(July 17, 2008) -- Mayor Bob Foster's Chief of Staff Becki Ames confirms that the proposed parcel property tax that Mayor Foster and city management will ask the City Council to put on the Nov. 2008 ballot at the Council's July 22 meeting is being changed to a special tax specifying infrastructure uses.
The change means that the measure can be put on the ballot with a 2/3 vote of the Council said Ms. Ames...and a 2/3 vote of the people to enact.
Both are major changes from the originally proposed General tax...which the Council could have spent on nearly anything and could be enacted with a 50%+1 voter margin...but required a unanimous Council declaration of an emergency to put on the ballot.
Chief of Staff Ames said changed language that will agendized in writing sometime on Friday (July 18) for action by the Council on July 22 and will state that the proceeds may be used only for the following purposes:
[caveat: transcribed by us rapidly by telephone; hard copy pending]
All costs incident to the acquisition, improvement, repair, replacement, rehabilitation, relocation, restoration and preservation of streets, signals, sidewalks, alleys, storm water collection, transportation, detection and discharge systems, fire and police stations and other public safety facilities, parks and recreation and community facilities, open space and wetland, libraries and health facilities or for the payment of debt service on and the administration of a bond issued for such purpose.
Why the changes? Ms. Ames indicated there were a multitude of reasons and added, "It was clear we weren't going to get unanimity from the Council." Ms. Ames cited resistance from Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske...who'd voiced misgivings about supporting an emergency declaration (the prerequisite to getting the General tax on the ballot) and also questioned other parts of the process.
Ms. Ames also said the change clears up any misconceptions about the Mayor's intentions. "It's very important to the Mayor that a future Council can't mess this up, that some future Council can't change it or amend it. He wants to be able to look people in the eye and say that they'll get what City Hall promises in this."
Ms Ames added, "There's nothing in this that's going to benefit the Mayor. He feels strongly that this is what the City needs to do and waiting is not an option."
In an early evening email to her constituents, Councilwoman Schipske announced she would be holding a Town Hall meeting at the El Dorado Senior Center on Monday July 21 at 6 p.m...less than twenty-four hours before the Council meeting when the Mayor/city management want to the Council to take action.
Councilwoman Schipske's email contains the banner headline, "Town Hall: Will You Vote for a Parcel Tax?" and says the Monday night Town Hall will "discuss the Mayor's Proposed Parcel tax and the Status of the 2009 Fiscal Year Budget."
The email was apparently transmitted before Councilwoman Schipske learned of the change from a proposed General tax (which could be spent on nearly anything) to a Special Tax (with infrastructure uses indicated).
Whether the changes produce support for the proposed parcel tax from Councilwoman Schipske -- or her constituents -- remains to be seen.
The Council vote coming on Tuesday July 22 requires six affirmative votes to put on the ballot. The measure then faces a decisional vote of the people on November 4...when it requires 2/3 voter support for passage.
