1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: January 11, 2022
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Judie Wilke, Assistant City Manager
BY: Viviana Garzon, Administrative Analyst II
SUBJECT: Request to Consider Writing a Letter Supporting the Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative
RECOMMENDATION
The City Council could note and file the report, direct staff to come back for a second step, or forgo the customary second step in the additional agenda item process and direct staff to prepare and send a letter signed by all five Council Members supporting the Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative.
BACKGROUND
At the December 14, 2021 City Council meeting, Council Member Springer requested staff to bring back a first step report for Council consideration of writing a letter in support of the Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative (Initiative).
DISCUSSION
The Initiative is a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow city and county land-use, zoning, and housing laws to override conflicting state laws, except for the California Coastal Act of 1976, siting of power plants, and development of water, communication, or infrastructure projects. The proposed language of the Initiative can be seen in detail on Attachment 1.
The Our Neighborhood Voices Coalition (Coalition) is the group proposing the Initiative.
According to their website, the group is a coalition of city leaders, nonprofits, and volunteers who seek to reclaim local zoning control.
1 The Coalition has until the end of
1 https://ourneighborhoodvoices.com
CITY MANAGER’S
OFFICE
2 April 2022 to gather at least 1 million valid signatures from California registered voters to put the Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative on the November 8, 2022 ballot.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
CONCLUSION
Staff respectfully requests for Council direction on this report.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment 1: Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative – Proposed Language Attachment 2: Our Neighborhood Voices Frequently Asked Questions