HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2023-138 N.C.S. 09/11/2023 DocuSign Envelope ID: EB544C77-7C84-4B28-85B7-BF6F3D9923AF
Resolution No. 2023-138 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
APPROVING ISSUANCE OF A LETTER OF SUPPORT
FOR ACA 13 (WARD)VOTING THRESHOLDS
WHEREAS,ACA 13 (Ward), if approved, would align voting thresholds between placing a measure on the
ballot and the approval of the measure; and
WHEREAS, ACA 13 authorizes local governing bodies to hold advisory votes concerning issues of
governance so voters can voice opinions on those issues; and
WHEREAS,ACA 13 specifies that an advisory vote can be approved by majority vote,but are not controlling
on the local governing body; and
WHEREAS,ACA 13 addresses the voting threshold disparity issue by causing any initiative that enhances a
voter requirement to pass by that same voter requirement.
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED,by the City Council of the City of Petaluma as follows:
1. Find the above recitals to be true and correct and are incorporated herein as findings of this Resolution.
2. Authorizes the City Council to sign the Letter of Support attached as Exhibit A to this Resolution.
3. Authorizes City staff to distribute the signed Letter of Support, as appropriate.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the Approved as to
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 1 l'day of September d6VR-ned by:
2023,by the following vote: F77
g �gq1E.k TJAFRtF_3048D...
AYES: Barnacle, Cader-Thompson, Healy,Nau, Pocekay, Shribbs, Y
Mayor McDonnell
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
DocuSigned by: DocuSigned by:
E
ATTEST: 89A429E4492 FE316449AO62476...
City Clerk Mayor
Resolution No. 2023-138 N.C.S. Page 1
DocuSign Envelope ID: EB544C77-7C84-4B28-85B7-BF6F3D9923AF
Exhibit A
a CITY OF PETALUMA
POST OFFICE BOX 61
z 8 5$ PETALUMA,CA 94953-0061
September 11, 2023
Kevin McDonnell
Mayor
The Honorable Assembly Member Damon Connolly
Brian Barnacle Janice Cader-Thompson,Dist 1 California State Capitol, Room # 5240
Mike Healy Sacramento, CA 95814
Karen Nau,Dist 3
Dennis Pocekay
John Shribbs, Dist.2 RE: ACA 13 (Ward) Voting Thresholds
Councilmembers
Notice of SUPPORT (As Amended 811 712 02 3)
Dear Assembly Member Connolly:
The City of Petaluma supports ACA 13 (Ward), which would require any constitutional
amendment proposed by an initiative that increases a vote requirement for future measures to
be approved by the same proportion of voters. The measure would also preserve the right of
cities to place advisory questions asking voters their opinions on the ballot.
Under current law, a simple majority of voters (50% + 1 vote)may vote to require a
City Manager's Office supermajority (for example, 66%)voter approval for future action. This framework has given
11 English street disproportionate power to a small number of voters: Little more than one-third of voters can
Petaluma,CA 94952 prevent the enactment of laws that a majority of voters agree upon.
Phone(707)778-4345
E-Mail. At the local level, this has made it unnecessarily difficult to pass revenue measures dedicated
citymgr@cityofpetaluma.org to critical services, such as homelessness and housing, fire,public safety, and roads. For
example, from 2001-2018, city revenue measures with a two-thirds vote requirement have
enjoyed only a 5 1%passage rate, compared to a 70%passage rate of all local revenue
measures over the same period. The status quo has prevented cities from providing
desperately needed services.
ACA 13 addresses this issue by simply requiring any initiative that enhances a voter
requirement to pass by that same voter requirement. ACA 13 is a fair, good government
proposal that protects the principles of democracy and majority rule.
Economic Development
Phone(707)778-4549
Fax(707)778-4586 For these reasons, the City of Petaluma supports ACA 13.
Housing Division
Phone(707)778-4555
Information Technology Division
Phone(707)778-4417
Fax(707)776-3623
DocuSign Envelope ID: EB544C77-7C84-4B28-85B7-BF6F3D9923AF
Exhibit A
0
s��,
Kevin McDonnell Janice Cader Thompson
Mayor Vice Mayor
Brian Barnacle Mike Healy
Council member Council member
Karen Nau Dennis Pocekay
Council member Council member
John Shribbs
Council member