Title
Adoption of Resolution Amending Resolution No. 15472, “Calling a Special Election in the City of Alameda on April 9, 2019 for the Submission of a Proposed Initiative Measure to Change the Designation for an Approximately 3.65 Acre Site on McKay Avenue, by Amending the General Plan Designation from Office to Open Space, and by Amending the Zoning Ordinance from Administrative-Professional District to Open Space District,” by Amending Section 1 (Ballot Question); and
Adoption of Resolution Amending Resolution No. 15473, “Submitting to the Electors an Ordinance Entitled “Caring Alameda Act” at the Special Municipal Election to be Held in the City of Alameda on Tuesday, April 9, 2019,” by Amending Section 3 (Ballot Question). (City Clerk 2220)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
EXECTUVE SUMMARY
On January 2, 2019, the City Council adopted resolutions placing the McKay Avenue Initiative and the Caring Alameda Act on the April 9, 2019 ballot. At the meeting, the Council appointed subcommittees to revise the ballot questions.
BACKGROUND
On December 4, 2018, the City Council ordered a report on the initiative and directed staff to prepare related measures, which returned to Council at its January 2, 2019 meeting. The City Council placed the two measures on the April 9, 2019 ballot.
DISCUSSION
The City Council appointed a subcommittee of Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft and Councilmember Vella to amend the initiative ballot question and a subcommittee of Vice Mayor Knox White and Councilmember Oddie to amend the Caring Alameda Act ballot question. To amend the ballot questions, Council has to adopt resolutions amending Resolution No. 15472 (initiative) and Resolution No. 15473 (Caring Alameda Act). State election law requires that the ballot pamphlet include a ballot question of no more than 75 words. The City Council is to approve the wording of the ballot question.
The ballot question for the initiative presented on January 2, 2019 was:
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Shall the initiative to change the land use designations for a 3.65-acre parcel on McKay Avenue from Office/Administrative-Professional to Open Space, which limits use of the property to parks and recreational uses and prohibits the development of a wellness center for senior assisted living and supportive services for the homeless currently planned for the property, be adopted? |
The ballot question for the Caring Alameda Act presented on January 2, 2019 was:
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Shall an ordinance confirming the City Council’s actions to permit the development of a wellness center for senior assisted living and supportive services for homeless individuals on a 3.65-acre parcel on McKay Avenue by changing the General Plan designation to Office, removing the Government Combining District Zoning Designation, and maintaining the Administrative-Professional zoning district designation, be adopted? |
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Changing the ballot question does not have any financial impact. Financial impacts of calling the Special Municipal Election were addressed on January 2, 2019.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Submittal of an initiative measure to the voters is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The Caring Alameda Act seeks to confirm the City Council’s actions on December 4, 2018, and December 18, 2018, which were based on the City Council’s findings and determination that the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project adequately addresses the potential environmental impacts of the project in compliance with CEQA. The City Council’s findings and determinations in connection with its adoption of Resolution No. 15461 are hereby incorporated by this reference for the purposes of the Caring Alameda Act. As a separate and independent basis, this action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15061(b)(3) (no significant environmental impact) and 15378 as it does not constitute a project within the meaning of CEQA because it does not have the potential for resulting in a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. In this case, the proposed measure would simply maintain the existing zoning and general plan designations on the property, thus preserving the status quo.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt resolutions amending Resolution Nos. 15472 and 15473 to amend the ballot questions for the initiative and Caring Alameda Act.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
Financial Impact Section Reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director