VOTE “NO” - This charter is a secret backroom deal.

The North County Times on February 21 and again on April 4th urged a “NO” vote on this charter because "it was hatched in a backroom. City Councilman Jack Feller and his allies among the building industry wrote the proposal. The public did not participate in any piece of the charter-shaping process.” 

• Not one resident had the chance to discuss, change, add or delete any provisions of this document that changes the way Oceanside operates just about everything.
  

• It was NOT reviewed by our own City Attorney, the Mayor or Councilwoman. There were no public hearings of any kind.
  

• This Charter was developed by a non-resident lobbyist for the Ass'ciated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

• The charter will not save Oceanside any money but could cost the taxpayers much more due to cronyism, new layers of bureaucracy, lawsuits and amendments. The Grand Jury of San Diego says charters are most often amended due to politician's abuses!

VOTE "NO" - So-called Taxpayer Groups' Endorsements False.

Don't be fooled by so-called taxpayer groups' endorsements! Their endorsements are worthless and designed to confuse the taxpayers. The San Diego Taxpayer group is made up of the building industry and lobbyists, the same people who drafted this secret charter. Howard Jarvis's group had no idea what the charter was about.

(info per phone call 3/23/2010 by N. Scott to D. Wolfe, Legislative Director for Howard Jarvis. "I don't understand the ins and out of charter cities." Wolfe and the Jarvis' Executive Director were both under the very false impression that Oceanside required project labor agreements (PLAs) and this seemed to be their only motivation to get involved.)

Oceanside already has free and open competition and gets the lowest responsible bid on all projects. Further Oceanside never required Project Labor Agreements or PLAs. Those are false arguments designed to inflame and confuse the electorate.

VOTE “NO”-  Competitive Bidding is Not Required

California laws requiring cities to solicit bids for public projects ­do not apply to Charter Cities. Under this Charter, the City Council could establish a non-competitive, non-public method of awarding contracts.  Contracts could easily be awarded to friends, cronies or campaign donors with no checks and balances. You have to know the lobbyists who drafted the charter and are funding its passage are hoping for sweetheart deals!

Oceanside has always required competitive bidding on contracts over $5,000 and awards contracts to the lowest responsible bidder.  Oceanside gets the best workers for the best prices already!

VOTE “NO” - The City must pay prevailing wages whether they are a Charter City or not. The City will not save money!

Both Charter Cities and General Law cities like Oceanside must pay prevailing wage if any state or federal money is involved.  All large public projects built or to be built in Oceanside have state or federal money invested so prevailing wage applies. These are projects like City Hall, Fire Station # 7, the new Senior Center at El Corazon and the Mance Buchanon Park.  They all took state or federal funding.  A recent case from the Department of Industrial Wages says cities MUST pay prevailing wage when they take state grants like Oceanside did for Mance Buchanon.

The way to save money is for the City to institute the newly allowed Design/Build concept. General law cities like Oceanside can do this! The City hires a general contractor, just like you or I would,  and can save money without being a Charter. Vista successfully used this method for their City Hall and other projects. They still used skilled labor and paid skilled labor wages. However, their City Clerk cannot verify any savings.

VOTE “NO”-  New taxes or assessments could

be levied under this charter. This hurts all of us.

The League of California Cities states that “Charter Cities have the power to tax and have broader assessment powers than a General Law city, as well as taxation power as determined on a case by case basis.”  Charters make it easier for Councils to vote in new fees assessments. Remember many of us in Oceanside do not live in assessments districts like lighting or road improvement districts. That could all change with a charter! Also, business taxes can be raised, new fees could be added to your cable and utility bills, and you may be charged for pothole and water repairs. The Council could require property transfer taxes when you sell your home or business! This all takes money out of your wallets and is NOT taxpayer friendly!

VOTE “NO”-  This Charter could increase

 the cost of Oceanside government.

This Charter would encourage costly lawsuits. Charter law is not settled and each new issue is subject to a ‘first look by the courts’ leading to lawsuit unlike General Law Cities’ like Oceanside that have clear powers that are well defined by numerous laws, State Acts and the State Constitution.

• This Charter could cost $100-300,000 every time it is amended. Amendments must go to a vote of the citizens!

• The San Diego County Grand Jury says charters are usually amended "due to abuses". What will that end of costing the citizens out of the general fund? This charter will increase the cost of government.

• Every dime that is spent on this charter is money that could be spent on our parks, recreation areas, safety, libraries etc. It does not 'even' out with any speculative savings. Money spent is money taken away from vital services and from the general fund!

DON’T BE MISLED  ­­- - - - - - VOTE “NO” on PROP K