Dear Citizens of Rivergrove,

 

On Sunday, October 20th at about 4:00 pm, our current City Council sent a city-wide email trying to explain why they want to change the City Charter with Ballot Measure 3-612. The actual ballot measure itself was not shared with the community until yesterday. It describes multiple areas in which the City Council can “act on its own” without a vote by the Citizens of Rivergrove.

 

As stated in the Voter’s Pamphlet Summary and as repeated in the email Summary, Measure 3-612 would amend the Rivergrove City Charter by the adoption of a number of items for parks, natural areas, and green spaces to act “without a vote of citizens of Rivergrove.”

 

The City Council’s Measure 3-612 Summary suggests that a yes vote is necessary for “protection.” What they are asking you to do is to forgo your rights for citizen input and decision-making on the individual park and natural area issues with no recourse.

 

If you closely review the Voter’s Pamphlet and the City’s proposed Ballot Summary and language you will note an inconsistency as to whether the residents have a vote on City actions or they do not. These inconsistencies provide an ample basis for a Ballot challenge with undesirable and expensive litigation for problems that do not currently exist.

 

This City Council should have informed all Rivergrove citizens that a NO vote really means the Rivergrove City Charter will not change, thereby maintaining residents’ rights to affect the City future decision-making on all land use actions as currently laid out in State, Regional, and city laws and ordinances. This will avoid the necessity of challenging an unnecessary ordinance that really reduces your power in Rivergrove City government.

 

We encourage you to consider the impacts of Measure 3-612 when you cast your vote.