CITY OF SAN MATEO
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CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 11 Section Name: {{section.name}} Account Number: 10-1311 File ID: {{item.tracking_number}} TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: City Manager's Office
MEETING DATE: January 16, 2024
SUBJECT:
Ballot Measure Communications Consulting Services for the November 2024 General Election – Appropriation and Agreement
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution to approve an alternative purchasing procedure and a supplemental budget appropriation of $38,000 of unassigned fund balance from the General Fund and $152,000 of unassigned fund balance from the Advanced Planning Fund to increase the City Manager’s Office 2023-24 operating budget, approve an agreement with TeamCivX for ballot measure communications consulting services in an amount not to exceed $190,000, and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement in substantially the form presented.
BACKGROUND:
Policy and Council Direction
The City Council directed staff to proceed with the process to bring ballot measures to the voters in November 2024. In preparation, staff proposes obtaining professional communications consulting services to assist with conducting a survey and providing factual information to the public about the ballot measures, as permitted by law.
General Plan Measure
As part of the City’s years-long process to update San Mateo’s General Plan, the Council directed staff to proceed with a ballot measure that would ask voters if they approve of building heights, densities, and intensities within the 10 defined study areas in General Plan 2040 to exceed the limits specified in Measure Y. Measure Y, a ballot measure approved by voters in 2020, set citywide height limits at up to 55 feet (five stories), density limits up to 50 units per acre, and nonresidential intensity up to a 3.0 floor area ratio (FAR). As currently drafted, General Plan 2040 would allow for heights up to eight stories, densities up to 130 units per acre, and intensities up to a 4.5 FAR on specified parcels within the study areas. Properties outside of the study areas would maintain the current limits set by Measure Y. General Plan 2040 is anticipated to have adoption hearings before the Council in March of 2024.
Charter Amendments
In addition to the General Plan Measure, the City is also considering Charter amendments concerning the Mayoral rotation process, City Council vacancies, and other possible changes still under consideration. The City’s Charter can only be amended by voters during a regularly scheduled election.
Consultant
During the last two election cycles, the City contracted with the communications consulting firm TBWBH Props & Measures to assist with providing neutral, public information on ballot measures. Since that time, several of the TBWBH partners have started their own consulting firm, TeamCivX, that focuses on working with government entities on ballot measure education and surveys.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
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San Mateo Municipal Code Section 3.60.070(h)(3) authorizes the City Council to approve an alternative purchasing procedure when it finds doing so is in the best interest of the City. In this case, due to the positive experience with this team of consultants combined with the expedited process required to move forward with the 2024 ballot, staff is recommending that the City Council approve an alternative purchasing procedure to authorize a contract with TeamCivX.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The proposed resolution approves a supplemental budget appropriation increasing the City Manager’s Office 2023-24 operating budget by $190,000, with $38,000 from the General Fund’s unassigned fund balance and $152,000 from the Advanced Planning Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This agreement is not a project subject to CEQA, because it can be seen with certainty that it will not cause a physical change in the environment. (Public Resources Code Section 21065.) NOTICE PROVIDED:
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS:
Att 1 – Proposed Resolution
Att 2 – Agreement
STAFF CONTACT:
Tara Peterson, Interim Deputy Director of Special Projects - Community Development Department [email protected]
(650) 522-7235