Reprinted from the San Luis Obispo Tribune, January 24, 2006.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/13698446.htm

Los Osos CSD approves new voting method

The system, which allows voters to rank their choices, will be used in the vote to accept or decline a new sewer project as required by Measure B

By Abraham Hyatt

The Los Osos Community Services District has approved a voting method residents will use to accept or decline a new sewer project -- a vote required by Measure B.

The controversial measure, which was approved by voters last September in the same election that replaced the majority of the district board, does not address financing or project costs. However, it mandates that residents support the location of a sewer treatment facility before it is built.

It also prohibits sewer construction on the Tri-W site in the middle of town.

The newly approved method uses a ranked choice voting system, which mirrors the system used in San Francisco.

The system would allow voters to rank the choices according to their preference.

If no proposal receives a majority of the vote, then the option with the least amount of votes would be dropped and the votes from those voters' second choices would be distributed throughout the remaining choices.

The process continues until one choice receives a majority of the vote.

Chris Gunn contributed to this report.

To see the voting method report the Los Osos CSD approved for election on a new sewer project, go to http://www.sanluisobispo.com/multimedia/sanluisobispo/archive/CSDvote.pdf.