REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Discussion of a Proposed Community Engagement Process Related to the City’s Unfunded Capital Needs and Potential Revenue Strategies for Consideration on the November 2024 Ballot
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
Deliver and Enhance High Quality, Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara has a very limited Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The most recently adopted CIP (2022-23 & 2023-24) consists only of $9.9 million for capital projects citywide - $6.7 million for new projects and $3.2 million for projects previously approved for funding in the out years of the last CIP. These modest sources are sufficient to fund only some of the most critical needs; there remains $571.4 million of unfunded projects identified over the next five years. In addition, the aging of the City’s infrastructure has become a significant challenge affecting service delivery and the City’s ability to respond to community priorities.
Within this framework, the City Council has expressed interest in exploring the feasibility of placing revenue measures on the November 2024 ballot. To that end, on July 18, 2023, the City Council appropriated funding to hire a consultant to assist the City with a community engagement and education effort to identify community priorities and viable funding mechanisms. (RTC 23-913). A Request for Qualifications process was conducted and Tulchin Research, together with their partner Team Civx, was selected to perform this work.
At the February 6, 2024 City Council meeting, staff provided an overview of the elections process timeline for the November ballot and indicated that future updates would be provided on community engagement efforts, as well as the results of voter research in the coming months.
The purpose of this report is to provide the City Council with a high-level overview of the community engagement efforts that will be conducted in the coming months in advance of the City Council action in July, to consider the placement of potential revenue measures on the November ballot.
DISCUSSION
In accordance with prior City Council discussions, it is staff’s intent to evaluate the viability of revenue measures that would support the City’s unfunded capital infrastructure needs. Given the magnitude of this need and the importance of educating the general public about the need for their support, community education, and engagement, will be critical factors of success.
To that end, the following is a summary of the various communication strategies that will be used in the coming months:
1. Initial Survey: Design of a survey instrument, based on research objectives, that will yield a statistically valid sampling of 400 likely voters, including newly registered voters and those who have voted in at least one (1) of the past four (4) elections. This survey will be conducted in four languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. This survey will be conducted in late March, with a report to the City Council in April.
2. Community Outreach (meetings and social media): Based on the results of the baseline survey results, the consultant in coordination with City staff, will develop a community outreach effort to increase voter awareness, identify community priorities, and the need for potential ballot measures to meet those needs in Santa Clara. The intent of the plan will be to inform voters and provide residents an invitation to ask questions or provide feedback. The outreach effort may include, but not be limited to community meetings, social media posts, and other similar mechanisms.
3. Mailers and Online Communications: Consultant would work closely with City’s communications team to develop enhanced informational mailers and online promotional strategies designed to help residents understand more about the city’s needs and provide input or ask questions. Enclosed as Attachment 1 and 2 are examples of mailers that were used for a local school funding effort for the San Ramon School District. While these examples are provided for illustration-purposes only, the format of an initial mailer asking residents to provide feedback on priorities, followed by a second mailer to report out the results of the community input, is proposed to be used for the Santa Clara process.
4. Communications Toolkit: A communications toolkit will be designed to support both pre-placement and post-placement community education needs. It is anticipated that the pre-placement community engagement would take place in the April/May/June timeframe. If the City Council decides to proceed with a ballot measure, the toolkit will be used to conduct post-placement presentations in the community during September and October. These presentations would be focused on educating the public on the City’s infrastructure needs.
5. Second Survey: In June, a follow-up survey will be conducted to evaluate the effects of the pre-placement community engagement process. This survey will help the team refine the scope of revenue measures and the associated messaging to be used going forward.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report other than staff time used in preparation of the report.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s office and the City Manager.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Provide feedback on the proposed community engagement effort as deemed appropriate; and,
2. Note and file the report.
Staff
Reviewed by: Cynthia Bojorquez, Assistant City Manager/Acting Director of Parks and Recreation Department.
Approved by: Jōvan Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. San Ramon School District Mailer #1
2. San Ramon School District Mailer #2