Vote “Yes” on June 5 for Measures B, C, and D
By Irvine City News staff
In addition to statewide primary campaigns, there will be three important measures on the June 5 ballot for Irvine voters to decide. Irvine City Newsurges a “yes” vote on all three. Here’s why.
This publication over the past several issues has reported on the various issues Irvine voters will decide on June 5. The following is a summary of the three important Irvine only ballot measures and the recommendations of our editorial staff.
MEASURE B
YES on Measure B to give veterans the cemetery they want and deserve.
Official measure language
“Shall Ordinance No. 17-08, approving a zone text amendment so as to facilitate the development of the Southern California Veterans Cemetery by reflection an exchange of City-owned property for the State-approved site at the intersection of Bake Parkway and Interstate 5, commonly known as the Strawberry Fields, be adopted?”
Argument
A “yes” vote fulfills the promise Irvine has made many times to the city’s veterans: We will give them the dignified cemetery they have sought for years. That is why veterans’ organizations like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Orange County Veterans Memorial Park Foundation for your “yes” vote.
A “yes” vote on B means the promise will be kept: there will be an Orange County veterans cemetery on the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro base. A “no” vote means no to the veterans and the cemetery they want and deserve for their service to this nation, and to all of us.
If the “No on B” forces win, there is little chance the city and state will return to the former cemetery site. Not when it means spending $77 million to clean it up. A “yes” vote allows the Southern California Veterans Cemetery to be built on a clean, State-approved site, that will be a highly visible, honored, and an honorable resting place. That is why state and city leaders, taxpayer organizations, and both the Orange County Republican and Democratic parties ask for your “yes” vote. A “yes” vote costs Irvine taxpayers nothing extra, but means a $10 million payment from FivePoint to promptly begin cemetery construction. The State of California has approved the project, but only at the Strawberry Fields site.
The 2017-2018 California State Budget has authorized CalVet to:
• acquire, study, design, develop, construct, and equip a state-owned and state-operated Southern California Veterans Cemetery at the Strawberry Fields/Bake Parkway site.
• allocate $5 million to the Southern California Veterans Cemetery Master Development Fund, including $500,000 for CalVet to complete site studies, a concept plan and Phase I cost estimates for the Strawberry Fields/Bake Parkway Site.
• CalVet, with the assistance of the Department of General Services, continues its evaluation of the new site for a Federal pre-grant application.
• CalVet will submit a pre-application requesting Federal Cemetery Grant funds for the Strawberry Fields/Bake Parkway Site. According to CalVet, it intends to submit the pre-grant application by the July 1, 2018 deadline.
MEASURE C
YES on Measure C to
require a two-thirds vote of the city council for any new or expanded taxes to be put on the ballot, as required by the majority of cities in California.
Ballot language
“Shall the measure amending the Irvine City Charter to require at least a two-thirds vote of the total City Council membership in order to place City Council sponsored general or special tax proposals on a ballot for voter consideration, be adopted?”
Argument
Measure C closes a loophole for charter cities such as Irvine that allows a simple majority of the city council to propose new taxes. With the passage of the measure, the council will need four out of five votes, or a two-thirds majority, to put new taxes on the ballot.
Impartial analysis by Irvine City Attorney:
State law distinguishes between taxes for general governmental purposes (known as “general taxes”) and taxes for specific governmental purposes (known as “special taxes”). Both types of taxes require voter approval. A City Council can propose a ballot measure for a new or increased tax. This is known as a “City Council sponsored tax measure.”
The City of Irvine is a charter city. If Irvine were not a charter city, state law would require a vote of two-thirds of all members of the Irvine City Council in order to present a City Council sponsored general tax measure to the voters. However, as a charter city, a City Council sponsored general tax measure can be presented to the voters by a simple majority vote of the Irvine City Council.
Effect of this Charter Amendment Measure:
With regard to general taxes, this Charter amendment would align (i) the City of Irvine’s procedures for placing City Council sponsored tax measures on the ballot with (ii) the procedures already applicable to non-charter cities (i.e., “general law cities”) throughout the state.
With regard to special taxes, this Charter amendment would require at least a two-thirds vote of the total City Council membership in order to place a City Council sponsored tax measure on the ballot for voter consideration.
MEASURE D
YES on Measure D to ensure that new development in Irvine provide a financial benefit to the taxpayers of at least 15 percent over the city’s costs.
Official Ballot Language
“Shall Section 1099 be added to the Irvine City Charter which benefits Irvine’s general fund and local taxpayers by requiring that no City procedures or requirements delay important revenue streams from development projects which provide a fiscal benefit to Irvine citizens, be adopted?”
Argument
A “yes” vote on Measure D ensures that needed funds for important city services such as our police department, fire protection, and traffic improvements will be appropriately available – without raising taxes.
The Irvine Police Association has endorsed Measure D. Its president, Officer Dave Wills: “Measure D is a lockbox – it makes sure that there is accountability for fees owed to the city – funds that help ensure the safety of our Irvine community. The Irvine Police Association asks you to vote “Yes On D” on June 5th.”
These are fiscally uncertain times for city governments up and down California. Measure D is a proactive measure to ensure that Irvine continues to be a superior place to live, work
and play.
On June 5, vote “yes” for the veterans. Vote “yes” to close the higher tax loophole. And vote “yes” to insure fiscally responsible growth and development.
YES on Measure B to give veterans the cemetery they want and deserve.
YES on Measure C to require a two-thirds vote of the city council for any new or expanded taxes to be put on the ballot, as required by the majority of cities in California.
