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8.A. - Page 3 that which would be obtained during the planning and environmental review process, depending upon the complexity and controversy of a revised new project submitted. A. Citywide Polling The City could retain a consultant to design and conduct a telephonic poll. Polling conducted by the City would be tailored to be objective and meet City needs, and thus would be more informative than the polls conducted to date by project proponents and opponents. In order for polling to be statistically significant, it is anticipated to involve at least 500 residents. The City's poll could ask a series of targeted questions, designed to inform the Council whether it should continue to process a particular application. It may also determine what elements of the project the respondents find positive or negative, and input on how the City should prioritize elements of the project, particularly in light of other goals and policies of the City. B. Informal Postcard /Website Vote The City could mail out cards or letters for citizens to fill in and send back, or set up a website poll (only if concerns about individuals responding multiple times can be addressed adequately). Like telephone polling, this process would allow for some flexibility in the type of question or questions posed, rather than the "single question" approach of an advisory measure. Costs for this option are not currently known but would likely involve largely in-house work plus hiring experts to help frame the questions so that the resulting information is useful to the City Council. C. Community Workshops Another means of gauging public opinion on a new application and project description, is to conduct workshops and gather the thoughts and opinions of the citizens who attend. This is similar to the workshops held during the initial scoping process and so this would occur in the routine process of the new application. Scoping workshops were held on the application submitted in 2009. D. Advisory Measure On Future Ballot An advisory measure provides an indication of general voter opinion regarding a ballot proposal. The results of an advisory vote are not binding. It can be held on any date on which the City is currently permitted to hold a regular or special election. A ballot measure presents a single question, and drafting the question in a manner that provides useful information can be a difficult task but may also be informative for measuring public opinion on a controversial issue. The concept could be to craft a single question that asks voters if the Council should continue to evaluate DMB's project when and if a new project application and description is submitted. If a new project description and any accompanying community benefits are well defined and explained, the community would have enough information to provide meaningful feedback to the City Council. This would not be to ask voters for project approval, but rather to provide guidance about the community's interest in having the City commit the labor and resources necessary to an environmental review process for a particular project. While recognizing that the applicant and opposing groups would campaign in the community, an advisory vote would allow the broader electorate to formally express its interest in analyzing a particular project. In recent years, Menlo Park held an advisory measure on whether the City should have the option of constructing a sports field on 17 acres at its Bayfront Park and Pacifica asked its voters whether to allow safe and sane fireworks. Although such advisory votes are uncommon, a development of this size and sensitivity is also uncommon and after three years of attempting to get started on a thorough environmental review process, the City Council may want to closely examine this option when and if a new