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Attachment 1 THE CITY OF _ , m1111 I �.. m 11I -a lil : 1N - LE ASANTONC MEMORANDUM Date: May 16, 2023 To: Mayor and City Council From: Gerry Beaudin, City Manager Subject: Our Neighborhood Voices initiative draft At the May 2, 2023, City Council meeting City staff was directed to bring to the City Council a resolution to support the initiative draft by Our Neighborhood Voices. California State Ballot Initiative History In a special election held on October 10, 1911, California became the 10th state to adopt the initiative process. That year, Governor Hiram Johnson began his term by promising to give citizens a tool they could use to adopt laws and constitutional amendments without the support of the Governor or the Legislature. The new Legislature put a package of constitutional amendments on the ballot that placed more control of California politics directly into the hands of the people. This package included the ability to recall elected officials, the right to repeal laws by referendum, and the ability to enact state laws by initiative. The initiative is the power of the people of California to propose statutes and to propose amendments to the California Constitution. (Cal. Const., art. II, § 8(a).) Generally, any matter that is a proper subject of legislation can become an initiative measure; however, no initiative measure addressing more than one subject area may be submitted to the voters or have any effect. (Cal. Const., art. II, § 8(d).) An initiative measure is placed on the ballot after its proponents successfully satisfy the requirements described, and it is qualified by the Secretary of State by the 131st day before a statewide general election. California State Ballot Initiative Process — Steps for an Initiative to become Law 1. Write the text of the proposed law (initiative draft) 2. Submit initiative draft to the Attorney General for official title and summary 3. Active Measures are proposed initiatives 4. Inactive Measures are withdrawn or failed proposals 5. Initiative petitions are circulated to collect enough signatures from registered voters. Signatures are turned in to county election officials for verification Initiative will either be Qualified for Ballot or be failed by the Secretary of State, after verifications and deadline dates 6. California voters will approve or deny the qualified Ballot Initiative