HomeMy WebLinkAbout101-Staff Report on initiative.pdf
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SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: June 16, 2010 AGENDA ITEM:
DEPARTMENT: Community Development CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson
PREPARED BY: John F. Livingstone, AICP DIRECTOR: John F. Livingstone, AICP
SUBJECT: Report on Effects of Proposed Initiative Regarding Second Story Limitation in
Saratoga
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Direct Staff Accordingly.
REPORT SUMMARY:
On May 27th the City received a notice of intent to circulate an initiative petition for an
ordinance concerning a second story limitation in Saratoga. On June 2nd the City Council asked
for a staff report describing the Council’s options for obtaining more information regarding the
measure. The State Elections Code (section 9212) provides that any time while an initiative
measure is circulating or after the petition has been filed the City Council may refer the measure
to any city agency or agencies for a report on the initiative’s effects. Under the Code, the City
Council may direct staff to prepare a report on any or all of the following items:
1. Its fiscal impact.
2. Its effect on the internal consistency of the city's general and specific plans, including
the housing element, the consistency between planning and zoning, and the
limitations on city actions under Section 65008 of the Government Code and Chapters
4.2 (commencing with Section 65913) and 4.3 (commencing with Section 65915) of
Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code.
3. Its effect on the use of land, the impact on the availability and location of housing,
and the ability of the city to meet its regional housing needs.
4. Its impact on funding for infrastructure of all types, including, but not limited to,
transportation, schools, parks, and open space. The report may also discuss whether
the measure would be likely to result in increased infrastructure costs or savings,
including the costs of infrastructure maintenance, to current residents and businesses.
5. Its impact on the community's ability to attract and retain business and employment.
6. Its impact on the uses of vacant parcels of land.
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7. Its impact on agricultural lands, open space, traffic congestion, existing business
districts, and developed areas designated for revitalization.
8. Any other matters the legislative body requests to be in the report.
If the Council requests a report, the report must be completed no later than 30 days after the
elections official certifies that sufficient signatures have been collected to qualify the measure for
the ballot. The City Council may also specify an earlier deadline for the report.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
Fiscal impacts will depend on the scope of the study and the extent to which any information is
required of outside consultants.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED ACTION:
N/A
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
N/A
FOLLOW UP ACTION:
As directed.
ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT:
This item was posted as a City Council agenda item and was included in the packet made
available on the City’s website in advance of the meeting. A copy of the agenda packet is also
made available at the Saratoga Branch Library each Monday in advance of the Council meeting
and residents may subscribe to the agenda on-line by opting in at www.saratoga.ca.us. Notice of
this meeting was properly posted at City Hall and published in the Saratoga News.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Proposed Initiative
2. Title and Summary of Initiative filed