At its November 14, 2016 meeting, the City Council considered a staff recommendation to endorse a local option tax proposal known as Authorize Community Transformation (ACT).  The Council tabled the issue until it can review a draft bill at some time in the future.  At its November 28, 2016 meeting, the City Council voted to reconsider its earlier action.  The City Council may reconsider any action that it takes, but in most instances, the vote on whether and how to change an action must be delayed until a subsequent meeting in order to meet requirements for public notice and public participation.  The effect of the Council's 11/28 decision to reconsider its 11/14 action puts the item on the December 12 agenda in exactly the same form as when the Council last voted on it.  The approved 11/14 motion was "Friedel moved to table until a draft bill is presented to the City Council."  Therefore, the Council will re-vote on that motion.  Since City Code Section 2-221 (2) h. does not allow debate on motions to adjourn or table, as soon as the Clerk reads the agenda item, the Council should immediately vote on whether to table the item until a draft bill is presented to Council.  If the majority of the members present vote yes, the matter is tabled until a draft bill is produced.  If the majority vote no or there is a tie vote, the motion is defeated and the item returns to its original position, which is staff's recommendation to endorse the ACT proposal.  A Councilmember will need to make a new motion on how to respond to the staff recommendation, which is usually to approve; approve with changes, or; disapprove.  In this case, staff recommends that the Council endorse the ACT proposal.     

City Council may approve or disapprove the motion to table the ACT proposal until a draft bill is presented to Council.  Such a draft will probably not be produced until after the Legislative Session begins.   

There is no direct financial impact to this action.  The Chamber of Commerce estimate is that a 3% tax would produce $47 million annually.

Staff recommends that the City Council disapprove the motion to table endorsing the ACT initiative.