REQUIRES ELECTIONS FOR CITY REAL PROPERTY PURCHASES EXCEEDING $2 MILLION
QUESTION: Should the Lake Oswego City Charter require elections for city property purchases exceeding $2 million, retroactive to April 1, 2006?
SUMMARY: Amends the Lake Oswego City Charter to prevent the city from purchasing real property interests for more than $2 million without voter approval. Exempts purchases made to address direct threats to health or safety. Purchases could not exceed voter-approved costs, including price, administrative costs, legal expenses and closing costs. The city could not accept property awarded by courts in condemnation cases for more than 20% over voter-approved costs. Requires property purchased after April 1, 2006 for more than $2 million to be submitted for voter approval at the first available election date. Purchases not approved at that election must be placed for public sale within 180 days. Amounts paid for adjoining lots purchased separately during a two-year period would be combined to determine if $2 million is exceeded. Requires elections for adoption of, or changes to, urban renewal plans that permit property purchases exceeding $2 million. Otherwise applies city purchase restrictions, and election requirements, to any urban renewal agency. Allows $2 million threshold to be increased per U.S. Consumer Price Index.
NO EXPLANATORY STATEMENT WAS SUBMITTED
Submitted by:
Robyn Christie
City Recorder
City of Lake Oswego
Measure No. 3-269 | City of Lake Oswego
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Frequently Asked Questions about Measure 3-269
What will this measure do?
It requires the City to obtain voter approval before purchasing large, non-essential properties.
Does this have anything to do with Safeco?
Yes. The decision to buy Safeco without community support was reckless. This amendment requires voter approval for Safeco and for future purchases of non-essential property.
Are there exceptions to the voter approval requirement?
Yes, three exceptions:
- Purchases to address health or safety concerns
- Purchases below $2 million (inflation-adjustable)
- Purchases through voter-approved urban renewal plans
Will this Charter Amendment “hamstring” the City or lead to frequent elections?
No. Only one City purchase in the last decade (Safeco) would have required a vote under the guidelines.
Do other cities have voter approval requirements in their Charters?
Yes. For example, just in our vicinity, Tigard, Beaverton, and Wilsonville all have voter approval requirements.
Would this amendment impede economic development?
No. This amendment does nothing to restrict economic development beyond requiring voter approval for non-essential property purchases.
How does the measure affect urban renewal (LORA)?
LORA is the City's urban renewal agency. LORA uses property tax funds that are drawn away from normal public uses (schools, police, fire, etc.) for urban renewal purposes. This amendment only affects portions of urban renewal plans that have not received voter approval.
Would this measure have prevented Millennium Park Plaza?
No, unless you assume that voters would reject the entire urban renewal plan used to make the Millennium Park purchases.
How will this positively affect all Lake Oswegans?
The measure will go a long way toward restoring trust in City government. By keeping voters in the loop we ensure community support exists for big-ticket projects while maintaining the means to curb unwise spending decisions.
For more information visit www.AskLakeO.com
Vote YES on Measure 3-269!
(This information furnished by John Surrett, Ask Me First PAC )
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure No. 3-269 | City of Lake Oswego
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
A “YES” VOTE ON MEASURE 3-269
WILL RESTORE OUR COMMUNITY'S
SPENDING PRIORITIES AND PROTECT LIVABILITY
Lake Oswego is currently servicing about $60 million dollars of debt. However, enormous liabilities loom on the horizon. In coming years this debt will quadruple just to maintain our core services: $100mil+ for sewer improvements, $100mil+ for water and storm drain upgrades; $13mil+ estimated for a new City Hall plus undetermined amounts for a fire station. Many millions more could be designated for Lake Grove and Foothills redevelopment; another $30-40 million for streetcar services…
Focusing on essential projects should be the top priority for City officials—passing Measure 3-269 will ensure it. Over the last 18 months, the City Council spent $23mil+ on its non-essential Safeco “Community Center” project—without taxpayers' input or discussion in context with L.O.'s greater priorities. On July 24, the City Council approved a plan that, if implemented, would drive the cost of its project to over $105 million. For a homeowner, this is like buying a Jacuzzi while ignoring a leaky roof and cracked foundation.
