Open Space Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2023 06 14

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Open Space Advisory Board Item 8: Sales & Use Tax Task Force Updates Page 2 of 3 • 80+/ approval ratings for Open Space and Parks departments • High ratings for Open Space priorities and functions • 68% support Open Space dedicated funding The Magellan presentation from the meeting (included in this packet) summarized these results according to key demographics and included some sample narrative responses (e.g., explaining why a respondent would not support a renewal). Magellan also provided detailed crosstabs, which were included in the task force packet. 8-9 residents attended the meeting and individually spoke in support of dedicating funds to increasing the Open Space budget, increasing the tax to increase the fund, and voiced support of continuing to invest in land acquisitions and extending or removing the term. One resident also described several attendees' prior roles in campaigning and described a willingness to campaign in support of the upcoming tax measure, assuming it includes funds for Open Space. Task force members asked questions to clarify their understanding of the survey results, expressed their general support of the issues raised by the public, talked about Open Space and Parks priorities and budgets, and discussed tax model ideas based on the survey results, the success of neighboring tax models and advice from experts. The task force members reached consensus on directing staff to work with tax experts and city attorneys to develop concise and simple ballot issue language to propose: 1. Renewing the existing tax (.375%) and dividing it 50/50 between Open Space and Parks, creating separate "buckets" or funds so that there is accuracy and transparency in the accounting. 2. Increasing the tax (+.125%) and dedicating these additional funds for the acquisition and maintenance/operations of Open Space. 3. Keeping the term 10 years City Clerk Muth explained that TABOR may require 2 or more ballot issues to accomplish these results. Mayor Maloney directed staff to work with the experts (Magellan Strategies, City Attorneys and Trust for Public Lands staff) to develop the best models for Council to consider. The task force briefly discussed the possible necessity of creating and naming two taxes analogous to the Lafayette POST (Parks, Open Space and Trail) and Open Space Legacy Taxes. Some task force members and Ryan Winger from Magellan Strategies cautioned against making tax language too complex, which can be off-putting to voters. The task force also discussed the importance of developing a ballot issue to extend or remove the term in years 5-7 after the voter approval of the tax and 10 year term in 2023. 19