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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/30/2011OFFICE OF THE CITY IVrIANAGER September TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Alan Tandy, City Manager A�I'j�h SUBJECT: Generallnformation As a reminder, the City Council meeting scheduled for October 5, 20 been cancelled. The one meeting in October will take place on the Miscellaneous News • The National League of Cities' 26th an�nual City Fiscal Conditioi was released this week - and although the report does noi favorable economic conditions for the near future, it contradic trends we are experiencing locally. For examplle, the report i nationally, general city revenues are continuing to fall, with a� 2.3 percent decrease by the end of this calendar year. Th forecasts property tax declining by 3.7 percent and sales tax rE stagnant through the end of this year. Contrary to the report, we have seen sales tax trend positivE previous five quarters and expect property tax revenues to remc in the short term. Although local revenues remain below the leve `boom' years, we are not experiencing a pattern of continued decline as described in this report. Where Cities surveyed in the report ar�e responding to these ti cutting personnel, delaying infrastructur�e projects and increasinc fees, we were able to proactively address issues prior to the dowr thus have been able to sustain services and projects in general release is enclosed. Honorable Mayor and City Council General Information September 30, 201 1 Page 2 • As a reminder, all City spray parks will close for the season on � October 3rd. • A quick note to let you know a request by the Police Sergeants to their previous status (prior to 2005) as a non-represented granted this week. Effective immediately, the Sergeants returi Police Supervisory Unit. • The Recreation and Parks Department won the "Most Teams Re� Award for the 2010-11 year from the Central California Amateu Association (CCMASA). The Department had 243 new teams rE this past year and beat out nine other districts/counties in Californ honor. The award will be presented at the CCMASA Luncheon, C Fresno. • I will be out of the office October 3rd through the 14th. Rhonda S be in charge the week of the 3rd, Steven Teglia the week of thE usual the office staff will have my contact information. TRIP News ■ Motorists are advised that the outside northbound lane on AIIE between Stockdale Highway and Brimhall Road and in the v Westside Parkway construction, will be under a 24-hour closure b Tuesday, October 4, 2011 through Friday, October 7, 201 1. The closure is needed to ensure the safety of construction crews be working on a sewer line adjacent to roadway. The rE northbound lane and both southbound lanes are expected tc open while this work is completed. Event Schedule There is one event scheduled for the next week at City facilities: ✓ Lisa Haley and the Zydecats: 8 p.m. Bright House Networks Ampl 1 1200 Stockdale Hwy Honorable Mayor and City Council General Information September 30, 201 1 Page 3 Reports For your information, we enclose the following information: ➢ The Streets Division work schedule for the week beginning Octobe AT:rs:ch cc: Department Heads Roberta Gafford, City Clerk City Fiscal Conditions 2011 � nlc.org http://www. nlc. org/news-center/press-room/� Cities Cut Jobs and Infrastructure as Finances Co: to Weaken September 27, 2011 The nation's cities are cutting personnel and infrastructure projects as the economic downturn continues to finances according to the National League of Cities' (NLC) 26th annual City Fiscal Conditions report. The report reveals that general city revenues are continuing to fall, with a projected -2.3% decrease by the E is the fifth straight year of declines in revenue with probable further declines in 2012. The revenue decline is mainly due to the suppressed property market that is negatively impacting property 1 Property tax collections are expected to decline by -3.7% with further declines likely in 2012 and 2013. Income tax receipts are also experiencing a decrease of -1.6%. Sales tax receipts remained largely flat, but year's level which saw the worst decrease in sales tax revenue in 15 years. Cities are responding by cutting personnel (72%), delaying infrastructure projects (60%) and increasing sen One in three (36%) cities report modifications to employee health care benefits. "The cuts in personnel and the delaying of infrastructure projects are prudent and responsible actions by loc Donald J. Borut, Executive Director of NLC. He continued, "City officials are a making difficult decisions and to find innovative solutions to reenergize their communities. But without more resources and more cooperat will continue to be challenging." National indicators in the