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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/17/03 B A K E R S F I E L D CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM January 17, 2003 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Alan Tandy, City Manager SUBJECT: General Information 1. This week and next week, staff time is pretty well being dominated by the Governor's proposed budget - unfortunately. 2. There is some very positive news to report! Staff received notice from County counsel that the California Supreme Court denied review of the Appellate Court decision upholding the County's collection of property tax from Occidental Petroleum. This means the City will receive approximately $1.3 million back from the County, which we had earlier been required to reimburse, due to the original trial court decision that was overturned by the Appellate Court. This is a one-time source of revenue, as it comes from supplemental taxes from the sale of Elk Hills. Staff is currently determining the exact amount and timing of the return of this money. 3. With the State budget situation being at the forefront, we will start including a regular item to convey various news articles and correspondence on that subject: · Correspondence to our Legislative representatives; Poochigian, Ashburn, Florez, Parra, and McCarthy opposing the elimination of the backfill of VLF revenue. (The same letter was sent to all five legislators; only one copy is included here.) · A letter from the California Law Enforcement and Fire Coalition to the Legislature regarding the VLF issue and an e-mail urging police and fire officials to attend a news conference at the State Capital on Tuesday, January 21 st. · News articles from the Sacramento Bee and San Diego Tribune that are skeptical of the Governor's budget plan. · A Los Angeles Times article showing some are worse off than us - cities with up to 64% of their budget from vehicle in-lieu. Honorable Mayor and City Council January 17, 2003 Page 2 4. Centennial Garden and Fresno's Selland Arena are the two finalists being considered to host the California Interscholastic Federation high school wrestling tournament in 2004 through 2006. A site visit by CIF officials to the Garden is planned for January 25th, and the location will be announced on February 6th. Congratulations to Jim Foss for getting us this far in the process, and good luck for the finals. 5. Several weeks ago, we held the interviews regarding the ice rink operator and we have been externally silent since then. SMG brings to the table the ability to market and manage with the existing local staff, ability to share equipment between facilities without buying new (such as a Zamboni, ability to jointly book both buildings, and other attributes). A firm called Ice Specialty (most of their rinks are known as Icoplex) has the best in-depth knowledge of building a market in California under our circumstances, a great in-road into forming hockey leagues, and building a market for skating and operating California rinks day-to-day on a minimal budget. We are, at staff level, exploring the potential for a partnership of the two, in the hopes of bringing the best of each into the deal. A preliminary meeting has taken place and talks are continuing, so it will be awhile before it is ready for Council action, but we are cautiously optimistic about getting the best of both worlds! We will keep you advised. 6. A letter is enclosed from Ron Rhinehart, Vice President of Jeff Ellis and Associates, Inc., an international aquatics risk management firm. His correspondence addresses a safety issue associated with a "deep" gutter on swimming pools. The flat versus "deep" gutter issue is an open question for which we are still seeking some final input. 7. The annual department head retreat will be held in town this year. We will meet at the Convention Center on Thursday and Friday, January 23rd and 24th. As I mentioned during my presentation to you at the Council meeting, the main focus will be the budget situation. The office staff can get in touch with us in the event of emergencies. 8. Responses to Council requests are enclosed, as follows: Councilmember Benham · Code enforcement actions addressing the poor fencing bordering railroad tracks north of Campus Way and along California Avenue; Councilmember Salvaggio · Status report on feasibility of three-way stop at Faith and Dolfield; · Information regarding noise nuisance concern on Grinder Way. AT:rs cc: Department Heads Pam McCarthy, City Clerk Trudy Slater, Administrative Analyst January 17, 2003 VIA FAX (916) 327-3523 The Honorable Charles Poochigian 14th Senatorial District California State Senate State Capitol Building, Room 5087 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Senator Poochigian: The Governor's proposal of January 10, 2003, to eliminate-the backfill of Vehicle License Fee (VLF) revenue will have immediate dramatic and severe negative effects upon the City of Bakersfield's ability to provide services to its citizens. His proposal would result in a reduction of $4.7 million in the City of Bakersfield's current fiscal year and an additional $10 million for FY 2003-04 and annually thereafter. These reductions would occur in the City's General Fund, of which approximately 64% goes toward public safety. The VLF is a critical component of funding vital City services. I am writing to urge you to keep the promise the State Legislature made to the people of California and its cities and counties five years ago to restore the VLF if the state could no longer afford to fund (backfill) the VLF reductions, This promise was made so vital city and county public health and safety services would not be threatened. In 1986, California voters passed Proposition 47 by an almost 82% margin. Proposition 47 pledged the proceeds of the VLF to fund local government services. The 1998 law that created the VLF "tax holiday" did not change this public policy. It committed the State General Fund to financing an offset against the VLF payment obligation of a vehicle owner. The same law provides for the restoration of the VLF if insufficient funds are available in the State General Fund to afford the VLF "offset." That time has clearly come. The State can no longer afford the "tax holiday" it had during the budget surplus years. Please reject the Governor's proposal to raid more than $4 billion in Vehicle License Fee backfill payments to cities and counties--which asks cities and counties to shoulder a disproportionate share of the budget pain in neither a fair nor equitable manner--and support legislation to restore the Vehicle License Fee. In light of the state's current economic climate, I urge you to support legislation to restore the VLF. This is a critical issue for the City of Bakersfield. A resolution urging your support of legislation to restore the VLF is being placed upon the Bakersfield City Council's agenda for its next meeting of January 