League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Alameda County, CA July 21, 2009 Election
	Measure C An ordnance amending the city's hotel tax City of Oakland Ordinance - 2/3 Approval Required Official Final Results Pass: 38907 / 76.8% Yes votes ...... 11757 / 23.2% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure C

A "Yes" vote on Measure C ensures that Oakland children and families will continue to have access to world-class learning experiences at some of the region '$ top education.. al and entertainment attractions, like the Oakland Museum of California, the Chabot Space & Science Center, the Oakland Zoo, and cultural arts programs and festivals. A "Yes" vote on Measure C means jobs and economic stimulus for Oakland, and it does not cost Oakland residents anything. The revenue Measure C generates will be invested in our tourism attractions and services. which will create good, local jobs, attract more visitors to Oakland, and increase overall tax revenues for City services. A "Yes" vote on Measure C will continue funding city programs for teacher training and educational services for Oakland's youth -- providing them with safe, accessible activities and recreation outside of school The Hotel Tax is paid by travelers staying in our hotels and using and receiving city services. Increasing the rate by 3% (about $3.00 more a night for a room that costs $100) will generate approximately $3 million in much-needed revenue each year. This money will be used right here in and cannot be taken away by Sacramento. Our city is missing out on valuable revenue, and fixing that won't put us at a disadvantage in the region. Oakland's Hotel Tax will be no higher than other major cities, like San Francisco. Measure C is not a blank check for the city government. It generates dedicated funding for the Oakland Museum of California, the Chabot Space & Science Center, the Oakland Zoo, the OCVB and cultural arts programs and festivals that benefit all Oakland residents. Please join us in voting "Yes" on Measure C to fund important programs for youth and families and bring jobs and revenue lo our city. s/Jcel Parrott Executive Director - Oakland Zoo s/Dick Specs Board Member - Chabot Space & Science Center Foundation s/Richard Edwards Vice-Chair - Oakland Museum or California Foundation s/Patricia Scates Chair of the Board of Directors - Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce s/Sharon Cornu Executive Officer - Alameda Central Labor Council. AFL-CIO (No arguments against Measure C were submitted)

Full Text of Measure C

A Proposed Ordinance Amending the City's Transient Occupancy Tax (Hotel Tax) to Provide an Additional Three Percent (3 %) Surcharge That Will Be Paid by Persons Who Stay In Oakland Hotels, In Order To Provide Additional Revenue to Several Oakland Programs WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Oakland desires to amend the Oakland Municipal Code in order to provide for a supplemental three percent (3%) transient occupancy tax, in addition to the eleven percent tax specified in Section 4.24.030; and WHEREAS, tourism promotions and marketing programs will build greater awareness of the City of Oakland as a tourist, meeting, and event destination; and WHEREAS, Oakland visitors and residents benefit from quality cultural and educational experiences and institutions located within the city; and WHEREAS, the Oakland Zoo, the Oakland Museum of California, the Chabot Space and Science Center, and Cultural Arts programs and Festivals are valuable assets that enhance the quality of life of Oakland residents; and WHEREAS, the increasing costs of maintenance and operations and dwindling private resources are ongoing threats to the viability of Oakland's most valuable institutions;and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the City Council to establish a steady stream of revenue for Oakland Convention And Visitors Bureau ("OCVB"), the Oakland Zoo, the Oakland Museum of California, the Chabot Space and Science Center and Cultural Arts Programs and Festivals; and WHEREAS, in many cities tourism programs and regional cultural institutions such as these, are funded from hotel taxes; and WHEREAS, these institutions attract a large number of visitors to the City of Oakland; and WHEREAS, all revenues received from the 3% increase in transient occupancy tax shall be allocated as follows: 50% to OCVB for its expenses and promoting tourism activities, and 12.5% each to the Oakland Zoo, the Oakland Museum of California, the Chabot Space and Science Center and Cultural Arts Programs and Festivals; and WHEREAS, this economic investment in OCVB, the Oakland Zoo, the Oakland Museum of California, the Chabot Space & Science Center, and the Cultural Arts Programs & Festivals will enhance the City of Oakland's attractiveness to visitors and provide employment and enrichment to the City's residents; and WHEREAS, OCVB, the Oakland Zoo, the Oakland Museum of California, the Chabot Space and Science Center and the Cultural Arts Programs and Festivals shall engage in marketing efforts to promote the City of Oakland; now, therefore be it RESOLVED: That the City Council of the City of Oakland does hereby submit to the voters at a special municipal election that is not less than 88 days and no more than 150 days after the date the council passes this resolution the following: SECTION 1. The Oakland Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding Section 4.24.031 to read as follows: Section 4.24.031. Imposition of surcharge. A. There shall be a tax of three percent (3%) of the rent charged by the operator of a hotel, in addition to the eleven percent tax specified in Section 4.24.030, for the privilege of occupancy in any hotel in the City of Oakland (the "Surcharge"). Subject to subsection E, below, the Surcharge so collected shall be appropriated to the Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCVB), the Oakland Zoo, the Oakland Museum of California, the Chabot Space and Science Center and the Cultural Arts Programs and Festivals as follows: 50% (fifty percent) to OCVB, 12.5% (twelve point five percent) to the Oakland Zoo, 12.5% (twelve point five percent) to the Oakland Museum of California, 12.5% (twelve point five percent) to Chabot Space and Science Center and 12.5% (twelve point five percent) for Cultural Arts Programs and Festivals. The Surcharge shall not be appropriated for any purpose other than specifically set forth in this subsection. Appropriations will be subject to applicable City of Oakland policies. B. Said Surcharge constitutes a debt owed by the transient to the city which is extinguished only by payment to the operator of the hotel at the time the rent is paid. If the rent is paid in installments, a proportionate share of the Surcharge shall be due upon the transient's ceasing to occupy space in the hotel. If for any reason the Surcharge due is not paid to the operator of the hotel, the Tax Administrator may require that such a Surcharge shall be paid directly to the Tax Administrator. C. All funds collected by the City from the Surcharge imposed by this section shall be immediately segregated from all other funds collected and shall be deposited into a special fund in the City treasury (the "Surcharge Fund"). All monies in the Surcharge Fund shall be distributed pursuant to subsection A herein on a monthly basis, following the month in which they were collected by the City. D. Pursuant to Section 4.24.050, on the receipt provided to the transient, the operator may state the current eleven percent (II %) tax specified in Section 4.24.030 and the three percent (3%) Surcharge as a single transient occupancy tax of fourteen percent (14%). E. Annual Audit. An independent audit or review shall be performed annually as provided by Government Code sections 50075.1 and 50075.3 to assure accountability and the proper disbursement of the proceeds of this Surcharge in accordance with the purposes stated herein. Surcharge proceeds may be used to pay for the audit or review. SECTION 2. This ordinance shall be effective upon 2/3 vote approval by Oakland voters at an election, or such later date as required by state law, and may not be repealed or amended except by a subsequent vote of the voters of Oakland. SECTION 3. Severability: If any article, section, subsection sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the offending portion shall be severed and shall not affect the validity of remaining portions which shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION 4. This Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code section 21000 et seq., including without limitation, Public Resources Code section 21065, CEQA Guidelines l5378(b)(4) and 15061(b)(3), as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity authorized herein may have a significant effect on the environment. SECTION 5. There are existing transient occupancy taxes that are general taxes, the proceeds of which are deposited in the general fund. The Surcharge revenues received as a result of this ordinance will be used fOf the purposes set forth in Section 4.24.031 and thus are special taxes.