HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 12889 (Protect Local Funding for Public Services)RESOLUTION NO. 12889
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL IN
SUPPORT OF AN INITIATIVE TO PROTECT LOCAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AND PUBLIC
TRANSIT
WHEREAS, California voters have repeatedly and overwhelmingly passed separate
ballot measures to stop State raids of local government funds, and to dedicate the taxes on
gasoline to fund local and state transportation improvement projects; and
WHEREAS, these local government funds are critical to provide the police and fire,
emergency response, parks, libraries, and other vital local services that residents rely upon
every day, and 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, 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, 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
locally -dedicated funds; and
WHEREAS, a coalition of local government, transportation and transit advocates
recently filed an initiative petition for a constitutional amendment with the California
Attorney General, called the "Local Taxpayer, Public Safety, and Transportation
Protection Act" 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 of San Rafael formally
endorses the initiative "Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection
Act," a proposed constitutional amendment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we hereby authorize the listing of San Rafael in
support of the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act of 2010
and instruct staff to fax a copy of this resolution to campaign offices at 916.442.3510.
I, Esther Beirne, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting
of the San Rafael City Council held on the 16th day of November 2009, by the following
vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Brockbank, Connolly, Miller & Mayor Boro
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Heller
ESTHER BEIRNE, City Clerk