29. You will be forwarded a copy of .the resolution upon its passage by the City Council. Please don't abandon Bakersfield and the more than nearly 250,000 California residents which call it home and to which it provides much needed safety and other critical municipal services. Sin ly, Harv,'ei,-~[-~a;'l-#' ' -. ....... Cz/ Mayor L/' (L0301175-VLF) cc: City Council; Department Heads; Administrative Analyst Governor Gray Davis; Speaker Herb Wesson League of California Cities (J. Korinke) 1501 Truxtun Avenue · Bakersfield, California 93301 · (661) 326-3770 · Fax (661) 326-3779 E-mail address: mayor@ci.bakersfield.ca.us January 17, 2003. VIA FAX (916) 322-3304 The Honorable Roy Ashburn 18th Senatorial District California State Senate State Capitol Building, Rm. 2068 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Senator Ashburn: The Governor's proposal of January 10, 2003, to eliminate the backfill of Vehicle License Fee (VLF) revenue will have immediate dramatic and severe negative effects upon the City of Bakersfield's ability to provide services to its citizens. His proposal would result in a reduction of $4.7 million in the City of Bakersfield's current fiscal year and an additional $10 million for FY 2003-04 and annually thereafter. These reductions would occur in the City's General Fund, of which approximately 64% goes toward public safety. The VLF is a critical component of funding vital City services. I am writing to urge you to keep the promise the State Legislature made to the people of California and its cities and counties five years ago to restore the VLF if the state could no longer afford to fund (backfill) the VLF reductions, This promise was made so vital city and county public health and safety services would not be threatened. In 1986, California voters passed Proposition 47 by an almost 82% margin. Proposition 47 pledged the proceeds of the VLF to fund local government services. The 1998 law that created the VLF "tax holiday" did not change this public policy. It committed the State General Fund to financing an offset against the VLF payment obligation of a vehicle owner. The same law provides for the restoration of the VLF if insufficient funds are available in the State General 'Fund to afford the VLF "offset." That time has cleady come. The State can no longer afford the "tax holiday" it had dudng the budget surplus years. Please reject the Governor's proposal to raid more than $4 billion in Vehicle License Fee backfill payments to cities and counties--which asks cities and counties to shoulder a disproportionate share of the budget pain in neither a fair nor equitable manner--and support legislation to restore the Vehicle License Fee. In light of the state's current economic climate, I urge you to support legislation to restore the VLF. This is a critical issue for the City of Bakersfield, A resolution urging your support of legislation to restore the VLF is being placed upon the Bakersfield City Council's agenda for its next meeting of January 29. You will be forwarded a copy of the-resolution upon its passage by the City Council. Please don't abandon Bakersfield and the more than nearly 250,000 California residents which call it home and to which it provides much needed s,a~ty a~d other critical municipal services. Han/ey L. Hall Mayor (L0301171-VLF) cc.' City Council; Department Heads; Administrative Analyst Governor Gray Davis; Speaker Herb Wesson League of California Cities (J. Korinke) 1501 Truxtun Avenue · Bakersfield, California 93301 ° (661) 326-3770 · Fax (661) 326-3779 E-mail address: mayor@ci.bakersfield.ca.us January 17, 2003 VIA FAX (916) 327-5989 The Honorable Dean Florez 16th Senatorial District California State Senate State Capitol Building, Room 4090 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Senator Florez: The Governor's proposal of January 10, 2003, to eliminate the backfill of Vehicle License Fee (VLF) revenue will have immediate dramatic and severe negative effects upon the City of Bakersfield's ability to provide services to its citizens. His proposal would result in a reduction of. $4.7 million in the City of Bakersfield's current fiscal year and an additional $10 million for FY 2003-04 and annually thereafter. These reductions would occur in the City's General Fund, of which approximately 64% goes toward public safety. The VLF is a critical component of funding vital City services. I am writing to urge you to keep the promise the State Legislature made to the people of California and its cities and counties five years ago to restore the VLF if the state could no longer afford to fund (backfill) the VLF reductions, This promise was made so vital city and county public health and safety "services would not be threatened. In 1986, California voters passed Proposition 47 by an almost 82% margin. Proposition 47 pledged the proceeds of-the VLF to fund local government services. The 1998 law that created the VLF "tax holiday" did not change this public policy. It committed the State General Fund to financing an offset against the VLF payment obligation of a vehicle owner. The same law provides for the restoration of the VLF if insufficient funds are available in the State General Fund to afford the VLF "offset." That time has cleady come. The State can no longer afford the "tax holiday" it had dudng the budget surplus years. Please reject the Governor's proposal to raid more than $4 billion in Vehicle License Fee backfill payments to cities and counties--which asks cities and counties to shoulder a disproportionate share of the budget pain in neither a fair nor equitable manner--and support legislation to restore the Vehicle License Fee. In light of the state's current economic climate, I urge you to support legislation to restore the VLF. This is a critical issue for the City of Bakersfield. A resolution urging your support of legislation to restore the VLF is being placed upon the Bakersfield City Council's agenda for its next meeting of January 29. You will be forwarded a copy of the resolution upon its passage by the City Council. Please don't abandon Bakersfield and the more than nearly 250,000 California residents which call it home and to which it provides much needed safety and other critical municipal services. (L0301172-VLF) cc: City Council; Department Heads; Administrative Analyst Governor Gray Davis; Speaker Herb Wesson League of California Cities (J. Korinke) 1501 Truxtun Avenue · Bakersfield, California 93301 · (661) 326-3770 ° Fax (661) 326-3779 E-mail address: mayor@ci.bakersfield.ca.us January 17, 2003 VIA FAX (916) 319-2130 The Honorable Nicole Parra 30th Assembly District California State Assembly State Capitol Building, Room 2160 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Assembly Member Parra: The Governor's proposal of January 10, 2003, to .eliminate the backfill of Vehicle License Fee (VLF) revenue will have immediate dramatic and severe negative effects upon the City of Bakersfield's