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Home My WebLink About1998-04-21; City Council; 14652; Public Education For 800 Mhz RadioI CITY OF CARLSBAD -AGENDA BILL AB# 14,652 TITLE- -- FUNDING FOR A PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM MTG. 4i2li98 FOR THE REGIONAL 800 MHZ RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM BALLOT MEASURE DEPT. FIR RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve Resolution No. 96-124 appropriating funding from the general fund to the fire department in the amount of $10,000 for the purpose of educating the public on ballot measures “C” (countywide backbone costs) and “E” (Carlsbad local costs) for financing the 800 MHz radio communications system. ITEM EXPLANATION: Backqround On December 9, 1997, the City Council authorized the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to place on the ballot a measure asking the voters of Carlsbad whether a special tax shall be adopted replacing the previous county service area charge levied within the city (Zone A of CSA 135). This election request was necessary due to the passage of Proposition 218, which eliminated the ability to collect the previously established CSA 135 charges after July 1, 1997, without voter approval of a special tax. At their March 3, 1998, meeting the Board of Supervisors gave final approval for two measures to go before the voters on the June 2, 1998, ballot. If approved, money collected from Proposition C will be used to pay for the countywide backbone costs and money collected from Proposition E will pay for local equipment costs. Staff now recommends that the city conduct a public education program for the upcoming 600 MHz ballot measures. This informational program, patterned after a similar program to be undertaken by the City of Poway, would be limited to the mailing of a single 6-l/2 by 11 inch postcard to all 40,061 registered voters in our city. Staff believes the city, as the agency that placed these measures on the ballot, should accept some of the responsibility for delineating information to the public so they can make an informed decision. It is estimated that the cost of this program would not exceed $10,000, with funds coming from the general fund. The majority of costs would be for printing and mailing with a lesser amount needed for developing a mailing list of registered voters. The mailing would be conducted in two phases. The first mailing would go out approximately 30 days before the election to registered voters who normally vote by absentee ballot. The second mailing would be sent out 5 days before the election to all other registered voters (only one postcard per voting household). As it is our intention to solely present the facts to the voting public, all postcard language will be cleared through the city attorney’s office for compliance with existing law. Recommendation Staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached resolution appropriating $10,000 from the general fund to the fire department for the purpose of conducting a public education program on Propositions C and E in the upcoming election. ~ FISCAL IMPACT: ~ With this action, the City Council will appropriate $10,000 from the general fund balance to the fire department ~ budget for FY 1997-98 to cover all related costs. ~ EXHIBITS: 1. Resolution No. 98-124 . 24 ~ 25 26 27 28 RESOLUTION NO. 98-124 A RESOLUTION OF THE Cl-l-Y COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING FUNDING FOR A PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR PROPOSITIONS “cm AND “E” ON THE JUNE 2.1998, BALLOT WHEREAS, with the consent of this City Council, the Board of Supervisors, on December 6, 1994, established Zone A of CSA 135 consisting of all territory within the boundaries of this City; and WHEREAS, due to the provisions of Proposition 218, the Board of Supervisors ceased to levy both the county service area backbone charge and the zone charge for this CSA as of July 1, 1997; and WHEREAS, at the request of this City, the Board of Supervisors agreed to call for an election within Zone A of CSA 135, for the voters to determine whether a special tax shall be adopted to replace the county service area zone charges on the June 2, 1998, ballot; and WHEREAS, the City desires to educate the public on these ballot measures in order for them to make an informed decision: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows: 1. That the above recitations are true and correct. 2. That an appropriation in the amount of $10,000 is authorized from the general fund balance to the fire department to pay for a public education program for the 800 MHz financing measures, Propositions C and E. II II II II II II II II 1 1 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 21 st day PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 21 st day 2 2 of April, 1998, by the following vote, to wit: of April, 1998, by the following vote, to wit: 3 3 4 4 AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Hall, Nygaard & Finnila AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Hall, Nygaard & Finnila 5 5 NOES: None NOES: None 6 6 7 7 ABSENT: None ABSENT: None 8 8 9 9 10 ATTEST: 10 ATTEST: 11 11 12 12 City Clerk City Clerk 'stant City Clerk 'stant City Clerk 13 (SEAL) 13 (SEAL) 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 ’ 25 ’ 26 26 27 27 28 28 Answers to Dotential Questions on the 800 MHz informational DroPram: What other cities are funding an educational program? Thus far only the cities of Poway and Vista are planning a formal education program. The City of Poway conducted a similar education program a few years ago on a separate Fire Protection Tax which ultimately was approved by their voters by over a 213 margin. Is $10,000 enough to design, print, label and mail the postcard? Yes - We already have one quote to do the printing, labeling and mailing for the budgeted amount with the City only having to design the postcard. (We also have the ability to possibly reduce the cost further by bidding out the printing ourselves, if necessary.) Do we have to pay for the mailing list? If not, how are we getting it? The consultant we anticipate using already owns the mailing list and has the ability to break out the required information needed to print labels for the City of Carisbad. This information is also available directly from the Registrar of Voters by purchasing their CD of registered voter information for $600 + tax or renting the CD for $162 a “day” (pick-up on Friday and return by Monday at 5 p.m.) What are we going to say in the mailer that isn’t already said in the voters pamphlet? The educational postcard will present a more historical perspective explaining in detail why this item is on the ballot, how it was previously funded, and how the fee will be affected over time (i.e. it will go down as the number of parcels in the City goes up). It will also likely include more detail on what capabilities the 800 MHz system will provide to our police and fire departments. Finally, it will provide a telephone number (Fire Department) for people to call if they want more information. All Receive-Agenda Item # \ \ For the Information of the: