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File Number: 14-270 <br />Although the broader regional economy and the stability of the City's general fund budget <br />have improved since the adoption of this measure in 2010, the City of San Leandro continues <br />to face many financial and operational challenges in the years ahead. While Measure Z <br />revenues support current service levels, these funds do not sufficiently address a growing <br />backlog of unfunded public safety, infrastructure, and other program and service needs. <br />Continuation of Measure Z at the ½ cent rate is necessary to maintain the City’s ability to <br />provide the level of services San Leandro residents have consistently said they wanted. <br />On November 18, 2013, the City Council appointed an Ad Hoc Committee on Community <br />Priorities and Potential Revenue Measures in order to further explore the above issues and to <br />guide the work of consultants retained by the City to explore the viability of extending Measure <br />Z. On December 2, 2013, the City Council also authorized the development and execution of <br />a public opinion survey designed to gauge community service priorities as well as the potential <br />viability of extending Measure Z. The results of this survey were subsequently presented to <br />the City Council during the February 1, 2014 planning session. <br />Public Opinion and Community Survey Results: <br />Public opinion survey results indicated strong community support for renewing and expanding <br />the City’s existing sales tax measure (73.5%) in order to protect and maintain local services <br />such as: <br />·Maintaining 9-1-1 emergency response times <br />·Maintaining neighborhood patrol officers <br />·Maintaining library programs for children, adults & families <br />·Enhancing anti-gang and law enforcement efforts <br />·Maintaining fire prevention services <br />·Maintaining school resource officers & crossing guards <br />·Repairing potholes and cracks, maintaining residential streets <br />·Maintaining investigation & gang suppression officers <br />Since the implementation of the survey, City staff distributed both electronic and mailed <br />community surveys to a broad cross-section of community residents in order to collect <br />additional public input on the specific City programs and services that are of highest <br />importance to the community. To date, approximately 900 survey responses have been sent <br />back to the City (more than 700 respondents were also surveyed telephonically). Top service <br />priorities outlined in electronic and mailed survey responses generally mirrored the results of <br />the public opinion poll outlined above. <br />Receiving the highest levels of support: <br />·Maintaining Neighborhood Patrol Officers; <br />·Maintaining 9-1-1 Emergency Response Times; <br />·Repairing Potholes and Cracks; and <br />·Maintaining Neighborhood Streets. <br />Page 2 City of San Leandro Printed on 7/2/2014