ability to provide services to its citizens. His proposal would result in a reduction of $4.7 million in the City of Bakersfield's current fiscal year and an additional $10 million for FY 2003-04 and annually thereafter. These reductions would occur in the City's General Fund, of which approximately 64% goes toward public safety. The VLF is a critical component of funding vital City services. I am writing to urge you to keep the promise the State Legislature made to the people of California and its cities and counties five years ago to restore the VLF if the state could no longer afford to fund (backfill).the VLF reductions. This promise was made so vital city and county public health and safety services would not be threatened. In 1986, California voters passed Proposition 47 by an almost 82% margin. Proposition 47 pledged the proceeds of the VLF to fund local government services. The 1998 law that created the VLF "tax holiday" did not change this public policy. It committed the State General Fund to financing an offset against the VLF payment obligation of a vehicle owner. The same law provides for the restoration of the VLF if insufficient funds are available in the State General Fund to afford the VLF "offset." That time has clearly come. The State can no longer afford the "tax holiday" it had during the budget surplus years. Please reject the Governor's proposal to raid more than $4 billion in Vehicle License Fee backfill payments to cities and counties--which asks cities and counties to shoulder a disproportionate share of the budget pain in neither a fair nor equitable manner--and support legislation to restore the Vehicle License Fee. In light of the state's current economic climate, I urge you to support legislation to restore the VLF. This is a critical issue for the City of Bakersfield. A resolution urging your support of legislation to restore the VLF is being placed upon the Bakersfield City Council's agenda for its next meeting of January 29. You will be forwarded a copy of the resolution upon its passage by the City Council. Please don't · abandon Bakersfield and the more than nearly 250,000 California residents which call it home and to which it provides much needed safety and other critical municipal services. Sinc r , Har~ey L. Hall 7 Mayor ~ (L0301173-VLF) ~ cc: City Council; Department Heads; Administrative Analyst Governor Gray Davis; Speaker Herb Wesson League of California Cities (J. Korinke) 1501 Truxtun Avenue · Bakersfield, California 93301 · (661) 326-3770 · Fax (661) 326-3779 E-mail address: mayor@ci.bakersfield.ca.us Janua~ 17, 2003 VIA F~ (916) 319-2132 The Honorable Kevin McCa~hy 32nd Assembly District California State Assembly State Capitol Building, Room 4t 16 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Assembly Member McCa~hy: The Governors proposal of Janua~ 10, 2003, to eliminate the bacilli of Vehicle License Fee (VLF) revenue will have immediate dramatic and severe negative effects upon the Ci~ of Bakersfield's abili~ to provide se~ices to its citizens. His proposal would result in a reduction of $4.7 million in the Ci~ of Bakersfield's current fiscal year and an additional $10 million for ~ 2003-04 and annually thereafter. These reductions would occur in the Ci~'s General Fund, of which approximately 64% goes toward public safe~. The VLF is a critical component of funding vital Ci~ sewiCes. I am writing to urge you to keep the promise the State Legislature made to the people of California and its cities and counties five years ago to restore the VLF if the state could no longer afford to fund (bacilli) the VLF reductions. This promise was made so vi~l ci~ and coun~ public health and safe~ se~ices would not be threatened. In 1986, California votem passed Proposition 47 by an almost 82% margin. Proposition 47 pledged the proceeds of the VLF to fund Io~1 government se~ices. The 1998 law that created the VLF "tax holiday" did not change this public policy. It commiffed the State General Fund to financing an offset against the VLF payment obligation of a vehicle owner. The same law provides for the restoration of the VLF if insufficient funds are available in the State General Fund to afford the VLF "offset." That time has clearly come. The State can no longer afford the "tax holiday" it had during the budget su~lus years. Please reject the Governor's proposal to raid more than $4 billion in Vehicle License Fee bacilli payments to cities and counties--which asks cities and counties to shoulder a dispropo~ionate share of the budget pain in neither a fair nor equitable manner--and suppoC legislation to restore the Vehicle License Fee. In light of the state's current economic climate, I urge you to suppo~ legislation to restore the VLF. This is a critical issue for the Ci~ of Bakersfield. A resolution urging your suppo~ of legislation to restore the VLF is being placed upon the Bakersfield Ci~ Council's agenda for its next meeting of Janua~ 29. You will be fo~arded a copy of the resolution upon its passage by the Ci~ Council. Please don't abandon Bakersfield and the more than neady 250,000 California residents which carl it home and to which it provides much needed safe~ a~d other cdtical municipal se~ices. rH~ey ~H~I Mayor (L0301174-VLF) cc: Ci~ Council; Depa~ment Heads; Administrative Analyst Governor Gray Davis; Speaker He~ Wesson League of California Cities (J. Korinke) 1501 Tru~un Avenue · Bakersfield, California 93301 · (661) 326-3770 · F~ (661) 326-3779 E-mail address: mayor~ci.bakersfield.ca.us From: "Chief Rick TerBorch" <chief@thegrid.net> To: "Sam Spiegel" <sspiegel@folsom.ca.us>, "Susan Manheimer" <smanheimer@ci.sanmateo.ca.us>, "Sal Rosano" <salrosano@aol.com>, "Ron Ingels" <ingels@aol.com>, "Richard Word" <rword@oaklandnet.com>, "Richard Emerson" <remerson@ci.chula-vista.ca.us>, "Pat Medina" <chiefpat@humboldtl.com>, "Mike Efford" <mefford@ci.chico.ca.us>, "Lonald Lott" <llott@turlock.ca. us>, "Lloyd Scharf" <lscharf@ontariopolice.org>, "Eric Matlock" <ematlock@ci.bakersfield.ca. us>, "Dennis Cassidy" <cassidy@prcity. com>, "David Bejarano" <dbejarano@sandiego.gov>, "Craig Calhoun" <ccalhounl @compuserve.com>, "Dan Ortega" <danielo@ci.salinas.ca. us>, "Steve Krull" <skrull@livermorepolice.org>, "Cam Sanchez" <CSanchez@sbpd.com>, "Bob McDonel!" <bmcdonell@nbpd.org>, "Bob Blankenship" <chiefb@ci.redding.ca.us>, "Bill Brown" <wbrown @ impulse.net>, "Craig Steckler" <CSteckler@ci.fremont.ca.us>, "Richard Tefank" <rtefank @ aol.com > Date: 1/16/03 9:46AM Subject: Fw: VLF resoration The attached document is from the Law Enforcement Coalition in Sacramento was delivered to the Legislature and the Governor's Office this morning. It will also be released to the media shortly. This collective document reinforces the disastrous impact that removal of the VLF backfill from local government without its restoration to pre 1998 levels will have on local public safety. Feel free to use it in your communities. Craig - please put out to our membership Rick ..... Original Message ..... From: john Iovell To: 'Chief Rick TerBorch' Cc: 'Sam Spiegel'; 'Leslie McGill (E-mail)' Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2003 7:21 AM Rick, The attached document went out this morning. CC: "Leslie McGill" <l.mcgill@attbi.com>, "John Lovell" <jlovell@johnlovell.com>, "Marty Mayer" <MJM @jones-mayer.corn> January 16, 2003 To: All Members of the Califomia Legislature From: California law enforcement and fire coalition Subject: 2003-'04 Budget - KEEPING THE VLF COMMITMENT As you know, The Governor's proposed FY 2003-04 State Budget proposal eliminates the Vehicle License Fee (VLF) backfill promised by the State to local government and transfers those funds the General Fund. These backfill funds provided to local government were the result of a commitment made by the Legislature and then Governor Wilson in 1998 to local government in return for lowering the VLF fees to vehicle owners. California law enforcement and fire organizations call on the Legislature to .restore the vehicle license fee to its pre 1998 level thus ensuring that the commitment to local governments remains intact. A failure to restore vehicle license fee backfill to cities and counties would absolutely devastate public safety and fire services in California. We estimate up to 12,000 police and sheriffs deputies and up to 15,000 firefighters would be laid off if this revenue were taken from cities and counties. The VLF is constitutionally guaranteed local government revenue that funds essential local services such as police, sheriffs' deputies and firefighters. The above named organizations recognize that there are cycles in the economy, which is why we supported efforts to have provisions included in legislation to restore the VLF to pre-1998 levels if the economy evolved to prevent the State from meeting its commitment to provide the backfill funds to local government. Both parties in both houses of the Legislature agreed to the inclusion of this provision (commonly called the "trigger") into the VLF reduction legislation that was ultimately signed by the former Governor. We are calling on both houses and both parties of the Legislature to keep the commitment to local government, local law enforcement and fire services by' "pulling the trigger", by whatever means necessary to reinstate the VLF to its pre- 1998 level. We do not view this as a partisan issue but rather an ethical and legal commitment made to local public safety. We urge you to vote to return to the original VLF levels and to ensure that local government remains whole in that process by forwarding that clear message in your vote to restore the VLF. The VLF funds are essential for local public safety and fire services in the communities you serve! California law enforcement and fire coalition urges Restore our Vehicle License Fee Backfill California State Sheriffs' Association CA Probation, Parole and Correctional Association California Peace Officers' Association California Police Chiefs' Association California Narcotic Officers' Association California District Attorneys Association Chief Probation Officers of California Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs Riverside Sheriffs' Association Sacramento Count Sheriff Lou Blanas Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association City of Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton From: "Craig Steckler" <CSteckler@ci.fremont.ca. us> To: <ematlock @ ci.bakersfield.ca.us> Date: 1/16/03 10:33AM Subject: VLF PRESS CONFERENCE IN SACRAMENTO, UPDATE! TO ALL CHIEFS The following is more information on the VLF press conference in Sacramento next Tuesday. Please don't sit around and figure that someone else will do this for you. We are all in this together. Craig Steckler Communications Committee Chair Craig: FYI - Chris McKenzie, the Executive Director of the League, sent this out to all City Managers last night. Games are starting to be played with the VLF restoration proposal by some other groups who want to divert the VLF backfill to their own special interests. Law enforcement support, especially Police Chiefs, will be a deciding factor in approving the VLF restoration for the cities. We need plenty Chiefs from across the spectrum present at the 11:30 am press conference in the State Capitol next Tuesday (Large cities, medium sized cities, and small cities - north, central and south~ urban and rural). Craig, please send this out to all Chief. Rick TerBorch CPCA 1st V.P. ..... Original Message ..... From: "Chris McKenzie" <mckenzie@cacities.org> To: <city_managers @ lists.cacities.org> Cc: "Frances Medema" <medemaf@cacities.org> Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2003 5:47 PM Subject: Police and Fire Chief Participation in Uniforms at January 21 News Conference in Sacramento Dear Colleagues, In addition to responding to the action request we just sent you on the proposed legislation to restore the VLF, I am asking you to encourage your police chiefs and fire chiefs to respond to an invitation from Speaker Herb Wesson to participate in a news conference on next Tuesday, January 21 at 10:00 AM, in Room 1190 of the State Capitol, Speaker Wesson will be calling the news conference along with the entire public safety community. The message at the news conference from the leaders of the law enforcement organizations is that pulling the VLF trigger is the most fundamental public safety legislation in this year's budget battle. If the trigger is not pulled, over 12,000 law enforcement officers would be laid off throughout the state. Similar messages are expected from fire organizations. Please encourage your chiefs to attend. This is of vital importance. The key messages we provided in our blast fax today (which was also emailed to you) will be helpful in their conversations with legislators next week. Thanks. Please call or email me if your have questions. Chris McKenzie Executive Director (916)658-8275 Craig T. Steckler Chief of Police Fremont PD "A Tradition of Excellence" 2000 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont, California 94537-5007 510-790-6810 csteckler@ ci.fremont.ca.us The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com -- Daniel Weintraub: Davis is plaing games with the b~... Page 1 of 3 This story is taken from ~.e_[ntra_u__.b_ at sacbee.com. Daniel Weintraub: Davis is plaing games with the budget numbers By Daniel Weintraub -- Bee Columnist- (Published January 16, 2003) If the first step toward solving any problem is agreeing on its dimensions, then the Legislature and Gov. Gray Davis are still light years from tackling the state's massive budget shortfall. But help is on the way. Davis, after refusing for months'to even acknowledge that the state was facing a fiscal crisis, declared in December that California was looking at a $34.6 billion gap between revenues and expenses in the coming year. That number, which amounts to almost half of the state's annual