property markets and consumer spending point to continued economic struggles � Cities will have a difficult time in raising additional revenue for the immediate future. "The biggest question for cities lies in the uncertainty about the health of the national economy, which is dri� of city-regional economies," said Christopher Hoene, Director of the Center for Research and Innovation at continued, "If regional housing markets, unemployment, and consumer confidence struggle, city revenues v� city leaders will face more cuts, and those decisions will act as a drag on the national economy." Cities have also been forced to contend with significant decreases in state aid, adding to the pressures facii 2009, cities report cuts in general aid (50%), shared revenues (49%), and reductions in reimbursements arn (32%). As states make these cuts to balance their budgets, it puts greater budgetary pressure on local govE balance their budgets as well. Confronted with revenue shortfalls, budget cuts, and state aid cuts, 57% of city finance officers report that tr able to meet financial needs in 2011 than in 2010. "Cities are squarely in the center of the economic downturn. We anticipated that property tax receipts would declining property values. That they are now falling, while consumer confidence and employment falter, mal balancing decisions of cities more challenging than at any-time in decades," said Michael A. Pagano, Dean Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He continued, "What we may be sE is evidence of a new normal." Find out more about NLC's City Fiscal Conditions report. The National League of Cities is the nation's oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and p centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns representing more than 218 million Americans. Through its Center for Research and Innovation, NLC develops, conducts and reports research on issues towns. The Center assists cities and their leaders to implement innovative practices by providing qualified � ��1 l� lJ L �-- L7 i� �; f� I. i i� Ra'� � f� ��TI�S September 23, 2011 TO: FROM: Re: City Voting Delegates League Board of Directors 1400 K Street, Suite 400 • Sacramento, Californi Phone: 916.658.8200 Fax: 916.6 www.cac Resolution Calling for Improved Transparency and Public Access to Proceedings of the California Legislature The League board of directors is sponsoring a petitioned resolution for consideration at th year's Annual Business Meeting, beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, September 23. The re calls on the Legislature to propose a constitutional amendment to the voters that will give citizens much improved notice and an opportunity to communicate to their legislators bef legislation is enacted. The constitutional amendment would impose notice requirements n stringent than those imposed on state and local agencies by the Legislature. The resolutic calls on the Legislature to return $130 million in VLF funds that were taken from cities. Cities are all-too-familiar with the consequences of a Legislature that too often acts in sec passes last-minute "gut and amend" legislation without offering affected individuals and ; the time to review bill language or engage in a meaningful dialogue about the consequenc proposed legislation. Just this summer, at the last minute and with no committee or floor hearings or discussion, the Legislature passed a State Budget that raids $ 130 million in c funds that pay for critical police, fire and other city services. Within a period of just a few a bill was stripped of its original language and new language was inserted and brought th� both the Assembly and Senate where it passed without notice, hearings, or any opportunil the League or impacted stakeholders to testify in opposition. In response to this, the League Board of Directors instructed staff to look into options for requiring more openness, transparency and accountability in the legislative process. Amo other things, the Board authorized a statewide poll to gauge voter attitudes about such prc Not surprising, the voters overwhelmingly support various proposals to increase legislati� transparency and accountability. In fact, our pollsters and consultants tell us that this leve voter support is hardly ever achieved on policy matters. Below are brief findings of our survey of 800 California voters likely to vote in the Nove 2012 elections, conducted August 24-29 by our survey research firm Fairbank, Maslin, N Metz & Associates (FM3). Figure 1: Vote on Proposed Constitutional Amendment Strongly favor Somewhat favor Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Undecided o�r 2o�ro ao io so�ro so�io In generczl, would you favor or oppose amercding the California State Constitution to change the Culifornia l.egislative Open Mc