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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-20 - Supporting Local Taxpayer, Public Safety, and Transportation Protection Act of 2010RESOLUTION NO. 10-20' A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING THE LOCAL TAXPAYER, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND TRANSPORTATION PROTECTION ACT OF 2010 THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS, California voters have repeatedly and overwhelmingly passed separate ballot measures to stop state raids of local government funds; and WHEREAS, these local government funds are critical to municipalities up and down the State of California so we may provide services to maintain and improve the quality of life of our constituents through police and fire services, emergency response, parks, libraries, and other vital local services that residents rely upon every day; and WHEREAS, gas tax funds are vital to maintain and improve local streets and roads to make road safety improvements, relieve traffic congestion, and provide mass transit; and WHEREAS, despite the fact that voters have repeatedly passed measures to prevent the State from taking these revenues dedicated to funding local government services and transportation improvement projects, the State Legislature has seized and borrowed billions of dollars in local government and transportation funds in the past few. years; and WHEREAS, this year's borrowing and raids of local government, redevelopment and transit funds, as well as previous, ongoing raids of local government and transportation funds, have lead to severe consequences for California municipalities such as layoffs of police, fire and paramedic first responders, fire station closures, stalled economic development, healthcare cutbacks, delays in road safety improvements, public transit fare increases and cutbacks in public transit services; and WHEREAS, the City of Costa Mesa has been directly impacted by the national economic downturn, and has gone through an extensive process to reduce general fund expenditures by $8 million, or 7.40 percent, by reducing overall operation costs, postponing capital projects, freezing vacant positions and reduce services; and WHEREAS, since the City of Costa Mesa's Fiscal Year 2009-2010 adopted budget general fund revenues are down by over $9.1 million, or 9.35 percent, and are continuing to decline; and WHEREAS, state politicians in Sacramento have continued to ignore the will of the voters, and current law provides no penalties when state politicians take or borrow these dedicated funds; and WHEREAS, a coalition of local government, transportation and transit advocates recently filed a constitutional amendment with the California Attorney General, called the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety, and Transportation Protection Act of 2010, for potential placement on California's November 2010 statewide ballot; and WHEREAS, approval of this ballot initiative would close loopholes and change the Constitution to further prevent state politicians in Sacramento from seizing, diverting, shifting, borrowing, transferring, suspending or otherwise taking or interfering with tax revenues dedicated to funding local government services, including redevelopment, or dedicated to transportation improvement projects and mass transit. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa endorses the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety, and Transportation Protection Act of 2010, a proposed constitutional amendment. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa hereby authorizes the listing of City of Costa Mesa in support of the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety, and Transportation Protection Act of 2010. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be sent by the —1 City Manager or City Clerk to the League of California Cities, the California Redevelopment Association, the local chamber of commerce, and other community groups whose members are affected by this ballot measure. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this resolution shall take effect and be in full force immediately after its adoption by the City Council. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of March 2010. 0 ATTEST: Julie F cik, City Clerk Allan R. Mansoor, Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: Kimberly Haff Barlow, City Attorney STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss CITY OF COSTA MESA ) I, JULIE FOLCIK, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is the original of Resolution No. 10- 20 and was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa at a regular meeting held on the 2nd day of March, 2010, by the following roll call vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: MANSOOR, LEECE, BEVER, FOLEY NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: MONAHAN IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the City of Costa Mesa this 3rd day of March, 2010. C��- ��� JULI FOLCIK, CITY CLERK (SEAL)