Lake Oswego is a unique, vibrant community, blessed with multi-generational residents. Lake Oswegans have consistently approved property tax increases ensuring our schools, libraries, public safety and parks remain topflight. But our “over 55” residents living on fixed incomes and the younger families that populate our schools must not be overlooked. ADDED DEBT MEANS HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES. Non-essential, discretionary, big-ticket spending schemes must be carefully scrutinized to safeguard all L.O. residents. The voters are entitled to be heard.
Our City Council's mandate is to protect our Community and not allow livability to be threatened by out-of-control spending and tax increases. This Charter Amendment is essential to ensure that vulnerable Lake Oswegans are not priced out of their homes.
VOTE “YES” ON 3-269
Endorsed by:
<Molly Mikolaitis
Kenneth Montgomery
Bettirae Willis
Mary Franklin
Christina West
Tom Moir
Wesley Spellman
Mark Henry
Bob Furrer
John Van Bodegom
(This information furnished by Michael Harper)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure No. 3-269 | City of Lake Oswego
ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION
OUR CITY, OUR FUTURE
VOTE NO ON MEASURE 3-269.
KEEP LAKE OSWEGO LIVABLE
Our City has changed a lot in the last few years. Besides our thriving downtown business district, Lake Oswegans are proud to have beautiful, outdoor spaces to gather with family and friends as a community. Much of that progress has occurred because we have had the opportunity to purchase properties for the enjoyment and benefit of all our citizens.
Do you enjoy Millennium Plaza Park? Do you value the Farmers' Market? The Antique Faire? The music events? The many special events?
Millennium Park was purchased, in 1997, for over $2m from available funds through Urban Renewal.
Have you and your friends visited our beautiful Foothills Park and looked forward to the day that the pathway will extend along the Willamette River, through George Rogers Park, all the way to West Linn?
Aren't you glad the City purchased the properties for Open Spaces in the Stafford area to preserve for our enjoyment of Parks, Pathways and Open Spaces?
Today each of these properties is worth
more than $2 million.
Under the proposed charter amendment, if they were purchased today, the voters would be required to vote on each of them – after the City had negotiated a sales price and had the legal costs and closing costs for EACH specific piece of property.
What seller would wait months for the next election and an uncertain outcome??
And – the open spaces in Stafford? Under this charter amendment, for each property worth more than $2million, (or an aggregate of properties purchased within a two-year period) a separate vote on each lot would need to occur – EVEN THOUGH THE VOTERS HAD ALREADY PASSED A BOND MEASURE FOR THE MONEY!
PROTECT OUR FUTURE: VOTE NO ON MEASURE 3-269
Mayor Judie Hammerstad
(This information furnished by Judie Hammerstad, Lake Oswego City Council )
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure No. 3-269 | City of Lake Oswego
ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION
JOIN US IN VOTING NO ON 3-269
We strongly oppose the Charter amendment, which places an unrealistic limit on the City's ability to negotiate and secure important acquisitions of open space and developed properties for the future benefit of our community.
