PB Cycle 8 Voter Guide - English

PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING VOTER GUIDE

CYCLE 8 2022 - 2023

WHAT IS PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING?

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members recommend to the City Council how to spend part of a public budget. It enables taxpayers to work with government to make the budget decisions that affect their lives.

In 2012, the Vallejo City Council established the first citywide PB process in the Unities States, where residents directly engaged with their local government to develop and recommend projects as part of the annual budget.

The goals of Participatory Budgeting are:

Improve our city

Engage our community

Open up government

The City and Vallejo residents’ involvement in Participatory Budgeting has made Vallejo a model for city and government institutions worldwide. Through new partnerships with universities and educational institutions, non-profit organizations, generated recognition from The White House, The Atlantic, Slate Magazine, Time and National Public Radio, Vallejo has become the gold standard for public participation and collaborative government.

WHO CAN VOTE?

Any resident of the City of Vallejo that is 14 years of age or older. Participants do not need to be registered voters or U.S. Citizens. We simply request a Vallejo physical address and a date of birth. Individuals residing in Vallejo, but without a home can provide the address to the closest location they reside by.

WHEN CAN I VOTE?

The Cycle 8 PB vote will run from May 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023.

HOW DO I VOTE?

The Participatory Budgeting process offers two forms to vote. Residents can vote online or with a traditional paper ballot.

VOTE BY ONLINE BALLOT

You will need a cellular phone with SMS messaging/texting capacity in order to receive a unique voting code. Standard message and data rates may apply.

If you do not have a cellular phone, and prefer to vote online contact PB Administrative Clerk II, Flor Magallanes via phone at (707) 648-4041 or via email at pbvallejo@cityofvallejo.net. A unique code will be generated and provided to you in order to bypass the texting system.

To visit the voting site click here, or scan the QR Code below.

You may preview the projects by clicking the blue “View Sample ballot” button.

When you are ready to vote click on the “Vote Now with SMS confirmation” button.

The online platform will require you to complete a registration form that requests the following information: first and last name, year of birth, street address, zip code, cell phone number (optional), and email address (optional)

This site will provide you with detailed information on each individual project.

You may vote for up to two projects.

After submitting your vote, you will have the opportunity to complete a survey. The survey is optional but incredibly helpful to our PB efforts.

VOTE BY PAPER BALLOT

Please complete the registration form attached to your paper ballot, but DO NOT TEAR IT OFF!

EXAMPLE:

Next, open your ballot to preview the eleven projects developed by Vallejo residents, and clearly mark up to two (2) boxes for your preferred projects.

Please mark boxes clearly with an “ X” “✓” or completely fill in the box “◼.”

Please note that you cannot vote for the same project more than once.

Ballots marked with more than two (2) votes are invalid and will not be counted.

Finally, to have your vote counted, submit your paper ballot (with Registration Form attached) to a poll worker. A poll worker will ensure you have completed your ballot correctly and tear off your Registration Form.

Ballots submitted without a Registration Form will not be counted.

Paper ballot may be submitted in-person to:

City Hall

555 Santa Clara Street Vallejo, CA 94590

Monday - Thursday | 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

SAMPLE BALLOT:

PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT

Cycle 8 of the Participatory Budgeting process began in August of 2022 with the Idea Collection phase. Over the summer, residents of Vallejo contributed almost 400 ideas that were categorized. In October of 2022, community volunteers titled Budget Delegates began the painstaking process of vetting ideas categorized into seven themes: City Infrastructure, Public Safety, Social Services, Parks & Recreations, Transportation, Education & Training, and Youth.

All submitted ideas can be viewed online on www.myvallejo.com Delegates worked diligently to bring forth a ten project ballot. The proposals were developed in close collaboration with City Staff liaisons, and Implementing Partners.

The Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee (PBSC) is comprised of community volunteers, and it facilitates the PB process, which includes recommending program rules, planning public meetings, and conducting outreach with diverse communities. Members work with City Staff to ensure that PB Vallejo is transparent, fair, and inclusive.

Many thanks to the current and former PBSC members for their dedication to the PB process and Vallejo. Current members include: Patricia Baisden, Lynda Daniels, Patricia Hunter, Dr. Annetta Ward, Jessica Lozano, TehraLeigh Martin, Ann Adams, Loretta Gaddies, Kimberly Franco, Jonathon Keith, and Andrea Germaine.

HSNB FACILITIES RETROFIT, REROOF & REPAVE CAPITAL PROJECT

3 Projects are needed. Retrofit an existing building to create a functioning spay/neuter clinic. Replace the leaking roofs on the 2 buildings that house our cats and small dogs. Repave and regrade the existing damaged, cracked and flooded parking lot.

IMPLEMENTER: Humane Society of the North Bay

COST: $300,000

LOCATION: Humane Society of the North Bay

WHO BENEFITS: All Vallejo citizens will benefit from HSNB opening up a low-cost spay/neuter and vaccination clinic onsite and by being able to continue to provide services in a functioning facility that is safe for all who use it. This project will retrofit an existing HSNB building to create a spay/ neuter, vaccination clinic for the cats and dogs of Vallejo citizens and for our feral cat rescue communities. The need for low-cost spay/neuter options in Vallejo is enormous, with a poverty rate of over 12%.

DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION: We intend to reroof the 2 buildings that house our small dog's adoption center and our cat adoption center, cat ICU and HSNB reception that are leaking in several areas from the roof area.

We would like to repave our paved areas that are severely cracked, full of potholes, with loose gravel everywhere. Currently, this creates walking hazards for humans and animals. Many areas flood when it rains and the water will not drain off properly creating more unsafe surfaces and further damages the already cracked pavement.

COMPLETE OUR STREETS!

SAFETY FIRST AT 5TH STREET

FULL

CIRCLE CYCLING PROGRAM - FREE CAMP FOR CHILDREN

ANIMALS MATTER SPAY/NEUTER, VACCINE AND MICROCHIP PROJECT

Vallejo citizens, feral cat rescue groups, and low-income and homeless pet owners will have access to no-to-low-cost spay/neuter and vaccination services, and to no-cost microchipping.

IMPLEMENTER: Humane Society of the North Bay

COST: $75,000

LOCATION: Humane Society of the North Bay

WHO BENEFITS: All Vallejo citizens, including verified low-income and homeless pet owners, and feral cat rescues will receive low-fee vouchers for spay/ neuter and vaccination services. Microchipping is offered at no-cost.

DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Our animals are part of our family; tending to their care is of the utmost importance for their longevity, health, and safety. This project is focused on ensuring they are vaccinated, spayed or neutered and microchipped at a low cost. HSNB will help to provide these services, giving your pet a safer and healthier life. Spaying and neutering helps fight over population and decreases the urge to wander. Microchipping your pet is one of the most effective means of reuniting lost animals with their owners. Vaccinating is effective in preventing future disease. The Humane Society of the North Bay will partner with local veterinarians for the procedures, and provide on-site microchip appointments.

GREATER EXTRAMOBILITY FOR EVERYBODY