HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4.C 09/11/2017Agenda Item #4.0
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DATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
September 11, 2017
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
John C. Brown, City Manager .
Ad -hoc Outreach and Education Subcommittee
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the City Council establish an ad -hoc Outreach and Education subcommittee,
and appoint less than a quorum of the members of the City Council to serve on it to June 2018.
BACKGROUND
The City Council has among its adopted priorities for 2017 and 2018 the priority "Establish New
Revenue Sources ". Within that are the tasks "revisit sales tax increase" and "consider other tax
increase opportunities ". The City Council conducted two workshops this year to discuss the need
and options for revenue increases. The first workshop was held on April 24, 2017, the second on
July 24, 2017. At the July workshop, the City Council reached consensus that the June 5, 2018
primary election offers the best timing for potential revenue measures, and expressed a preference
among the options presented to increase the City's Transient Occupancy Tax and Real Property
Transfer Tax to raise some of the revenue needed to offset costs projected over the next decade.
DISCUSSION
Also discussed on July 24, 2017 was an outreach effort to inform the public, local businesses, and
civic, social, and non -profit organizations regarding the City's current and projected financial
condition, need for additional revenues, and revenue options. The outreach effort will rely on
documents, graphics, a PowerPoint presentation, web -based information, a speaker's bureau, and
press relations - at a minimum. The speaker's bureau will include members of both the City
Council and City staff. Additional means and opportunities for outreach may be determined
through the outreach process itself. Outreach will be continuous through February 2018, when
polling is expected to be conducted. Polling results would assist the City Council in determining
whether and what tax measure(s) to place on the June ballot. Outreach and education could
continue to the June 5, 2018 election day.
Less than six months exist between the present and when the Council will need to take action on a
ballot measure. An outreach and education effort can be conducted in that time but that leaves
little room for error. Staff has begun compiling the various outreach materials that will be used.
In this process, it has become apparent that Councilmember input would be a valuable means of
insuring that the resulting work products meet with Councilmember approval and are viewed as
appropriate to the task. Selection of a polling consultant will also need to be made later in 2017,
and having Councilmember participation in that process and helping to develop survey questions
would be helpful.
Accordingly, it is requested that the City Council establish an ad -hoc subcommittee that can assist
with these tasks and coordinate periodically with staff through the outreach process up to June,
2018. It's recommended that the Council appoint two or three members to this subcommittee,
depending on Councilmember availability.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
There are no financial impacts associated with the recommended action.
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