Milwaukie’s City Elections Officer received the ballot title and language from its City Attorney on Jan. 31, 2012, for an initiative that would require voter approval to use city resources to finance, design, construct, or operate any public rail transit system.
Any elector dissatisfied with the proposed ballot title may petition the Clackamas County Circuit Court seeking a different title no later than 5 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2012. Once that appeal period is over, the chief petitioner must submit the cover and signature sheets to the City prior to gathering signatures.
In order to get the initiative on a ballot, petitioners have up to two years to gather and submit 1,724 valid signatures, or 15% of the 11,492 Milwaukie voters that were registered in the last general election. In order to be deemed valid, the signatures must be from registered Milwaukie voters.
Due to City and County election laws and timelines, the earliest the initiative could come before voters is in the September 2012 special election.
The language is as follows:
CAPTION:
Voter Approval of City Resources for any Public Rail Transit
QUESTION:
Shall voter approval be required to use “city resources” to finance, design, construct, operate any “public rail transit system” (undefined)?
SUMMARY:
This measure requires an election before “city resources” (defined) can be used for the financing, design, construction or operation of any “public rail transit system” (undefined). “City resources” are defined as any city public funds, staff time, lobbying agreements, property interest, or tangible or intangible city assets. Any authority to use city resources gained through a voter-approved ordinance is strictly limited to the authorization in the ordinance. Any measure submitted for voter approval must provide sufficient public notice. Notice must include the types of city resources authorized, permissible uses of city resources, estimated cash value of city resources used, and the duration of authority. Sufficient public notice requires a certified ballot title that accurately summarizes the authority granted and a link to a detailed description hosted on a city website. If this cannot be accomplished, the city must provide such information by mail at least 21 days before the election. This measure would be effective immediately.