general fund spending, was immediately suspect, because it was far higher than anyone imagined it would be and because it was arrived at with accounting techniques that would make Arthur Andersen blush. Now the state's most respected budget expert, Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill, has weighed in with her own updated and independent assessment of the problem. And while the debate will surely continue, the report Hill issued Wednesday should go a long way toward clearing up the confusion. Hill's best estimate of the gap over the next 18 months: $26.1 billion. That's a number that anticipates a deficit in the current fiscal year of about $8 billion and projects a shortfall next year of roughly $18 billion -- if the Legislature and the governor do nothing to avert the crisis. The difference between the Hill and Davis projections can be traced to two things. First, Hill estimates that the state will truly be about $3 billion better off in the coming year, because revenues will be higher and expenses lower than Davis is projecting, given the policies he is proposing. This is a real difference, and if the Legislature chooses to rely on Hill's analysis, it means that lawmakers will need to raise taxes or cut programs by a little bit less than Davis has recommended. Second, Hill said Wednesday that Davis had puffed up his projections of future spending and then taken credit for cutting that spending, to the tune of about $5.5 billion, apparently to increase pressure on the Legislature to accept his proposals. It's as if the governor went on a diet and lost l0 pounds, but told his friends he was really 15 pounds lighter, because all that ice cream he would like to have eaten surely would have added another 5 pounds to his weight. Consider the way Davis has treated the budget for higher education. In his documents, the governor says he is cutting about $510 million from the University of California. But $235 million http://www~sacbee~c~m/c~ntentjp~~itics/c~~umns/weintraub/v-prin~st~ry/59~ ~ 46 ~ p~686439... 1/16/2003 The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com Daniel Weintraub: Davis is plaing games with the bi... Page 2 of 3 of that amount is money the governor wishes he could spend on UC above and beyond what it would take to maintain current levels of service. :in the governor's dreams, apparently, he would give the university an 11 percent increase next year. He. then says, sorry, we can't afford that, takes the phantom $235 million off the table and scores it as a budget cut. :in another case, Davis presumes that it would be nice if the state could rebuild a $1 billion budget reserve. But since his projected reserve is only $531 million, he counts the other half- billion as a budget cut. :If only life were so simple. What Davis is doing is taking a time-honored and credible practice -- projecting the amount of money it would take to keep programs going at their current levels, given inflation and population growth -- and pushing it to the extreme, or really beyond it. :It would make sense, for instance, to look at the welfare budget and report that with, say, 10,000 more people seeking aid, the state would need to spend $50 million more to satisfy that need, or else deny benefits to the new applicants or cut services to everyone in the program. Or, to go back to the higher education example, it's true that to accommodate 7,000 more students, which UC is projecting, the system would need to spend more money or cut services somewhere in its program. Unfortunately for the Legislature, while exposing the governor's numbers game might affect the terms and tone of the debate, it doesn't change the reality. No matter what Davis says he would have liked to have spent next year, the Legislature at some point is going to have to decide how much it will spend, and then be sure that it has tax revenues to match that amount. Using Hill's numbers, it turns out that the budget cuts Davis is proposing amount to about 40 percent of his overall solution, rather than the 60 percent he is claiming. But removing his phantom $5.5 billion from the discussion doesn't make the problem any easier to solve, because that spending never existed in the first place. Davis has done a disservice to the state and to the Legislature by cooking the books in pursuit of political advantage. :It's difficult enough for the public to understand state finances without the chief executive playing these kinds of games. But even if the governor refuses to acknowledge his errors and correct them, the Legislature's difficult chore remains the same as it always was: Pay off this year's deficit, and bring taxes and spending back into balance. About the Writer The Bee's Daniel Weintraub can.be reached at (916) 321-1914 or at dweintraub@sacbee.com. Go to: Sacbee / Contact Us/Feedback I Privacy Policy I Terms of Use News I Sports I Business I Politics I Opinion I Entertainment I Lifestyle I Travel I Women _C.a_r_s I _C:_la_..s_s_i~i_e._d_s_ I _H.o...m__eS_ I 3__obi I Virtual Mall http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/columns/weintraub/v-print/story/5901461 p-686439... 1/16/2003 Plan insulates governor and lawmakers from cuts Page 1 of 3 Sign O.n. o .corn PRINTTHI$ BUDGET DEFICIT Plan insulates governor and lawmakers from cuts By Michael Gardner COPLEY NEWS SERVICE January 16, 2003 SACRAMENTO - The poor and taxpayers may be under siege in the Capitol, but Gov. Gray Davis and state lawmakers are insulated from spending cuts for now. Under Davis' proposed 9oo3-o4 spending plan, the Legislature is in line for a nearly $8 million increase in its annual'operating budget, up from $198.9 million in the current fiscal year. Legislative leaders also have changed their schedules so lawmakers can take in an additional combined $45,000 in tax-free expense money over this holiday weekend. Davis, who is asking all Californians to sacrifice because of the budget crisis, did not immediately impose cuts on his inner circle. Davis' austerity plan would cut $49 out of monthly aid checks for the blind and the poor elderly, and force schools and local governments to make huge reductions. He also wants to charge smokers an additional $~.~o for a pack of cigarettes, increase car-registration fees by $3, increase the sales tax by a penny and raise personal income taxes for people in the top brackets. Despite the projected budget shortfall, the governor-proposes to keep all 86 of his immediate staff on the payroll, although Davis said some ~,5oo state workers will lose their jobs under his budget. "It's an outrage," said Lewis Uhler, a taxpayer advocate who was co-author of Proposition ~4o in ~99o. The landmark term-limits initiative also restricted growth in the Legislature's budget. In these stark days, Davis and lawmakers "should lead by example," Uhler said. Legislative leaders described Davis' proposal for ~heir budget as a "place holder" while committees work to pare their own spending. Patricia Soto, a spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, D-Los Angeles, said that "like any organization we have increasing costs... In difficult times we have to look at all areas in order to make budget adjustments." However, Wesson could save $30,000 immediately. http://sign~nsandieg~.printthis.c~ickabi~ity.c~m/pt/cpt?acti~n=cpt&expire=&ur~D=510955~... 