October 21, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org
2024 Ballot Measures
Discussion and Possible Positions
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
Christine Prior, Deputy City Clerk
Chantal Cotton Gaines, Deputy City Manager
Carly Shelby, Senior Assoc., Townsend Public Affairs
1 • City Council considered adoption of formal positions on state and local ballot initiatives presented to Palo Alto voters in 2020 and 2022 • Purpose: Provide information to Palo Altans to consider when voting and offer opportunity for City Council discussion
• Staff recommended positions are based on the City Council adopted 2024 Legislative Guidelines
Background
2 1 Local Measure
• Measure D – Quarry Road Connection Project; Recommended Position: Support November 5, 2024 Recommended Positions
3 10 Statewide Measures
November 5, 2024 Recommended Positions
Proposition Recommended Position
Prop 2 – Education Bond None
Prop 3 – Marriage Equality Support
Prop 4 – Climate Bond Support
Prop 5 – Housing Finance Voter Approval Support
Prop 6 – Slavery None
Prop 32 – Minimum Wage None
Prop 33 – Local Rent Control None
Prop 34 – Limit Major Healthcare Group’s Non-Patient Spending None Prop 35 – Medi-Cal Healthcare Services Funding None
Prop 36 – Proposition 47 Reform None
4 Ballot Initiatives
• Repeals unenforceable
provision of the California
Constitution stating that the only
marriage valid or recognized in
the state is that between a man
and woman.
Proposition 3: Marriage equality
(ACA 5, Low)
• Prohibits slavery and
involuntary servitude in any
form, including as punishment
for a crime.
Proposition 6: Slavery (ACA 8,
Willson).
• Current law requires annual increases to the state minimum wage until it has reached $15.00 per hour for all businesses. This measure extends the annual $1.00 increases until minimum wage reaches $18.00 per hour for all businesses. The measure allows the Governor to suspend the annual increase up to two times, in periods of General Fund deficit.
Proposition 32: Minimum wage.
5 Ballot Initiatives
• Repeals the Costa-Hawkins
Rental Housing Act and
prohibits the state from
limiting the right of cities
and counties to maintain,
enact, or expand residential
rent-control ordinances.
Proposition 33: Local Rent
Control
• Limits how certain healthcare providers spend
revenues from a federal prescription drug
program. If a healthcare provider has spent over
$100 million in any 10-year period on things
besides direct patient care and runs a multifamily
housing with more than 500 “high-severity health
and safety violations”, then the provider must
spend 98% of its revenues from a federal
prescription drug program on direct patient care.
Proposition 34: Effort to limit major healthcare
group’s non-patient spending
6 Ballot Initiatives
• Allows felony charges for possessing certain drugs (and adds fentanyl to the list of felony substances), and for thefts under $950, with two prior drug or two prior theft convictions. Defendants who plead guilty to felony drug possession and complete treatment can have charges dismissed. Increases sentences for other specified drug and theft crimes.
Proposition 36: Proposition 47 Reform
7 Bonds
$10 Billion for Construction and
Renovation of Schools
• $8,500,000,000 allocated for
elementary and secondary
educational
facilities, and
• $1,500,000,000 allocated for
community college facilities
Proposition 2: Education Bond
• $10 billion to finance projects
relating to safe drinking water,
extreme weather resilience, coastal
resilience, nature-based climate
solutions, climate-smart,
sustainable, and resilient farms,
ranches, and working lands, state
park creation, and clean air
programs.
Proposition 4: Climate Bond
8 Other Fiscal Tools on the Ballot
• Allows a city, county, or special
district, with 55% voter approval, to
incur bonded indebtedness to fund
projects for affordable housing,
permanent supportive housing, or
public infrastructure.
Proposition 5: Housing finance -
voter approval (ACA 1/ ACA 10,
Aguiar-Curry).
• Makes existing MCO tax
permanent, currently set to expire in
2026, which the state uses to pay
for health care services for groups
covered by the Medi-Cal program.
Proposition 35: Provides permanent
funding for Medi-Cal health care
services.
9 City Council review and discuss the November 5, 2024 state and local ballot measures and consider adoption of formal positions as relevant to the City of Palo Alto or desired by the City Council
Recommendation