Title
Planning and Building Department, Cemeteries Division, recommending the Board provide direction to staff related to the proposed ballot measure to form a Western Slope Cemetery Zone of Benefit within County Service Area 9.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Direction was requested from the Board on June 26, 2018 (Item 55, Legistar File No. 18-0987) and July 16, 2019 (Item 31, Legistar File No. 19-1047) related to the cemetery program service levels. The Cemetery Advisory Committee, at a special meeting held on August 8, 2019, voted in favor of forming a cemetery zone of benefit and made such a recommendation to the Board. On September 10, 2019, the Board approved detailing the Board’s intention to form a Western Slope Cemetery Zone of Benefit (ZOB) within County Service Area 9 (Item 25, Legistar File No. 19-1323) dependent upon funding from a voter-approved ballot measure.
On November 5, 2019 staff returned with the required public hearing for the parcel tax proposal associated with the ZOB (Legistar No. 19-1585). Though several persons spoke in opposition to the ballot measure, there was no majority protest. The Board directed staff or the Cemetery Advisory Committee to return to the Board in March of 2020 with a plan to maintain cemeteries going forward. The Board also approved Resolution 148-2019 creating one large zone of benefit on the Western Slope within County Service Area 9, subject to voter approval, with an annual parcel tax for all taxable parcels of $9.00, and a ten-year sunset date for the parcel tax, contingent on a parcel tax ballot measure being approved by the voters on the November 2022 election.
On February 23, 2022, the Cemetery Advisory Committee voted in favor of postponing the placement of the measure on the November 2022 ballot, noting that the timing of the ballot measure is not compatible with current economic realities. Staff is carrying forward this advisory decision to your Board for consideration.
If approved by voters each parcel would be assessed a $9.00 parcel tax to provide dedicated funding for County cemeteries and would fund capital projects, an endowment, and administration of additional cemeteries the County may acquire when no other entity is available to care for them. In light of the current fiscal and economic conditions in El Dorado County, staff are seeking clarification on the Board’s current intentions, as preparation for the ballot should begin soon if it is the Board’s will to place this measure on the November 2022 ballot as originally directed.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to take no action, in which case the proposed measure will go on the ballot for the November 8, 2022 election.
The Board could postpone placement of the measure on the ballot.
The Board could decide to rescind the previous decision to form a Zone of Benefit contingent upon voter approval of funding
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
06/26/18, Item 55, File No. 18-0987
07/16/19, Item 31, File No. 19-1047
09/10/19, Item 25, File No. 19-1323
11/05/19, Item 41, File No. 19-1585
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Chief Administrative Office, County Counsel, Elections
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Provide direction as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Significant costs associated with preparing a ballot measure will be incurred if the Board chooses to take no action. There is no financial impact if the Board chooses to delay implementation of the ballot measure, except that, presuming a ballot measure would be approved by voters, delaying the ballot measure would mean that funds will not be collected to support cemetery operations until a measure is placed on the ballot and approved by the voters.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance
CONTACT
Chris Perry, Assistant Director
Cemetery Director
Planning and Building Department