1/16/2003 Plan insulates governor and lawmakers from cuts Page 2 of 3 Lawmakers, most of whom receive an annual salary of $99,000, do not qualify for daily expense money if they are out of session for more than three straight days. But Wesson ordered a special "check-in" session for tomorrow to make sure the expense money continues to flow. As long as 41 Assembly members check in, all 80 will collect their $125 per diem for the three-day weekend, which adds up to $30,000. Monday is Martin Luther King 3r. Day, an official state holiday. Typically, the Legislature does not meet on Fridays. Senators will convene tomorrow, at least for a while. Senators met for about x5 minutes Monday, their last floor session. Because they will meet tomorrow, the 40 senators are guaranteed a total of $x5,ooo in expense money for the three days. Daily expense checks, expected to total $3.8 million in fiscal year 2003-04, are to help cover the cost of maintaining two households. Davis' budget would set aside $~4.5 million for legislative salaries, a $600,000 increase over the current fiscal year. Legislative employee payroll is budgeted at $153 million, a $7 million increase over 2ooe-o3. Also in the budget proposed for the Legislature is $252 million for car repairs, although most vehicles are leased. La~xaakers would be able to spend $~.2 million on postage, $78 million on ceremonies and events, and $800,000 on publications. Taxpayers would provide $e25,ooo for catered buffets, which are provided to lawmakers and staff when they work late or are locked on the floor during long budget battles. Davis cut his pay by 5 percent when he assumed office in ~999 and declines raises, said spokeswoman Hilary McLean. Davis, who receives an annual salary of $x65,ooo, does not plan to take another cut in his pay as he starts his second term. "He's been going the extra mile to give back to the state," McLean said. Davis offered to operate his office on $5.9 million in 2003-04, a $16,ooo increase over this fiscal year. McLean said she expects pay cuts for administration staff after the governor negotiates salaries and layoffs with the state's employee unions. "We're reviewing ways we can be more efficient and save money," she said. Copyright 2003 Union-Tribune Publishing Co. Find this article at: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/thu/news/news_l n16spend.html Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. http://sign~nsandieg~printthis~c~ickabi~ity~c~m/pt/cpt?acti~n=cpt&expire=&ur~ID=510955~... 1/16/2003 Plan insulates governor and lawmakers from cuts Page I of 3 $1gn O n .com PRINTTHIS BUDGET DEFICIT Plan' insulates governor and lawmakers from cuts By Michael Gardner COPLEY NEWS SERVICE January t6, 2003 SACRAMENTO - The poor and taxpayers may be under siege in the Capitol, but Gov. Gray Davis and state lawmakers are insulated from spending cuts for now. Under Davis' proposed 2oo3-o4 spending plan, the Legislature is in line for a nearly $8 million increase in its annual Operating budget, up from $198.2 million in the current fiscal year. Legislative leaders also have changed their schedules so lawmakers can take in an additional combined $45,0oo in tax-free expense money over this holiday weekend. Davis, who is asking all Californians to sacrifice because of the budget crisis, did not immediately impose cuts on his inner circle. Davis' austerity plan would cut $49 out of monthly aid cheeks for the blind and the poor elderly, and force schools and local governments to make huge reductions. He also wants to charge smokers an additional $1.~o for a pack of cigarettes, increase car-registration fees by $3, increase the sales tax by a penny and raise personal income taxes for people in the top brackets. Despite the projected budget shortfall, the governor proposes to keep all 86 of his immediate staff on the payroll, although Davis said some ~,5oo state workers will lose their jobs under his budget. "It's an outrage," said Lewis Uhler, a taxpayer advocate who was co-author of Proposition 14o in 199o. The landmark term-limits initiative also restricted growth in the Legislature's budget. Inthese stark days, Davis and lawmakers "should lead by example," Uhler said. Legislative leaders described Davis' proposal for ~heir budget as a "place holder" while committees work to pare their own spending. Patrieia Soto, a spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, D-Los Angeles, said that "like any organization we have increasing costs... In difficult times we have to look at all areas in order to make budget adjustments." However, Wesson could save $3o,ooo immediately. Plan insulates governor and lawmakers from cuts Page 2 of 3 Lawmakers, most of whom receive an annual salary of $99,000, do not qualify for daily expense money if they are out of session for more than three straight days. But Wesson ordered a special "check-in" session for tomorrow to make sure the expense money continues to flow. As long as 4z Assembly members check in, all 80'will collect their $z25 per diem for the three-day weekend, which adds up to $3o,o0o. Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, an official state holiday. Typically, the Legislature does not meet on Fridays. Senators will convene tomorrow, at least for a while. Senators met for about z5 minutes Monday, their last floor session. Because they will meet tomorrow, the 40 senators are'guaranteed a total of $15,ooo in expense money for the three days. Daily expense checks, expected to total $3.8 million in fiscal year 2003-04, are to help cover the cost of maintaining two households. Davis' budget would set aside $14.5 milliOn for legislative salaries, a $600,o00 increase over the current fiscal year. Legislative employee payroll is budgeted at $153 million, a $7 million increase over 2002-03. Also in the budget proposed for the Legislature is $252 million for car repairs, although most vehicles are leased. La~unakers would be able to spend $1.2 million on postage, $78 million on ceremonies and events, and $800,000 on publications. Taxpayers would provide $225,000 for catered buffets, which are provided to lawmakers and staff when they work late or are locked on the floor during long budget battles. Davis cut his pay by 5 percent when he assumed office in 1999 and declines raises, said spokeswoman Hilary McLean. Davis, who receives an annual salary of $z65,ooo, does not plan to take another cut in his pay as he starts his second term. "He's been going the extra mile to give back to the state," McLean said. Davis offered to operate his office on $5.9 million in 2003-04, a $16,ooo increase over this fiscal year. McLean said she expects paY cuts for administration staff after the governor negotiates salaries and layoffs with the state's employee unions. "We're reviewing ways we can be more efficient and save money," she said. Copyright 2003 Union-Tribune Publishing Co. Find this article at: http:llwww.signonsandiego.comlnewsluniontriblthulnewslnews..1n16spend.html Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. L~og Angeles Times: Loss of Vehicle Fees Could Drive Some Cities to Brink Page 1 of 3 http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cities 17janl 7,0,3422746.