community has on several occasions emphasized the need for more emphasis on crime prevention, officers, and programs in the schools. Sample Ballot Question Language The following are samples of ballot language that could be used in the upcoming election, should the Council decide to place any or all of the items on the November 2008 ballot. Utility Users Tax (Telephone and Video Users Tax) To help preserve San Leandro 's safety and quality of life, and maintain essential general fund services such as police, fire, and street maintenance, shall an ordinance be adopted that reduces the existing telephone users and video users tax from 6% to 5.7% and modernizes telecommunications service definitions so taxpayers are treated the same regardless of technology used and ratifies previous taxes collected under this ordinance. YES/NO 911 Fee Shall the City of San Leandro rescind its existing Emergency Communications Access Fee Ordinance, and enact an Emergency Communications Access Tax to fund enhanced 9-1-1 emergency services to San Leandro residents, with no increase in rates? YES/NO Police Services Parcel Tax To help preserve San Leandro 's safety and quality of life and maintain essential police services, shall a Police Services Parcel Tax be adopted by the voters of San Leandro for the purpose of maintaining existing levels of service and to provide for enhanced services such as police patrols, school services and crime prevention? YES/NO These samples noted above are typical of ballot questions, however, they are presented to Council for discussion purposes only; Council may wish to have additional sample ballot questions prepared for its review. Implementation In order to place any one of the measures on the November 4, 2008 ballot, the Council must, by resolution, call for submission of the question to registered voters, approve the form of the ballot question and establish procedures for ballot arguments, and direct the City Clerk to submit the measure to the City Attorney for impartial analysis. Staff recommends the Council appoint the established Revenue Ad Hoc committee to author an argument in favor of the measure(s), if directed.