Pass: 32,487 / 67.1% Yes votes ...... 15,928 / 32.9% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Impartial Analysis from City Attorney

In 1996, the voters of Santa Rosa approved "Measure G-Santa Rosa Urban Growth Boundaries" which approved an ordinance to restrict changes to the City's urban growth boundary, as depicted in the 1996 General Plan Specific Urban Boundary Graphic, to twenty year intervals as part of a General Plan Update subject to certain limited exceptions which required a two-thirds vote of the council. The twenty year period established under the ordinance would expire in 2016. The ordinance further provided that it could not be amended or repealed except by a vote of the electors of the City of Santa Rosa at a regularly scheduled general election or at a special election called for that purpose.

The Urban Growth Boundary limits the area which can be developed beyond the current city limits.

On November 3, 2009, the City Council adopted the 2035 General Plan update which incorporated the same Urban Growth Boundary as depicted in the 1996 General Plan Update. Measure O, if approved by a majority of the voters, would extend the term of the previously approved Urban Growth Boundary as depicted in the 2035 General Plan Specific Urban Growth Boundary Graphic to 2035 in order to be consistent with the term of the General Plan. The only proposed changes to the Urban Boundary ordinance ( Section 17-28.010 of the Santa Rosa City Code) are to extend the term and related text changes necessary to the ordinance as a result of that change and as a result of expiration of the 2010 prohibition on the development of the 453 acre site in the southeast quadrant of Santa Rosa.

The ordinance retains the same exceptions to allow changes to the Urban Growth Boundary by a two thirds vote of the council that were contained in the original ordinance approved in 1996.

A copy of the complete text of the proposed ordinance and the graphic depicting the Urban Growth Boundary are contained in the ballot materials.

If adopted, this ordinance could not be changed except by a further vote of the City's voters. If not adopted, existing Section 17-28.010 would remain in effect.

s/ Caroline L. Fowler City Attorney