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines;/~ .......... 2Dcalifomia THE STATE BUDGET CRISIS Loss of Vehicle Fees Could Drive Some Cities to Brink By Kimi Yoshino and Jean O. Pasco Times Staff Writers Times Staff Writers January 17 2003 For California's newest and poorest cities, the debate over whether to help balance the state budget by shifting vehicle license revenue away from local governments holds dire consequences, with officials contemplating deep cuts and even bankruptcy. The cities -- which range from upscale suburbs such as Laguna Woods and Canyon Lake to poor Central Valley farming towns such as Parlier and Orange Cove -- rely much more heavily than most cities on vehicle license fees to fund municipal services. Gov. Gray Davis has proposed reducing the amount of vehicle license revenue that cities receive by two- thirds. The average California city relies on the fees for 16% of its budget; about two dozen cities count on the fee for from 35% to 64% of their budgets. Leaders of some cities say the Davis plan would slash their operating budgets by half, forcing deep cuts in services -- and perhaps forcing some into bankruptcy. In response to these grim predictions and others, Democratic legislators this week called on Davis to raise the vehicle registration fees in order to avoid forcing cities and counties to make deep cuts. But Davis said he is reluctant to raise the fees, and Republicans are also opposed to the move. As the Legislature debates, officials in towns such as Orange Cove worry about slipping through the cracks. A citrus farming town that is ranked as one of the state's poorest, it stands to lose $498,834 over the next 18 months, roughly 40% of its operating budget. There is no economic base that can make up the difference, officials said. The Fresno County town of 8,000 depends almost solely on agriculture and the whims of the weather, with rain and freezing temperatures swelling the ranks of unemployed farm workers. The city can't even consider raising water or trash rates to boost revenue because many cash-strapped residents are already months behind in their payments, Mayor Victor Lopez said. "If they do this, we're over with," Lopez said. "We're not going to survive, bottom line." http://www.1.../printstory.j sp?slug=la%2Dme%2Dcities 17j anl 7&section=%2Fnews%2Floea 1/17/2003 L~,os Angeles Times: Loss of Vehicle Fees Could Drive Some Cities to Brink Page 2 of 3 Slashing Programs Laguna Woods, one of three newlY incorporated cities in suburban south Orange County, may have to slash all recreational and social programs -- or possibly unincorporate if things get too bad. In total, local governments would lose $4.2 billion in vehicle license fees over the next 18 months, according to Davis' budget proposal. *'Some cities are not going to be able to provide basic services," said Michael Coleman, a budget consultant for the League of California Cities. Poor cities are being hit hard because they lack a strong tax base. They have little industry or tourism and few, if any, shopping centers. As a result, their biggest source of fimding is the vehicle license fees. The fees are based on population, not the number of vehicles in a given city. Rural towns with prisons, such as Calipatria, Wasco and Avenal, face a worse crunch becaUse the state allows them to count the prison population when calculating the amount of fees they receive. Calipatria, an agricultural town that has little more than a grocery and hardware store, has a population of about 7,500 -- though 4,000 are inmates at the state prison. The city may lose $447,509 over the next 18 months, about half of its operating budget. The loss is equal to what it spends on the Police Department, with its chief and four officers, and part of the Fire Department. The city's reserve is only $20,000, so all contingencies are being considered, including bankruptcy. "We're to the bare bones," said Calipatria Finance Director Katherine Lopez, who alongwith the city manager, an office assistant and a part-time city clerk make up the city staff. "I don't know how much is left to cut." New cities face similar challenges. To help new cities get on their feet, state law permits them to initially triple the number of registered voters they count when determining the amount of vehicle license revenue due them. This leaves them highly dependent on the fees. These cities have a harder time falling back on other revenue because, under state law, they must share a greater amount of property and sales taxes with counties than older communities. No city in California relies more heavily on vehicle license money than Laguna Woods, where the average resident age is 78. The city, located mostly inside the gated senior citizen community of Leisure World in south Orange County, was incorporated in 1999. Of the city's $3.9-million operating budget, 65% comes from license fees passed down from the state. The city also gets some money from sales taxes and a small slice of property taxes. The state's proposed $2.6-million cut in Laguna Woods' vehicle license revenue in the next 18 months would mean cutting two or three of the city*s eight staffers, Laguna Woods City Manager Leslie A. Keane said. The city might be forced to cut in half patrols, contracted through the Orange County Sheriffs Department, from 16 hours a day to eight hours a day. During the rest of the time, officers would be on call to handle emergencies. The city's already-meager social services and recreation programs also could disappear after June, including subsidized tickets to the Laguna Playhouse and discounted beach and park passes. http://www.1.../printstory.jsp?slug=la%2Dme%2Dcitiesl 7janl 7&section=%2Fnews%2Floca 1/17/2003 Los Angeles Times: Loss of Vehicle Fees Could Drive Some Cities to Brink Page 3 of 3 When the state budget crisis first hit last summer, Laguna Woods even considered the idea of unincorporating -- essentially handing the reins of government back to the county. But that idea proved highly unpopular among city officials and residents, who battled county government for a decade over the Board of Supervisors' plans to build an airport at the nearby E1 Toro marine base. City leaders said they will try everything short of that. "There's only so much fat you can chop," Mayor Bert Hack said. ,!t's-a S~ary time." Although the cutbacks would be