San Jose
Potential measures for November Ballot
San Jose City Council has a lot on its plate when Council Members come back from their July break. Polling results show support for a City sales tax increase and for a 20% Marijuana Business Tax. The Council may decide whether or not to put either or both items on the November ballot. A solid majority (65%) of voters would support a ballot measure increasing the Marijuana Business Tax from 10 to 20 percent. Additionally, support was strong for the City’s recently adopted medical marijuana distribution regulations.
Sales Tax: Solid majorities expressed support for each of the three one-quarter cent sales tax measures. Each of the three sales tax measures tested garnered support from at least 65 percent of survey respondents. Both the special purpose measure dedicated to public safety and the general purpose measure were supported by at least two-thirds of survey respondents (71 and 67 percent, respectively), while the special purpose measure dedicated to roads was supported by nearly as many at 65 percent. None of the measures generated more than 29 percent opposition and less than one in ten respondents were undecided on each measure.
Link to item: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33388
Link to agenda: http://sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33334
Also on the ballot could be….
Council will decide whether to put a Retirement Board Governance Modification measure on the Nov 2014 ballot. The measure would (1) allow the Council to establish one or more Retirement Boards with specified authority, including hiring an at-will chief executive, (2) specify the hiring authority of the Retirement Services chief executive; (3) exclude certain future Retirement Services employees from the classified civil service and the City’s defined benefit retirement plans; and (4) establish the process for setting stipends paid to non- employee Retirement Board member.
Link to item: http://sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33389
Link to agenda: http://sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33334
And…
A measure to reform Measure B, the supposed Pension Reform Measure. Council will decide whether to put on the Nov. 2014 ballot a measure that would 1) require employees rehired or reinstated before January 1, 2017 to be placed in the pension tier of benefits which applied to the employee when the employee left the City and 2) allow an alternative basis for disability retirement for police and fire employees who suffer serious bodily injury from a single event.
Previous to the 2012 Measure B changes to the City Charter, employees could receive disability retirement if they were incapable because of their disability of continuing to work in their own occupation, even if they could do other work. Now an employee would be ineligible for a disability retirement if they are able to do work in another City classification (within the Police and Fire Departments for employees in the Police and Fire Department Retirement Plan).
Link to item: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33390
Link to agenda: http://sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33334
And…
Council may decide to put a measure on the November ballot to make all employee bargaining negotiations public meetings. On or about July 2, 2014, all bargaining units were advised of a potential ballot measure regarding requiring labor negotiations be open to the public in addition to being provided a draft ballot measure for review. The bargaining units are opposed to the proposed ballot measure. A decision by the City Council to proceed with the proposed ballot measure at this time would necessitate a change to the City Charter that is not supported by the City’s bargaining units. In addition, on or about July 14, 2014, IFPTE, Local 21 requested to commence bargaining over the proposed ballot measure. The POA and IAFF, Local 230 also requested a meeting. The POA subsequently provided a letter stating that they had an interest “in discussing the concept of open negotiations for proposed changes in the City Charter” but that, “for regular bargaining, open negotiations is best reserved for ground rules.” Mandating that labor negotiations be public is within the scope of bargaining and therefore subject to the meet and confer process. We have reached no agreement on this nor has the meet and confer process been completed.
Link to item: http://sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33375
Link to agenda: http://sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33334
Sunnyvale
Minimum Wage
This is a heads up for September 30th, Sunnyvale City Council will consider the Minimum Wage ordinance council members directed staff to come up with. It will raise the minimum wage in the South Bay’s second largest city to $10 an hour.
Link to agenda: https://sunnyvaleca.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=294965&GUID=75381365-E0C8-4A11-A28F-CAC0285E1E12
Good quality local jobs:
The Sunnyvale City Council is also trying to figure out better ways to hire local workers for major development construction. Keeping local folks employed, spending locally: good for our economy.
Link to agenda: https://sunnyvaleca.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=294965&GUID=75381365-E0C8-4A11-A28F-CAC0285E1E12
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