Minutes 1991 0617 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - June 17, 1991 Page - 11 - PUBLIC HEARINGS (continued) Dick Randall , City Manager, said the Proposed Budget includes the concept of Community Enhancement Programs. He said if the City Council concurs, those programs would be studied from the period July 1, 1991 through December, 1991, for possible implementation in January, 1992. He said the review process will include considerable community input and said these are concepts with a number of questions to be answered, and they are not included as part of the funding of the budget. The Hearing was then opened to the public. Bob Leigh, President of Associated Homeowner's Association, said he appreciated Mr. Randall 's comments regarding the Community Enhancement Program concept. He said his Association feels this is an adventure in funding and asked the City to be very cautious in the use of city- wide assessment districts. He said the City should make an honest attempt to see what the community really wants. He also said many other burdens are being placed on citizens, such as sales tax increases, possible State utility taxes, and possible San Lorenzo School District parcel taxes. He asked that the Council be cautious in looking at these programs, and that they undertake a formal survey of what the public wants. He thinks City-wide assessment districts are cumbersome and believes this proposed budget should have had more rejustification of activities similar to that undertaken by Alameda County. Glenn Forbes complimented staff and the City Council on their approach to budget problems. He said, however, related to fees for building permits, that applicants must sign an agreement to pay for staff time plus overhead. He felt billings were sent out based on 100 percent overhead, and this was not appropriate, nor what people felt they had agreed to pay. Lee Ness, 2321 Belvedere Avenue, said he recommends an increase in the debris program and said it is an excellent program, and the City should conduct it again in the fall and charge for it. He also said he felt the replacement street trees provided by the City were too small . He said he would be willing to pay for larger trees. Art Abelson, board member, and Jack Goodrich, spoke on behalf of the San Leandro Symphony Orchestra. They said they were asking for City Council support, both politically and financially. They said this was the third year of the Orchestra, and it was successful beyond expectations. They said their programs had been sold out, and they are looking for larger facilities. He said they have been asked to do concerts outside of San Leandro, and are in the process of regionalizing. He said they are proposing that the name of the Orchestra be changed from the San Leandro Symphony to the Classical Philharmonic of Northern California.