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17 THE CITY OF - -~- ~"' CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT j~L£~S~4NTONm July 15, 2008 City Manager's Office TITLE: ADOPT A RESOLUTION PLACING AN INITIATIVE MEASURE TO PROTECT RIDGELINES AND HILLSIDES AND TO CLARIFY GROWTH MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES ON THE NOVEMBER 4, 2008 BALLOT; AND APPROVE RELATED ELECTION PROCEDURES SUMMARY On June 26, 2008, the City Council directed staff to prepare an initiative measure to provide for a collaborative and public process to expeditiously prepare an ordinance to protect from development specific critical ridges, hillsides, and elevations, particularly in the Southeast Hills, as well as reaffirm General Plan policies for the protection of ridgelines and hillsides, and clarify growth management determinations. Council must approve the title (options for which are set forth below) and text of the proposed initiative measure ), approve the ballot question, adopt a resolution placing the measure on the ballot, direct the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis, allow and set deadlines for ballot arguments and rebuttals, consider selecting Council members to write ballot arguments, and whether other Council members will co-sign such arguments. RECOMMENDATION 1. Approve the title and full text of the initiative measure. (Attached.) 2. Select ballot language and adopt the attached resolution placing on the November 4, 2008 ballot the initiative measure. 3. Direct the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis. 4. Select one or two Council members to author the direct argument in favor of the initiative measure for possible signing by other Council members, allow rebuttal arguments, select one or two Council members to write the rebuttal argument for possible signing by other Council members, and set deadlines for submittal of the arguments. FINANCIAL STATEMENT Costs associated with this item are minimal, as funds have already been allocated in the 2008/09 Operating Budget for the November 2008 General Municipal Election.