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RESOLUTION OPPOSING MEASURE N AND DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO SUBMIT TO THE COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS AN ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE N
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution opposing Measure N and delegating the authority to submit to the County Registrar of voters an argument against Measure N and a rebuttal to any argument submitted in favor of Measure N.
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Summary
In accordance with the California Elections Code section 9282, the City Council may authorize a subset of the City Council to submit an argument against Measure N to be included in the ballot materials of this initiative petition and to submit a rebuttal argument to any argument in favor of Measure N that may be filed. If approved, the proposed resolution would declare the City Council’s opposition to Measure N and authorize the submission of an argument against Measure N and a rebuttal to any argument submitted in favor of Measure N.
DISCUSSION
Background
Measure N, sponsored by Stockton public safety unions, in particular the Stockton Police Officers’ Association and the Stockton Firefighters union, has been placed on the ballot of the General Municipal Election on November 5, 2024. If enacted, Measure N would delete from the City Charter the existing procedures for resolving disputes during contract negotiations with public safety unions through impartial mediation and instead would require all disputes or controversies with these unions pertaining to wages, hours, or terms and conditions of employment to be submitted for binding arbitration to a “Board of Arbitrators” whose decision would be final and binding.
Present Situation
In accordance with the California Elections Code section 9282, the City Council may authorize a subset of the City Council to submit an argument against Measure N to be included in the ballot materials of this initiative petition and authorize this subset to submit a rebuttal argument to any argument in favor of Measure N that may be filed.
Accordingly, the proposed resolution would formalize the City Council’s opposition to Measure N for all the reasons set forth in the resolution. Additionally, staff asks that the City Council delegate to a member (or members) of the Council the authority to submit an argument against Measure N and to oversee the drafting of a rebuttal.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
There is no additional cost associated with this action. The San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters provided an estimated cost of $50,000 to $80,000 to place the measure on the November 5, 2024, ballot. The submission of arguments is part of this total cost. The City does not pay an additional fee for the submission of arguments.