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To:
From:
Subject:
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
Council Report
June 3, 2014
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Jason Stilwell, City Administrator
Request from Monterey-Salinas Transit district to place a county-wide sales tax
measure on the November 4, 2014, ballot
Recommendation(s): Approve request and adopt the Resolution (Attachment I) authorizing
Monterey-Salinas Transit to place a one-eighth of one percent county-
wide local sales tax measure on the November 2014 ballot, subject to the
condition that the funds generated would be restricted solely for the
provision of services and equipment for veterans, seniors, and persons
with disabilities; subject to review by a citizens' oversight committee; and
subject to special audit.
Executive Summary: Monterey-Salinas Transit is the county's primary provider of public
transportation. In addition to providing traditional fixed-route and on-
demand public transportation, MST provides a wide variety of public
transportation services to for veterans, seniors, and persons with
disabilities which include MST RIDES, senior shuttles, discount taxi
vouchers, and veterans transportation programs.
Analysis/Discussion: Traditional sources of dedicated federal funding for programs that were
designed to benefit veterans, seniors, and persons with disabilities have
been discontinued which will cause these services to face elimination
within less than a year. Because of this loss of funding, and to continue to
provide this vital service, the MST Board is considering placing a one-
eighth of one percent county-wide local sales tax measure on the
November 2014 ballot. The funds would be restricted solely for the
provision of services and equipment for veterans, seniors, and persons
with disabilities; would be subject to review by a citizens' oversight
committee; and subject to special audit.
The Monterey-Salinas Transit District (MST) was established under
AB644, the Monterey-Salinas Transit District Act, which was signed into
law on October 11, 2009, adding Part 17 (commencing with Section
106000) to Division 10 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to
transportation. MST's enabling legislation states: "The district has no
authority to impose sales or special taxes, but may, with the concurrence
of a majority of the member jurisdictions represented on the board of
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directors, cause to be submitted t o voters of the district a ballot measure
for the imposition of those taxes."
MST seeks the City's concurrence to place a one-eighth of one percent
county wide local sales tax measure on the November 2014 ballot with
the funds generated by this measure to be restricted solely for the
provision of services and equipment for veterans, seniors, and persons
with disabilities; would be subject to review by a citizens' oversight
committee; and subject to special audit.
Alternative
Council could choose to not support placing this matter on the November
2014 ballot. With the concurrence of seven jurisdictions MST will be able
to place the matter on the ballot. If MST does not receive concurrence of
at least seven jurisdictions within Monterey County transit services that
benefit veterans, seniors, and persons with disabilities will be
discontinued.
Fiscal Impact: A one-eighth of one percent sales tax will be put on the November 4,
2014 Monterey-Salinas Transit Ballot.
Budgeted (yes/no} Funding Source (general fund, grant, state}
No N/A
Previous Council
Action/Decision History: None
Attachment:
Resolution
Reviewed by:
City Administrator
Asst . City Admin. D
Public Safety Dir D
City Engineer D
City Attorney
Dir of CPB D
Library Dir D
Admini strative Services D
Dir of Publi c Svcs D
Other D
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CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 2014-
APPROVING A REQUEST FROM MONTEREY-SALINAS TRANSIT DISTRICT TO
PLACE A ONE-EIGHTH OF ONE PERCENT COUNTY-WIDE SALES TAX MEASURE
ON THE NOVEMBER 4, 4014 BALLOT.
WHEREAS, the Monterey-Salinas Transit District (District, MST) was established under
AB644, the Monterey-Salinas Transit District Act, signed into law on October 11, 2009, and is
found at California Public Utilities Code, section 1 06,000; et seq.; and
WHEREAS, Monterey-Salinas Transit receives federal funds to provide public
transportation to Monterey County; and
WHEREAS, MST currently provides a wide variety of services for veterans, seniors, and
persons with disabilities. Traditional sources of dedicated federal funding for these programs
have been discontinued, causing these services to face elimination within less than a year; and
WHEREAS, the MST Board is considering placing a one-eighth of one percent county-
wide local sales tax measure on the November 2014 ballot. The funds would be restricted solely
for the provision of services and equipment for veterans, seniors, and persons with disabilities;
subject to review by a citizens' oversight committee; and subject to special audit; and
WHEREAS, MST' s enabling legislation (AB644) states that the District may, with the
concurrence of a majority of the member jurisdictions represented on the Board of Directors,
cause to be submitted to voters of the District a ballot measure for the imposition of taxes in
accord with the limits set by the District enabling Act; and
WHEREAS, MST requests concurrence from the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea that a one-
eighth of one percent county-wide local sales tax measure for the November 2014 ballot be
submitted to the voters, subject to conditions that funds generated would be restricted solely for
the provision of services and equipment for veterans, seniors and persons with disabilities;
subject to review by a citizens oversight committee; and subject to special audit.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA DOES:
Approve a request from Monterey-Salinas Transit District to place a One-Eighth of One
Percent County-Wide Sales Tax Measure on the November 4, 2014 Ballot.
PASS ED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-
BY-THE-SEA this 3rd day of June 2014 by the following roll call vote:
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AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ATTEST: SIGNED:
Deanna Allen
Deputy City Clerk
Jason Burnett
MAYOR