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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION 23-060RESOLUTION#23-06ARESOLUTIONURGINGTHETOWNOFESTESPARKVOTERSTOEDUCATETHEMSELVESANDTHENOPPOSEAMENDMENT38TOTHECOLORADOCONSISTUTIONINTHENOVEMBER7,2006ELECTION.WHEREAS,aninitiatedconstitutionalamendment,Amendment38,totheColoradoConstitution,hasbeencertifiedforconsiderationbytheelectorsoftheStateofColoradoattheGeneralElectiontobeheldonNovember7,2006;andWHEREAS,Amendment38proposestoimplementanewpetitioningprocessinColoradothatwouldsupercedeandoverruleallconflictingprovisionsoftheColoradoConstitutionandColoradoStatutes;andWHEREAS,proposalssimilartoAmendment36havetwicebeforebeenrejectedbytheColoradovotersinboth1994and1996bysubstantialmargins;andWHEREAS,theproposedamendmentisnotclearlywrittenandcreateswithvirtuallyeverylineoftheproposalnumerouspracticalandlegalinterpretationquestions;andWHEREAS,theproceduressetforthpresentanunfairplayingfieldinthatthePlaintiffscanrecovertheirattorney’sfeesbutgovernmentalentitieshavepracticallynochanceofrecoveringtaxpayersdollarsspentonfrivolouscomplianceactions;andWHEREAS,Amendment36wouldconstitutionallybarordinancesfromtakingeffectuntil91daysafterpublication,andifareferendumprovisionweretobefiledbeforethe91stday,itwouldfurtherdelaytheeffectivedateoftheordinanceandmakeareferendumthepreferreddeviceforcitizensopposedtolocalgovernmentdecisions,andthatcouldimpededorbringthelocalgovernmentservicestoastandstillforthecitizensofEstesPark;andWHEREAS,Amendment38limitsreferendumelectiontoonlyoneelectiondayeachyearinNovemberandifthepetitionisturnedinthreemonthspriortotheNovemberelectiondate,theordinancewouldremainsuspendeduntilitcouldbevoteduponatthefollowingNovemberelection;andWHEREAS,Amendment38wouldreducethesignaturerequirementonlocalinitiativeandreferendumpetitionsfrom5%ofthetotalnumberorregisteredvotersinthemunicipality,toanumberequalto5%ofthetotalnumberofvotescastinthemunicipalityinthelastelectionforSecretaryofState;andWHEREAS,Amendment38wouldeliminatestheverificationofsignatures,forcingstateandlocalelectionofficialstoacceptanyandallsignaturesasvalid;andWHEREAS,Amendment36mandatestaxpayersfinancepetitioncampaigns,includingtheprintinganddeliveryofpetitions,andprintingandmailingtoeveryregisteredvoterhousehold,attaxpayerexpense,anuneditedadvertisementofuptoonethousandwordstatementdraftedbythepetitioner.Opponentswouldnothavesucharightunderthisballotitem;and a0WHEREAS,Amendment38prohibitsthediscussionofapendingballotissuebyalocalofficialandifaccusedofimproperly“discussing”apendingballotissue,nogovernmentfundscouldbeusedtodefendtheaccused;andWHEREAS,Amendment38isabadchoiceforthecitizensofEstesParkandtheStateofColoradoforallthereasonssetforthabove.NOW,THEREFORE,TOWNOFESTESPARK,oppositiontoAmendment38citizenstoalsovote“NO.”BEITRESOLVEDBYTHEBOARDOFTRUSTEESOFTHECOLORADOthattheBoardofTrusteesherebyexpressesitsthatwillbeplacedontheNovember7,2006Ballot,andurgesitsINTRODUCED,READ,ANDPASSEDBYTHEBOARDOFTRUSTEESOFTHETOWNOFESTESPARKonthisSt’dayofSeptember,2006.TOWNOFESTESPARK,COLORADOClerk