City of Livermore Council's Public Health Benefits, Measure X (November 2014)

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A City of Livermore Council's Public Health Benefits, Measure X ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the city of Livermore in Alameda County, California. It was approved.

Measure X prohibited the city from paying the required employee contributions of the public health benefits on behalf of the mayor and the city council members.

The city council supported this measure, as well as a measure - Measure W - that sought to limit possible salary increases for city council members. Both measures were approved.

Election results

Measure X
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		14,914	71.16%
No		6,043	28.84%

Election results via: Alameda County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot:

“

Measure to Prohibit the City of Livermore from Paying for Mayor and Council Members Health and Welfare Benefits Shall the ordinance that prohibits the City from paying for the mayor and council members to participate in the health benefits provided to City employees be adopted?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis of Measure W was provided by the office of the city attorney:

“	Measure to Prohibit the City of Livermore from Paying for the Mayor and Council Members to Participate in City Employee Health and Welfare Benefits EXISTING LAW The California Government Code allows the mayor and council members for the City of Livermore to participate in the health and welfare benefits that the City provides to its employees. The Code also allows the City of Livermore to pay for the mayor and council members to participate. Health and welfare benefits are defined by the Code to include medical, dental, and life insurance benefits that are provided to a large number of employees. The City of Livermore currently pays for the mayor and council members to participate in employee health and welfare benefits upon request. The current cumulative annual cost to provide those benefits to the mayor and council members can be from $0 up to approximately $150,000 depending upon the benefits actually used. Commencing with the new term of office that begins after the November 2014 election, the City will be prohibited from paying for the mayor and council members to participate in employee health and welfare benefits, but the mayor and council members will be allowed to participate on a self-paid basis. The California Government Code allows the city council and the voters to determine whether the City of Livermore pays for the mayor and council members to participate in the benefits. THIS MEASURE The measure is an ordinance that prohibits the City of Livermore from paying for the mayor and council members to participate in the health and welfare benefits that the City provides to its employees. If approved, the ordinance would only allow the mayor and council members to participate in the benefits on a self-paid basis. The ordinance would also prohibit the Livermore City Council from amending or repealing the ordinance without further voter approval. This measure is placed on the ballot by the City Council for the City of Livermore.	”
—Jason R. Alcala, Livermore City Attorney

Full text

The full text of the ordinance that was enacted by the approval of Measure W:

“

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LIVERMORE ADDING SECTION 2.04.030.5 No City Paid Health-and-Welfare Benefits for Mayor and Council Members TO THE LIVERMORE MUNICIPAL CODE The people of the City of Livermore, California do ordain as follows: Section 1. Ordinance. Section 2.04.030.5, No City Paid Health-and-Welfare Benefits for Mayor and Council Members, is hereby added to Chapter 2.04 City Council of the Livermore Municipal Code to read as follows: 2.04.030.5 No City Paid Health-and-Welfare benefits for Mayor and Council Members A. Pursuant to Government Code Sections 53200, 53201, 53202, 53208, and 53208.5, each member of the city council and the mayor may, but is not required to, participate in the health-and-welfare benefits offered by the city to its employees. B. The city is expressly prohibited from paying the cost for any mayor or council member to participate in the health-and-welfare benefits offered by the city to its employees. C. Any mayor or council member that elects to participate in the health-and-welfare benefits offered by the city to its employees must participate on a self-paid basis. D. This ordinance shall supersede the provision of any and all ordinances or resolutions heretofore adopted or in effect concerning the health-and-welfare benefits for Council Members and Mayor. E. No part of this ordinance shall be repealed or amended except by a vote of the people. Section 2. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be adopted if approved by the majority of qualified electors at the city’s general municipal election held on November 4, 2014; and shall be effective ten (10) days following the date upon which the Livermore City Council declares by resolution the results from that election. Section 3. Severability. If any part of this ordinance is declared invalid by a court, such invalidity shall not affect any of the remaining parts.

”

Support

Supporters

The official arguments in favor of Measure W were submitted on behalf of the Livermore city council:

• John Marchand, Mayor
• Bob Woerner, Vice Mayor
• Stewart Gary, Councilmember
• Doug Horner, Councilmember
• Laureen Turner, Councilmember

Arguments in favor

The following was submitted as the official arguments in favor of Measure W:

“	Ordinance that prohibits the City from paying for the mayor and council members to participate in the health benefits provided to City employees. Throughout the State, there have been examples of rich benefits packages which have been provided for members of elected boards and councils. During these recent difficult economic times, the City of Livermore asked for concessions from its bargaining units. These bargaining units, including police, fire and our rank and file workers, recognized the importance of ensuring the long-term fiscal health of the City, and agreed to accept many concessions. Believing the Council should lead by example, the City Council voted to reduce its own total compensation over 65% by eliminating medical and dental benefits which have been paid at the City's expense. Council members will be allowed to purchase benefits from the City pool at their own expense. The potential savings for the City will be over $125,000 per year. To prevent future Councils from reinstituting the benefits without voter approval, the Council has placed this initiative on the ballot. The Livermore Council is the only Council in the region to voluntarily reduce their benefits. We, the undersigned members of the City Council, seek your vote for fiscal health and financial responsibility and urge your support.	”
—Submitted on behalf of the Livermore City Council

Opposition

No official arguments were submitted in opposition to Measure X. If you have an argument you would like to see posted here, please email the Local Ballot Measures Project staff writer.

Related measures

a City of Livermore Limitations for the Salaries of Elected Officials, Measure W (November 2014)

Similar measures

a Orange County Board of Supervisors Pension Contributions, Measure A (June 2014)

See also

• Salaries of local officials on the ballot
• Alameda County, California ballot measures
• November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• Alameda County Elections Office website