Records Acts to require the State Legislature make more of their o�c.iul records publicly available, make more legislutive meeti public., and make all legislation public.ly available in print and online for 72 hours before uny vote c.an be taken in the Legislatu; • Voters also enthusiastically endorse the individual provisions of such a meast promote openness in the State Legislature. Figure 2e Vote on fndiv�dual Provisions % Tot� ■ Strng. Sup. � S.W Sup. � S.W./Strng. Opp. � UntlecitledSuppol Requiring State Legislators to publicly release their meeting calendars and budgets "'Requiring the State Legislature to comply with the same open meetings, open records, and public disclosure laws that cities, counties, and other state agencies are required to follow Requiring all legislation be publicly available in prinf and online for 72 hours before any vote can be taken *Expanding existing state law by applying the same open meetings, open records, and public disclosure laws to the State Legislature that cities, counties, and other state agencies are required to follow Prohibiting the State Legislature from acting on legislation for 30 days if the subject of the legislation has been amended or changed completely, allowing time for legislators and the public to thoroughly evaluate all changed legislation 93% 93% 90% 90% 83% Thomas Roads Improvement Program 900 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 200, Bakersfield, California 93301 Telephone: (661) 326-3700 • Fax: (661) 852-2195 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2011 Traffic Advisory ThnmB� Ca Contact: Janet Wheeler TRIP Public I (661) 326-3491 Allen Road Lane Closure Motorists are advised that the outside northbound lane on Allen Road, between Highway and Brimhall Road and in the vicinity of Westside Parkway construction, wil a 24-hour closure beginning Tuesday, October 4, 2011 through Friday, October 7, 201 The closure is needed to ensure the safety of construction crews who will be woi sewer line adjacent to roadway. The remaining northbound lane and both southbounc expected to remain open while this work is completed. Motorists are advised to stay alert while traveling through the area, and to watch for cc equipment and personnel that may be entering or leaving the job site. The Thorr Improvement Program apologizes for any inconvenience this work causes the travelin For additional information on the Westside Parkway project, please visit our www. Bakersfield Freewa,�. � Paqe 1 of 2 STREETS DIVISION — WORK SCHEDULE Week of Oct. 3, 2011 — Oct. 7, 2011 Resurfacinq/Reconstructinq streets in the followinq areas: Sealing streets in the area between Stine Rd & Wible Rd north of White Ln Resurfacing Streets in the area North of 21 St St between "B" St & Elm St (CDBG funded area) ResurFacing street in the area between Brundage Ln and 4t" St E Ave Blade Sealing in the area north of Brundage between Oak St and "A" St Miscellaneous Streets Division proiects: (CDBG funded area) Installing & Repairing curb, gutter & sidewalks in the area easl north of Niles St and preparing streets for resurFacing Video inspection of City owned Sewer & Storm lines to evaluate condition of pipes Repairing Curb & Gutters on Ming Ave in preparation for street repairs Grading at Sports Village for a temporary parking lot. THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Paqe 2 of 2 STREETS SWEEPING SCHEDULE Mondav, Oct. 3, 2011 Between Golden State & 16th St. -- "F" St. & Oak St. /kern River Boundary Between 34t" St. & 30th St. — Chester Ave. & San Dimas St. Between San Dimas St. & Beale Ave. — 34t"/Bernard St. & Niles St. Between Olive Dr. & Riverlakes Dr. (ext.) — Riverlakes Dr. & Coffee Rd. Tuesdav, Oct. 4, 2011 Between California Ave. & Brundage Ln. — Oak St. & Union Ave. Between Renfro Rd. & Jenkins Rd. — Stockdale Hwy. & Kern River Boundary. Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011 Between Panorama Dr. & Bernard St. -- Union Ave. & Loma Linda Dr. Between River Blvd. & E. Columbus St. — Panorama Dr. & Columbus St. Between College Ave. & Azalea Ave. — Mountain Dr. & Raval St. Between Ming Ave. & White Ln. — Allen Rd. & Buena Vista Rd. Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 City areas between Kentucky St. & Quincy St. — Owens St. & Virginia St. Between Union Ave. & Washington St. — E. Truxtun Ave. & Brundage Ln. Between Progress Rd. & Old River Rd. — Panama Ln. & Pacheco Rd. (alignment) City areas between Progress Rd. & Old River Rd. — Meadow Falls Dr. & Rose Creek I Friday, Oct. 7, 2011 Between Buena Vista Rd. & Allen Rd. — Harris Rd. & Panama Ln. Between Buena Vista Rd. & Mountain Vista Dr. — Panama Ln. & Birkshire Rd. Between 178 Hwy. & Paladino Dr. — W. Columbus St. & Morning Dr. City areas between Sterling Rd. & Morning Dr. — 178 Hwy. & College Ave.