YES on Measure D to ensure that important city services, such as our police and fire protection, and traffic improvements, are available to spend.
This publication over the past several issues has reported on the various issues Irvine voters will decide on June 5. The following is a summary of the three important Irvine only ballot measures and the recommendations of our editorial staff.
MEASURE B
YES on Measure B to give veterans the cemetery they want and deserve.
Official measure language
“Shall Ordinance No. 17-08, approving a zone text amendment so as to facilitate the development of the Southern California Veterans Cemetery by reflection an exchange of City-owned property for the State-approved site at the intersection of Bake Parkway and Interstate 5, commonly known as the Strawberry Fields, be adopted?”
Argument
A “yes” vote fulfills the promise Irvine has made many times to the city’s veterans: We will give them the dignified cemetery they have sought for years. That is why veterans’ organizations like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Orange County Veterans Memorial Park Foundation for your “yes” vote.
A “yes” vote on B means the promise will be kept: there will be an Orange County veterans cemetery on the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro base. A “no” vote means no to the veterans and the cemetery they want and deserve for their service to this nation, and to all of us.
If the “No on B” forces win, there is little chance the city and state will return to the former cemetery site. Not when it means spending $77 million to clean it up. A “yes” vote allows the Southern California Veterans Cemetery to be built on a clean, State-approved site, that will be a highly visible, honored, and an honorable resting place. That is why state and city leaders, taxpayer organizations, and both the Orange County Republican and Democratic parties ask for your “yes” vote. A “yes” vote costs Irvine taxpayers nothing extra, but means a $10 million payment from FivePoint to promptly begin cemetery construction. The State of California has approved the project, but only at the Strawberry Fields site.
The 2017-2018 California State Budget has authorized CalVet to:
• acquire, study, design, develop, construct, and equip a state-owned and state-operated Southern California Veterans Cemetery at the Strawberry Fields/Bake Parkway site.
• allocate $5 million to the Southern California Veterans Cemetery Master Development Fund, including $500,000 for CalVet to complete site studies, a concept plan and Phase I cost estimates for the Strawberry Fields/Bake Parkway Site.
• CalVet, with the assistance of the Department of General Services, continues its evaluation of the new site for a Federal pre-grant application.
• CalVet will submit a pre-application requesting Federal Cemetery Grant funds for the Strawberry Fields/Bake Parkway Site. According to CalVet, it intends to submit the pre-grant application by the July 1, 2018 deadline.
MEASURE C
YES on Measure C to
require a two-thirds vote of the city council for any new or expanded taxes to be put on the ballot, as required by the majority of cities in California.
Ballot language
“Shall the measure amending the Irvine City Charter to require at least a two-thirds vote of the total City Council membership in order to place City Council sponsored general or special tax proposals on a ballot for voter consideration, be adopted?”
Argument
Measure C closes a loophole for charter cities such as Irvine that allows a simple majority of the city council to propose new taxes. With the passage of the measure, the council will need four out of five votes, or a two-thirds majority, to put new taxes on the ballot.
Impartial analysis by Irvine City Attorney:
State law distinguishes between taxes for general governmental purposes (known as “general taxes”) and taxes for specific governmental purposes (known as “special taxes”). Both types of taxes require voter approval. A City Council can propose a ballot measure for a new or increased tax. This is known as a “City Council sponsored tax measure.”
The City of Irvine is a charter city. If Irvine were not a charter city, state law would require a vote of two-thirds of all members of the Irvine City Council in order to present a City Council sponsored general tax measure to the voters. However, as a charter city, a City Council sponsored general tax measure can be presented to the voters by a simple majority vote of the Irvine City Council.
Effect of this Charter Amendment Measure:
With regard to general taxes, this Charter amendment would align (i) the City of Irvine’s procedures for placing City Council sponsored tax measures on the ballot with (ii) the procedures already applicable to non-charter cities (i.e., “general law cities”) throughout the state.
With regard to special taxes, this Charter amendment would require at least a two-thirds vote of the total City Council membership in order to place a City Council sponsored tax measure on the ballot for voter consideration.
MEASURE D
YES on Measure D to ensure that new development in Irvine provide a financial benefit to the taxpayers of at least 15 percent over the city’s costs.
Official Ballot Language
“Shall Section 1099 be added to the Irvine City Charter which benefits Irvine’s general fund and local taxpayers by requiring that no City procedures or requirements delay important revenue streams from development projects which provide a fiscal benefit to Irvine citizens, be adopted?”
Argument
A “yes” vote on Measure D ensures that needed funds for important city services such as our police department, fire protection, and traffic improvements will be appropriately available – without raising taxes.
The Irvine Police Association has endorsed Measure D. Its president, Officer Dave Wills: “Measure D is a lockbox – it makes sure that there is accountability for fees owed to the city – funds that help ensure the safety of our Irvine community. The Irvine Police Association asks you to vote “Yes On D” on June 5th.”
These are fiscally uncertain times for city governments up and down California. Measure D is a proactive measure to ensure that Irvine continues to be a superior place to live, work
and play.
On June 5, vote “yes” for the veterans. Vote “yes” to close the higher tax loophole. And vote “yes” to insure fiscally responsible growth and development.
YES on Measure B to give veterans the cemetery they want and deserve.
YES on Measure C to require a two-thirds vote of the city council for any new or expanded taxes to be put on the ballot, as required by the majority of cities in California.
YES on Measure D to ensure that important city services, such as our police and fire protection, and traffic improvements, are available to spend.