Consideration of Authorizing Redevelopment Agency Board Chair to Cast Ballots in Proposed Fire Assessment Balloting

Recommendation

Staff recommends that the Redevelopment Agency Board of Directors hear the report from the Staff and select one of the three actions outlined in the Staff Report in terms of how to handle the Proposed Fire Assessment Ballots that have been received by the Redevelopment Agency.

Fiscal Implications

There are no fiscal implications or budget impact to the Redevelopment Agency to consider this item and cast a vote in the balloting for the Proposed Fire Assessment measure.  However, the measure itself has fiscal implications for the Redevelopment Agency.  If a majority of the ballots on the Proposed Fire Assessment are in favor of the proposal and if the City Council moves forward with the Proposed Assessment, the Agency will pay an annual assessment of $1,133.52 based on the properties that it owns.

Background

On July 24, 2006, the City Council adopted a series of resolutions which placed a Proposed Fire Assessment before the property owners of San Carlos.  As noted above, the amount of the annual levy of this proposed assessment is $1,268,527.  Under the laws governing such assessments, property owners may cast 1 vote for each dollar of their annual assessment.  If a majority of the ballots cast by the property owners are in favor of the measure, it can be implemented by a vote of the City Council.  If a majority of ballots received by the property owners are in opposition to the proposed assessment it ends at that point.

Since all owners of properties, both those subject to property taxes and those that are exempt from such taxes, are included in an assessment proposal such as this one, the San Carlos Redevelopment Agency has also received ballots to cast in this process.  In this instance, the Redevelopment Agency has received 1,133.52 ballots to cast in this election.

The question before the Redevelopment Agency Board of Directors tonight is whether you wish to cast the Agency’s 1,133.52 ballots in favor of the Proposed Fire Assessment.

Alternatives

1.       Authorize the Board Chair to cast the Agency’s ballots in favor of the Proposed Fire Assessment

2.       Authorize the Board Chair to cast the Agency’s ballots in opposition to the Proposed Fire Assessment

3.       Take no position and cast no ballots on the Proposed Fire Assessment

4.       Provide the Staff with alternative direction.

Submitted by:

Brian Moura

Assistant Executive Director

Approved by:

Mark Weiss

Executive Director

Attachment:       List of Agency-Owned Parcels and Amount of Annual Proposed Fire Assessment  (PDF  , 6 kb)