REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Presentation of Community Research Survey Results and Draft Ballot Questions for Potential 2018 November Ballot Revenue Opportunities
Report
BACKGROUND
On May 29, 2018, the City Council received a report and presentation on various Revenue Opportunities that could be considered for the 2018 November Ballot. In that report, staff provided an in-depth discussion of the City's fiscal outlook and what led to the need to consider potential ballot measures. The report is attached for reference (Attachment 1).
As part of that presentation, staff reviewed the following five potential revenue options for Council's consideration:
1. Increase in the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) rate,
2. Increase in the Documentary Transfer Tax,
3. Establishment of a Utility User Tax (UUT),
4. Establishment of a Cannabis Tax, and/or
5. Establishment of an Infrastructure Bond Measure
Additionally, staff noted that in order to better understand the viability of the measures above, consultants would be necessary to complete the following efforts:
* Statistically Valid and Scientific Community Research and Focus Groups
* Community Engagement & Stakeholder Outreach
* Information and Education Efforts
* Revenue Analysis and Engineering Scoping
At that meeting, Council directed staff to proceed with analyzing two revenue options for the 2018 November Ballot and authorized the City Manager to enter into contracts to conduct the required community research and outreach:
1. Cannabis Tax (Requires 50% + 1 Voter Approval)
2. Infrastructure Bond Measure (without CityPlace) (Requires 2/3 Majority Vote Approval)
Commercial Cannabis Tax
The passage of Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), on November 8, 2016, legalized personal recreational use by persons 21 and over, and regulated commercial activities related to cannabis. Subsequently, the State legislature passed Senate Bill 94, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety A...
Click here for full text