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MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA REPORT
TO: The Honorable City Council
FROM: Steven Kueny, City Manager
DATE: April 1, 2004 (CC Meeting of April 7, 2004)
SUBJECT: Consider City Council Position on Combining the
Proposed Sales Tax Initiative for Transportation
Projects with the Proposed Sales Tax Initiative for
Open Space
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors (Board of Supervisors)
and the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) are
currently considering two separate countywide sales tax
initiatives for presentation to the voters, one for
transportation and one for open space. As currently
contemplated, the transportation proposal includes increasing the
countywide sales tax by one -half of one cent to generate revenue
to fund transportation projects throughout the County. To date,
the transportation proposal identifies specific projects (with
specific timeframes) for which the funding would be used. The
open space proposal, as currently considered, includes raising
the countywide sales tax by one - eighth of one cent to generate
revenue to fund the purchase of dedicated open space throughout
the County. To date, specific open space areas and specific uses
of the funding have not been identified.
Recently, two members of the Board of Supervisors, along with
other proponents of the open space proposal, have presented the
idea of combining the two separate proposals into one combined
initiative to be presented to the voters. The proposal to
combine the two initiatives includes increasing the countywide
sales tax by one -half of a cent, with seventy -five percent (75 %)
of the increase to be dedicated to transportation and twenty -five
percent (25 %) of the increase to be dedicated to open space
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City Council Agenda Report
Re: Sales Tax Initiatives
Page 2
April 1, 2004 (CC Meeting of April 7, 2004)
acquisition. Proponents of combining the two initiatives argue
that combining the initiatives will increase the probability of
success at the polls for both issues. Opponents of combining the
initiatives cite the lack of clarity in the open space proposal
and the fact that both issues are separate and distinct public
policy issues with separate and distinct purposes, as well as the
fact that they believe that combining the issues will diminish
the probability of success for the transportation issue.
On February 18, 2004, the City Council received a presentation
from VCTC Executive Director Ginger Gherardi on the proposed
sales tax initiative for transportation projects. At the same
meeting, Supervisor Steve Bennett addressed the Council in
support of combining the transportation sales tax measure with
the proposed open space sales tax initiative.
As the City's representative for VCTC, Councilmember Millhouse
has requested the matter be considered by the Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Direct staff as deemed appropriate.
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