An Email and The Reply

I wrote an Email and addressed it to many in the government of the city of Rancho Palos Verdes.

When Marymount's talking voice on its T.V. ad stated that there would be no cost to taxpayers for Marymount's Expansion Project, I wanted to fact check that statement.

I already know that many hours of our city staff's time has been afforded to the Marymount plan and that costs taxpayers' money.

Specifically, I am still seeking to learn how much our city's General Fund might be charged if the initiative qualifies for the November ballot. Here is my Email, minus the addresses and my return address:

Greetings.

I am sending this to a wide range of individuals in hopes someone knows the answers to my questions.

With concerns about a potential ballot measure qualifying for an upcoming election, specifically the proposed Marymount initiative, here are some questions.

Has the City Attorney calculated the possible costs to the city for incorporating the proposed ballot measure either as part of the November, 2010 general election, or as being part of a special election, if the proposed measure qualifies to become part of any ballot?

If the information has been created, will it be part of the petition or will it become public information in some other format?

If the information is not known at this time, when might the information become available?

Are city funds that would be used for the vote on the Marymount Expansion Plan, part of the general funds or are funds for a purpose like this kept in a different account? If so, what type of account would these funds be in?

Thank you for any and all assistance that can be provided at this time.

I wish I was more optimistic that the proposed ballot measure not qualify for placement on any ballot.

Now here is the reply I received today from our City Clerk:

Mark,

I cannot answer all of your questions, since some of the estimates/facts are not known at this time and will require further research; however, I can provide some information for you.

First of all, as you realize, the initiative would have to qualify for the ballot. If that occurs, the City Attorney will not be the one to calculate the cost of the election. The estimate comes from the Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office to me, as City Clerk. I placed a request for the estimate with the County for the November 2010 Election and am waiting to hear back from them; they noted that I should receive the estimate in 3-4 weeks. Therefore, the cost is not a known quantity at this time. If the estimated cost has been provided by the County when a report is prepared for the City Council about the election, the estimated cost would be included in the report.

The cost of the Nov. 2009 General Municipal Election for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes (which was consolidated with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Library District through the County) with seven candidates and one measure on the ballot was $74,553. For comparison, the cost of the Nov. 2007 General Municipal Election (which was consolidated with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District through the County) with five candidates and two measures on the ballot for the City was $96,553. If the petition qualifies for the November 2010 ballot, the funds to pay for the Special Election would come from the General Fund.

Regards,

Carla

Carla Morreale, CMC

City Clerk

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Right now, the November ballot is not slated to have any candidates or issues specifically associated with our city government or issues in Rancho Palos Verdes.

That would all change if the Marymount initiative qualifies for the ballot and it appears our city's General Fund would have funds charged against it for the added costs associated with Marymount's proposed ballot measure, if it qualifies.

Now if approximately 10% of the registered voters in R.P.V. sign the petitions being circulated, that means that our city General Fund, which 100% of our residents, pay into would take a hit.

Since Marymount College is tax exempt, only students, faculty, staff, and supporters of Marymount who are residents of Rancho Palos Verdes would contribute to the General Fund, in some manner, possibly.

I highly doubt that those actively associated with Marymount College make up 10% of the registered voters of R.P.V.

Please do not sign the petition.