Minutes 1993 0322 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - March 22, 1993 Page - 2 - PUBLIC COMMENTS (continued) B. Vera Ayres, 381 Melven Court, said the Vision Task Force does not represent the vast majority of San Leandro citizens and was a carefully selected and controlled group. She said the City should not go ahead with disaster preparedness and seismic retrofit until it has the money. She said the Task Force should have studied Sunnyvale, which has achieved national prominence, without a deficit, for many years and has a plan which should have been studied and emulated. Vice Mayor Faria said the City has to balance the budget, and last year the funding came out of the Economic Uncertainties Reserve. Council Member Perry asked if Mrs. Ayres was referring to the public safety consolidation in Sunnyvale. Mrs. Ayres said she has not studied the Sunnyvale plan. Council Member Perry said the City has been exploring some of Sunnyvale's ideas, as well as 31 items developed by the Council . She said San Leandro has the lowest Property Tax Rate in California, and Sunnyvale is a newer community with a higher tax base. Mrs. Ayres said people say Sunnyvale is doing well because of the computer industry, but this is not true; it is because they have excellent planning. Council Member Perry said San Leandro is achieving 80% of its deficit reduction through cutting expenses. C. Rick Richards, 335 Peralta Avenue, said he was a member of the Task Force and volunteered his time. He said the Task Force did look at some of what Sunnyvale has done, such as combining Police and Fire, but felt at this time it would not be cost effective to consider that type of process. He said the Vision Task Force has heard that they did not represent the community, but the Task Force was made up of homeowners association representatives, business people, and people who volunteered their time. He said the meetings were open to the public, people could talk to the committee chairs, or they could talk to the members, or provide something in writing. D. Lou Filipovich asked for a clarification regarding Council Member Perry's statement that San Leandro has the lowest tax rate. Council Member Perry said the tax rate is locked in by Proposition 13 and is the lowest in California. She said other cities get two times as much as San Leandro. Mr. Filipovich asked if the amount the taxpayer pays is the same in all cities. Council Member Perry said, no, it is not.