10B Action 2010 0621 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO STAFF REPORT DATE: June 21, 2010 TO: City Council FROM: Stephen Hollister, City Manager APPROVED AND FORWARDED TO CITY COUNCIL ~:6~ Stephen Hollister City Manager BY: Lianne Marshall, Assistant City Manager' Jacquelyn Diaz, Deputy City Manager SUBJECT PROJECT/PROJECT DESCRIPTION: MATTER OF DIRECTION TO STAFF TO PREPARE DOCUMENTS FOR CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION PERTAINING TO PLACEMENT OF A PROPOSED '/4 CENT SALES TAX REVENUE MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER 2010 BALLOT. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION The purpose of this report is to request the City Council direct staff to prepare the required documents needed for placing a '/4 cent sales tax revenue measure on the November 2010 ballot, and bring the information for consideration at the July 19, 2010 City Council meeting. BACKGROUND At the June 7~` meeting, the City Council adopted the 2010-2011 Budget. As referenced in the document, the Council has identified as a goal to maintain fiscal sustainability. As we enter the third year of an unprecedented economic down-turn, revenues have plummeted by $11.6 million over the last four years, and the State has taken more than $7 million of local revenues to address its own fiscal situation. Despite making drastic cuts of $6.9 million in spending, the general fund budget has an operating deficit of $3 million and general fund reserves are nearly depleted. If additional revenue is not identified in the next six months, the City will have to make at least an additional $3 million in cuts. The City's 2010-2011 budget development process began in Fall 2009 in the midst of a difficult economic climate. During the budget development process, the Finance Committee met monthly to remain informed about revenue reports and recommended reductions to personnel and services; in addition, several Council work sessions were held to provide status updates on the efforts at balancing the budget with continued downward revenues. A poll was conducted in August 2009 to obtain feedback regarding City service priorities and to consider any potential for increasing revenues. In October 2009, the Council appointed a Citizen's Budget Task Force to help identify priorities for services for budget development; additionally a community feedback survey was mailed out to residents-with more than. 1,000 residents sharing their, service priorities-and staff attended over 25 community meetings to inform the community and obtain feedback. Throughout the various meetings and work sessions, there have been discussions by the Council and community