severe, they aren't entirely unexpected. City officials were alerted more than a year ago that vehicle license fees were on the chopping block. And five years ago, when the Legislature reduced vehicle license fees, the state promised that cities would not see a drop in funding and agreed to offset the loss in revenue. Putting Up a Fight Cities have already started lobbying to change the budget. Lopez of Orange Cove is putting together a list of reasons that cities with populations of less than 10,000 should be exempt from the fee cut. And new cities in Orange County -- Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods and Rancho Santa Margarita -- along with recently incorporated Oakley in eastern Contra Costa County are also banding together to lobby. Democratic leaders proposed halting Davis' cuts by increasing the vehicle license fees. The move would generate about $4.2 billion in revenue and cost the driver of a $22,000 car, for example, up to $300 the first year of ownership. They contend they can raise the vehicle license fees through a majority vote of the Assembly and Senate because it's not a tax increase, which would require a two-thirds vote. "This is only the opening bell," Oakley City Manager Mike Oliver said. "We're not taking any precipitous actions. We've talked to council about sticking to our guns." Dependent cities -- These are cities most reliant on vehicle fees. They're ranked by the pereengage of general fund revenue ghat comes from ghe fees. O Laguna O Oakley 41% "'~ :: ~ / Woods 64% l~) Canyon Lake 41 }'" ~ ! e Calipatria 61 · ' ~ ...... ~) Orange Cove 39 ~ I O Avenal 5:3 ~ Arvin 37 O Parlier 47 ~) Corcoran 36 ~) ,McFarland 46 (~) Huron 36 i -?;;( 0 Wasco 45 I~) Cudahy 36 ! ~ .Soledad 45 ( (~ lone 35 0 Mendota 43 ~ Farmersville 34 t~) Biggs 34 ? ~,.q ~) H~esperia 34 ~ San Jacinto 34 ~) Coalinga 34 ~ Maywood 33 I~) App!e Valley - 33 Los Source: League o.~,~a!ifornia Cities Ellis and Associates January 14, 2003 Stan Ford Bakersfield Parks and Recreation Dear Stan, After I spoke to you the other day, Safety School duties slam me pretty hard. I apologize for not getting this to you sooner. Your concerns about raised gutter systems vs. deck level gutter systems are valid. As you know I have seen many pools and was involved in aquatics for many years as a swim coach, before undertaking my second career with E&A. The following are my observations regarding your gutter question. From a safety standpoint, anything that reduced the ability to supervise activity in a pool or impairs the line of sight that any lifeguard needs to maintain our 10/20 protection rule would be seen as creating risk in your aquatic facility. Having said that, lifeguards stationed by the side of the pool are not the only eyes watching what goes on in the area. Managers, supervisors and indeed parents standing and sitting some distance away from the edge of the pool are valuable in providing supervision for the pool. Raised gutter systems do limit and in some cases prevent the ability of adults around the pool, from' seeing what goes on in the pool. To overcome this situation lifeguards need to be placed next to the pools edge which often created an overlooked blind spot directly under the lifeguard stand. Secondly, in some facilities, raised gutters necessitate the use of additional staff to provide adequate coverage. As an aside my own personal experience from an operational perspective is that having the grates exposed as in a deck level gutter system allows access to the gutter itself for maintenance purposes. If I can be of further assistance please let me know. Ron Rhinehart, Vice President Jeff Ellis and Associates, Inc. B A K E R S F I E L D RECEIVe© MEMORANDUM January 13, 2003 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager r~/ FROM: Jack Hardisty, Development Services Di SUBJECT: Council Referral No. 327 ICouncilmember Benham requested code enforcement address the issue of poor fencing bordering the railroad tracks north of Campus Way and also along California Avenue. A 7day violation notice to repair the fence was mailed to The Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Company corporate office and the local office. Contact was made with the local trainmaster, James Watts, who stated he would arrange with Burlington Northern corporate office to make repairs. Follow-up will be conducted. TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: ERIC W. MATLOCK, CHIEF OF POLICF_~~ DATE: January 17, 2003 SUBJECT: Three Way Stop at Faith and Dolfield Council Referral No. 323 (Ward 7) Council Member Salvaggio requested police staff provide additional patrol in the area of Faith and Dolfield to reduce speeding problems. This is a joint referral with Public Works as the Lead. A feasibility study was requested by Public Works regarding a three way stop. Traffic officers were assigned and provided concentrated enforcement efforts in this area. As of January 10, 2003, officers have cited 16 drivers for stop sign violations, impounded one vehicle, and arrested one warrant suspect. Officers did not observe speeding violations, however, their presence in the area may have helped deter speeding. EWM/vrf ~, ~,~: BAKERSFIELD POLICE ,~ MEMORANDUM TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: ERIC W. MATLOCK, CHIEF OF POLIC/F7// ,.' JAN I ? 2003 DATE: January 17, 2003 c.~.-r.v ,~^~,~ ~,:~:~,~ ,- - ' SUBJECT: Noise Nuisance 12/7/02 at 6800 Grinder Way Council Referral No. 330 (Ward 7) Council Member Salvaggio requested the police chief respond to an e-mail from Ken Barton concerning non response by police department of a noise nuisance at 6800 Grinder Way on December 7, 2002. On December 9, 2002, Council Member Salvaggio received an e-mail from a Ken Barton complaining of a lack of police response to a call Mr. Barton had made of a loud party the previous night in the 6800 block of Grinder Way. Staff reviewed the dispatch records for that location revealing the following information. Four calls from a person not named were received regarding the disturbance. From initial call to dispatch approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes elapsed From dispatch to arrival a little over 3 V2 minutes elapsed. From arrival to clearing the call was about 6 minutes. As you know, calls for service are prioritized for dispatch when they are received. Because loud music complaints do not require emergency response they are dispatched as a priority four call. In addition, the Communications Center received approximately 190 calls for service between the hours of 9:00 p.m. on 12/7/02 and 3:00 a.m. 12/8/02. An officer did respond to the location when available for dispatch and protocol was followed for this type of a priority four call. The complaining party requested no contact by officers, and apologies with an explanation of the delayed response were made to the caller and noted in the dispatch records. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions. EWM/vrf