Virginia Adelsheim
Stephen Agritelley
Richard Akerman
John Baines
Bob&Katy Barman
Teresa&Craig Barnard
Colleen&Joe Bennett
George Benson
Michael Buck
Liane Cabot
Harold&Virginia Campbell
Corinna Campbell-Sack
Eric&Dianne Carlson
Mary Beth Coffey
Charles Collins
MaryLou Colver
Jan Coulton
Katherine Cowan
Debbie&Dave Craig
Connie Crow
Dee Denton
Nina DeConcini
Stephan Dodds
Dan Dutton
Steve Eichenberger
Dennis&Leila Elliott
Ken&Shirley Faris
Matt Finnigan
Norma Freitas
Denise&Robert Frisbee
Bill Gaar
Peter&Cyndie Glazer
Paul&Teri Graham
John Hammerstad
Kathleen Hanson
Mike&Sandy Harman
Nancy Headlee
John Heninger
Jack&Agnes Hoffman
Jacquline Hurlbert
Karen Jacobson
Andy Jordan
Ann&David Jorling
Linda&Jon Kerl
Kathleen Kirkendall
Claire&Justin Klahn
Dr. Bill Korach
Susanna C. Kuo
Susan Landis
Robert Lawrence
Joyce Leedy
Sandy Leybold
Eric Lider
Deborah Lopardo
Rep. Greg Macpherson
Cindy Maddox
William&Estelle Mathers
Eric&Shelly Meyer
Jeff Miller
Sally&Shane Moncrieff
Joan&Tom Moore
Charles Oldham
Chuck O'Leary
Erin O'Rourke-Meadors
County Commissioner Lynn Peterson
Mark Peterson
Craig Prosser
Jonathan C Puskas
Mary Puskas
Bob Radziwon
Dale&Kay Rhoney
James Rivera
Marcia Robertson
Vicki Rogers
W. Erick Rottman
Judith Ruby
Joan Sappington
Doug Schmitz
Bill Schoen
Curt&Kathy Sheinin
Jennifer Small
S.H. Smither
Allan&Mary Solares
Dan Vizzini
Emogene&Mel Waggonner
Mark Waller
Valentine Whelan
Carol&Renner Winston
Barbara Zeller
(This information furnished by Debbie Craig, Our City Our Future)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure No. 3-269 | City of Lake Oswego
ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION
Measure 3-269 is bad for Lake Oswego and
It is bad for business
VOTE NO ON MEASURE 3-269
This revision to the city's Charter could significantly impede future economic development in Lake Oswego, and interferes with the smooth working of city government on behalf of its constituents.
If Millennium Park and many other projects presently enjoyed by citizens and visitors were being contemplated today, they wouldn't be developed with this measure in effect. With the City's hands tied to a community vote for any purchase of $2 million, what seller or developer would be interested in pursuing a deal that would depend on a decision possibly months in the future with no guarantee of a positive result?
We have a democratic process and have elected six City Councilors and a Mayor whose job it is to research the facts, look at all the options and then act in the best interests of the entire community. We need to let them do their job. We should not tie the hands of our present and future city councilors as they attempt to do the jobs they were elected to do.
Government cannot be effectively run by the sort of citizen interference suggested in Measure 3-269.
The Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce
urges you to Vote NO on 3-269.
(This information furnished by Jerry L. Wheeler Sr., Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure No. 3-269 | City of Lake Oswego
ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION
Let Our Council Govern
For more than 15 years a group of Lake Grove business people known as the Lake Grove Business Association (LGBA) have come together in times of need to help City Council make good decisions insofar as they relate to life and business along Boones Ferry Road. Its board members and representatives from adjacent neighborhoods participated in the 3 year long project of planning our future on Boones Ferry Road and its surrounding residential neighborhoods.
Most members of the LGBA, as well as the other unpaid citizen, volunteer planners on the Lake Grove Village Center Advisory Committee supported the purchase of the Safeco site when made, and probably still do. But that support is not central to the position that the Lake Grove Business Association is advances with respect to Ballot Measure 3-269.
The point LGBA would make is that municipal decision making for community growth and prosperity should happen through the hard working vehicles presently in place – the professionals in City Hall who develop projects, the members of the volunteer citizen boards who give countless hours to reviewing the planning professionals' ideas, and ultimately the City Councilors who are elected to lead all of Lake Oswego into the future. The passage of Ballot Measure 3-269 would turn city governance into a divisive free-for-all of angry letters back and forth in the newspaper, tearing at the fabric of civil decision making, leading to expensive elections, if decision making on property acquisition was possible at all. It is unlikely that owners of property suitable for municipal purposes would wait out the “democratic” process.
