Developers have offered to pay the cost of the election in order to get the project moving.
An election initiative/petition was circulated within the City of Pacific Grove, entitled: “American Tin Cannery (ATC) ballot initiative.” The ballot measure proposes to rezone the ATC site from C-V (Visitor Commercial) and C-2 (Heavy Commercial) so that hotels will be allowed.
Domaine Pacific Grove, LLC (Domaine) has submitted an application to develop, construct, and operate a hotel project, working name “Project Bella,” at the American Tin Cannery site at 125 Ocean View Boulevard within walking distance of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
The petition was submitted to the Elections department for signature verification on Dec, 3, 2015. There were 249 sections and 1326 signatures. Elections did a random sampling of 500 signatures by examining the records of registration, and determined that 421 were deemed valid. Of the 79 which were found not sufficient, two were duplicates. Based on that information, the number of valid signatures on the petition is 1,108 or 12 percent of the total registered voters in the City of Pacific grove. Ten percent were needed.
Project Bella developers and proponents are aware the City will be required to expend considerable resources in working with Domaine for approval of the Project Bella, including processing of applications, permits, and other entitlements. They want to “ensure City resource limitations will not delay the necessary review steps to effect timely development of the project,” according to the taff report for the upcoming City Council meeting, Jan. 20.
Domaine Pacific Grove, LLC (Domaine) has offered to reimburse the City for the costs to conduct a Special Election in April 19, 2016, as well as the costs of the City Clerk and staff for services required as a result of the election.
In a letter to the City Attorney, Ronald Meer of Domaine Partners writes,“Domaine would like to offer to reimburse the City for its actual costs to conduct the special election, as outlined below, if the Council decides to place the initiative measure on the ballot (Election Code section 9215(b).) “
The election initiative circulated within the City of Pacific Grove, entitled “American Tin Cannery (ATC) ballot initiative, adding Section 23.31.025 to the Pacific Grove Municipal Code” was submitted to the Monterey County Registrar of Voters for verification.
The petition was submitted to the Elections department for signature verification on Dec, 3, 2015. There were 249 sections and 1326 signatures. Elections did a random sampling of 500 signatures by examining the records of registration, and determined that 421 were deemed valid. Of the 79 which were found not sufficient, two were duplicates. Based on that information, the number of valid signatures on the petition is 1,108 or 12 percent of the total registered voters in the City of Pacific grove. Ten percent were needed.On January 7, 2016, the Registrar of Voters determined that 1,108 signatures on the Initiative were valid. This is a sufficient number to qualify the initiative measure for the ballot and to call a special election.
The Council now has the option to place the initiative on the ballot at the next statewide election that occurs not less than 88 days after the date of the order of election (June 7 or November 8). The cost of consolidating the matter at the next statewide election is estimated at $6-$8 per voter or $55,650-$74,200.
Costs charged to the City by the Monterey County Elections Department to add a ballot measure for a special election are estimated at $14-$20 per voter or $129,850-$185,500.
The draft Resolution calls for a Special Municipal Election on April 19, 2016. The last day to submit arguments for or against the proposed measure is January 29, 2016. The last day to submit rebuttal arguments for the proposed measure would be February 8, 2016, and the City Attorney must prepare an impartial analysis of the measure no later than February 8, 2016.
