1 City Council Meeting: June 28, 2022 Santa Monica, California RESOLUTION NUMBER _____ (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS A MEASURE TO AMEND CHAPTER 6.68 OF THE SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL CODE TO INCREASE THE CITY’S
TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX TO 15% FOR HOTELS AND 17% FOR HOMESHARES AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2022, AND AUTHORIZING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO FILE
WRITTEN ARGUMENTS FOR OR AGAINST THE MEASURE AND DIRECTING
THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF THE
MEASURE
WHEREAS, on October 8, 1963, the City Council of the City of Santa Monica adopted Ordinance No. 625 (CCS), which established the City’s Tax on Transients for Occupancy (the “TOT”); and
WHEREAS, the TOT is contained in Chapter 6.68 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, on November 2, 2004, the voters approved Measure N, which established the current TOT rate of 14% of the total charge for room rental within the City; and
WHEREAS, many residents live in the City of Santa Monica because the City invests in community priorities, offering extensive services and programs that substantially enhance the quality of life of its residents; and WHEREAS, additional locally-controlled revenue source is needed to restore and 2 enhance Santa Monica’s essential city services; and
WHEREAS, increasing the TOT rate to 15% for hotels and 17% for home-shares would partially fill the revenue gap created by COVID-19 and help restore and enhance Santa Monica’s essential city services; and
WHEREAS, the proposed increase to the TOT would help provide new, ongoing revenue to help preserve key foundational services, including: keeping public spaces (parks, beaches, beach restrooms) clean and safe, increasing homelessness response resources, and expanding interim housing programs; and
WHEREAS, under applicable law, the City Council of the City of Santa Monica must present a proposed increase to the TOT to the electorate of the City of Santa Monica for adoption by majority vote of the electorate; and WHEREAS, pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10403, the City Council has previously requested that the County of Los Angeles consent and agree to the consolidation of all aspects of a General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2022, for the purpose of electing members of the Santa Monica City Council, the Santa Monica Rent Control Board, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, and the Santa Monica College Community College District.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AND PROCLAIM AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. At the General Municipal Election called for November 8, 2022, the following measure shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Santa Monica:
3 MEASURE " ":
To address homelessness, improve 911
emergency response times and
neighborhood police protection, make
public areas safer and cleaner, including
streets, sidewalks, parks, and the beach,
and provide other vital City services,
shall the City of Santa Monica increase
the transient occupancy tax – which is
paid entirely by overnight visitors – by
1% for hotels and motels, and by 3% for
home-shares, providing approximately
$4.1 million annually, until ended by
voters, with all funds benefitting Santa
Monica?
YES ________
NO _________
SECTION 2. That the City Clerk shall file a certified copy of this resolution with the Board of Supervisors and with the county election department of the County of Los Angeles.
SECTION 3. That the City of Santa Monica recognizes that additional costs may be incurred by the County by reason of the addition of this measure to the ballot and agrees to reimburse the County for any additional costs.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall transmit to the City Attorney, in accordance with applicable law, a copy of the proposed measure. The City Attorney shall prepare an impartial analysis of it, which shall not exceed 500 words in length. The impartial analysis shall be filed by the date set by the City Clerk for the filing of primary arguments. ln accordance with applicable law, not less than 10 calendar days before the City Clerk submits the official election materials for printing, the City Clerk shall make a copy of all applicable elections materials available for public examination in the City Clerk's office.
SECTION 5. The City Council authorizes its members, as follows, to file written 4 arguments for or against the measure described above and which is contained in Exhibit 1 to this Resolution, which Exhibit is incorporated by reference herein:
FOR:
AGAINST:
All written arguments filed by any person in favor of or against any measure, including any rebuttal arguments, shall be accompanied by the names and signatures of the persons submitting the argument as required by applicable law, and any names, signatures and arguments may be filed until the time and date fixed by the City Clerk in accordance with applicable law, after which no change may be submitted to the City Clerk unless permitted by law.
SECTION 6. The City Clerk shall cause the text of the measure, which is contained in Exhibit 1, together with the City Attorney impartial analysis, and any arguments for or against the measure, as well as any rebuttal, to be mailed to all qualified voters with the sample ballot. In addition to other notices and publications required by law, the City Clerk, not less than forty (40) days and not more than sixty (60) days before the General Municipal Election, shall cause the text of the measure to be published once in the official newspaper and in each edition thereof during the day of publication. The City Clerk is authorized to give such notices and to fix such times and dates as are required by law or which are appropriate to conduct properly the election.
SECTION 7. The provisions of Resolution Numbers 11425 and 11426 are referred to and incorporated into this resolution for more particulars concerning the conduct of 5 General Municipal Election to be held on November 8, 2022, and in all respects the election shall be held and conducted as provided for by applicable law. The City Clerk is authorized and directed to procure and furnish any official ballots, notices, printed materials and all supplies or equipment that may be necessary in order to properly and lawfully conduct the election.
SECTION 8. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________
DOUGLAS T. SLOAN
City Attorney
Exhibit 1 – Text of Measure