Our elected representatives have led well in the past, and we urge voters to let elected councilors and the professionals and volunteers they hire and engage to lead into the future. The Lake Grove Business Association urges citizens to Vote No on Ballot Measure 3-269
Mike Buck, President
Lake Grove Business Association
(This information furnished by Mike Buck, President LGBA, Lake Grove Business Association)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure No. 3-269 | City of Lake Oswego
ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION
Preserve our Open Space, Trail & Park Options
VOTE NO ON MEASURE 3-269
Lake Oswego is known for our beautiful open spaces, accessible parks, well used pathways, and community gardens. No matter our age or income, we all use and love these spaces. One of the consequences of Measure 3-269 is the severe restriction on the thoughtful additions to our park properties.
This charter amendment will require a vote of all the people before we can purchase any property that is more than $2 million. It would also require a vote on each lot if adjoining properties were purchased over a two-year period and the total aggregate costs were more than $2 million.
Realistically, it will make it nearly impossible to acquire potential sites in the future. Even if we had passed a Park Bond Measure to acquire property, as we have done in the past, we would still need to vote on specific pieces of property.
This unduly restricts the thoughtful and planned additions to our park and open space properties.
Vote NO on Charter Amendment 3-269
Debbie and Dave Craig
Stephanie and Frederick Wagner
Lu Beck
Jane Cronlund
(This information furnished by Debbie Craig, Co-Chair, Our City Our Future)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure No. 3-269 | City of Lake Oswego
ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION
Sports and Fields are Positive Features in Lake Oswego
Keeping our kids fit and busy and our adults physically active contributes to the health of our community. The well-planned and much needed addition of sports fields to our community has benefited us all.
Measure 3-269 will require that all citizens must vote every time a new field is contemplated which might cost more than $2 million. This is unworkable. The time and expense for holding an election to determine if our kids or active adult citizens should have a new venue is bad policy.
We urge you to vote NO on charter amendment 3-269.
Rosalie Anderson
Debbie Craig
Stephan Dodds
Cindy Dungey
Dennis Elliott
Dee Grothe
Jay Hamachek
Brad Nantz
Duane and Kerri Oertell
Skip O’Neill
Marlo Schwarz
Trina and Vic Soder
Kathy Taylor Blair and Diane Troutman
Gordon and Jill Viggiano
(This information furnished by Debbie Craig, Co-Chair, Our City Our Future)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
Measure No. 3-269 | City of Lake Oswego
ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION
Retain Representative Government
Vote No on Ballot Measure 3-269
Lake Oswego has a representative form of government. Voters elect City Councilors. Councilors hire professional staff and appoint volunteer citizens to advisory boards such as the Planning Commission. Over my 30 years in Lake Oswego these hard working, unpaid volunteers have generally made the good decisions making Lake Oswego the thriving, attractive town that it is.
City Council believed it was forward looking when it acquired the Safeco site for municipal purposes. Some citizens have disagreed. Two measures on this ballot reflect that disagreement. Ask Lake Oswegans has advances Ballot Measure 3-269, which would retroactively force the sale of the Safeco site, and then require any future acquisition costing $2 million to go to a popular vote. City Council submitted Ballot Measure 3-273 which gives the citizens an opportunity for an up or down vote on the Safeco acquisition.
If you want to retain our representative form of government, vote No on 3-269. Its passage would make it impossible for city government to efficiently negotiate and acquire property needed for government purposes and citizen enjoyment. If citizens don't like acquisition decisions they should replace or, if necessary, recall the deciders. If citizens are opposed to a specific acquisition decision they should focus their attention on reversing the particular acquisition.
If Ballot Measure 3-269 passes it will be difficult, if not impossible, to get volunteer citizens to stand for election to City Council knowing they will be without the tools to govern efficiently. Let councilors continue to host the debate and make decisions in public, and to be personally responsible to the voters if they make a poor decision.
Think about what is best for Lake Oswego, and make a thoughtful decision in your vote on Ballot Measure 3-273 relating to the Safeco acquisition. And Vote No on Ballot Measure 3-269.
John W. Lundeen
PO Box 1146
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(This information furnished by John Lundeen)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.