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City of Modesto Sewer Service Extensions Advisory Vote, Measure H (November 2015)
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A sewer service extensions advisory vote was on the ballot for Modesto voters in Stanislaus County, California, on November 3, 2015. It was approved.
This advisory measure indicated that a majority of voters wanted the city to extend sewer service to various unincorporated residential areas adjacent to or wholly surrounded by the city's boundaries. The outcome of this advisory vote did not have a legally binding effect on the decisions of the city council as to whether or not to extend sewer service. Rather, Measure H fulfilled legal requirement that the city hold an advisory election before expanding its sewer service.[1]
Election results
| Modesto, Measure H | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 12,769 | 56.67% | ||
| No | 9,764 | 43.33% | ||
- Election results from Stanislaus County Elections Department
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Do you want the City Council of the City of Modesto to extend sewer improvements to ten (10) specified residentially developed unincorporated areas, which may include undeveloped parcels, to which Measure M applies and for which an advisory vote has not yet been conducted? The areas that are the subject of this advisory measure are described in and depicted on a map included in the sample ballot / voter information pamphlet. [2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of Measure H was prepared by the office of the Modesto city attorney:
| “ |
This is an advisory measure that asks voters of the City of Modesto whether the City Council should extend sewer service to specified areas that are in unincorporated Stanislaus County and currently developed with residential uses. The areas are adjacent to or wholly surrounded by the City's boundaries. The areas are generally depicted and described in the sample ballot/voter information guide. Measure H is an advisory measure only. The outcome of the vote will not have a legally binding effect on whether the City Council may or will extend sewer service to any or all of the areas that are the subject of the measure. The City Council placed Measure H on the ballot because it is legally required to do so, as described below. On March 6, 1979, voters enacted the Modesto Citizens' Advisory Growth Management Act (Measure A) which provided that prior to the City Council approving, authorizing, or appropriating funds for "the addition of sewer trunk capacity to permit expansion of urban development into the Urban Reserve area of the General Plan" the City must hold an advisory election on the question. On November 4, 1997, voters enacted the Modesto Citizens' Advisory Growth Management Act of 1995 (Measure M), which provided that prior to the City Council approving, authorizing, or appropriating funds for the "addition or installation of improvements to the City's sewer system, including but not limited to the addition or installation of a trunk sewer, subtrunk sewer, or sewer lateral, so as to allow the expansion of urban development" the City must hold an advisory election on the question. Measure M also applies to areas that were designated Urban Reserve in the City's General Plan in effect at the time. Since the voters approved Measure A and Measure M, the City has conducted multiple advisory elections for some of the properties affected by the measures. An advisory vote has not yet occurred for a number of other properties to which Measure A and Measure M apply. The remaining properties are dispersed and not all contiguous. Among the properties for which an advisory vote has not occurred are a number of residentially developed unincorporated areas within the jurisdiction of Stanislaus County. Some of those are "islands" surrounded by the City, others abut the City's jurisdictional boundaries, and all are within the City's sphere of influence. There may be vacant parcels within some of the residentially developed unincorporated areas. The areas are generally depicted and described in the sample ballot/voter information guide. A "Yes" vote would express the view that it is acceptable to extend sewer service to the unincorporated residentially developed areas that are the subject of the measure. A "No" vote would express the view that extending sewer service to those areas is not acceptable. [2] |
” |
| —Adam Lindgren, Modesto city attorney[1] | ||
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of Measure H:[1]
- Garrard W. Marsh, mayor of Modesto
- Jenny Kenoyer, Modesto city council member
- Bill Zoslocki, Modesto city council member
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of Measure H:
| “ |
Yes on H. Yes on Measure H will protect our groundwater. Measure H will improve the health of our area and residents. This will be at no cost to Modesto residents. This simply allows sewer service to be provided to the “county island” areas within the Modesto general plan area. Many years ago several areas of mostly residential uses were built on the edges of Modesto and then Modesto grew around these areas. They are on septic service. This is not healthy and could be detrimental to our groundwater. With this vote, the County and other agencies will be more able to supply safe sewer service to these homes. Grant applications and delivery of service will be enhanced. Again, no cost to you or your rates, does not encourage growth, improves health, and protects our groundwater. Protect our ground water, vote YES on H Improve health, vote YES on H [2] |
” |
| —Garrard W. Marsh, Jenny Kenoyer and Bill Zoslocki[1] | ||
Opposition
No official argument in opposition to Measure H was submitted by the deadline. If you know of endorsements or arguments that should be posted here, please email the Local Ballot Measures Project staff writer.
Path to the ballot
Measure H was put on the ballot by a vote of the Modesto City Council, as required by the Modesto Citizens' Advisory Growth Management Act (Measure A)—passed in 1976—and the Modesto Citizens' Advisory Growth Management Act of 1995 (Measure M)—passed in 1997.[1]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Modesto Sewer Services Extensions Measure H. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Local zoning, land use and development on the ballot
- Stanislaus County, California ballot measures
- November 3, 2015 ballot measures in California
External links
Footnotes
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