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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2002 0605 CC REG ITEM 10AITEM Pr . . INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Kim C. Chudoba, Senior Management Analyst k t.• SUBJECT: David Mullinax, Regional Representative, League of California Cities DATE: May 31, 2002 CC: Steven Kueny, City Manager Hugh R. Riley, Assistant City Manager David Mullinax, Regional Representative, League of California Cities, will make a presentation on "Grassroots Network and LOCAL (Leave Our Community Assets Local) Coalition Activities" at the June 5, 2002 City Council Meeting. Last fall, the League launched a grassroots network to promote significant city issues, such as fiscal reform and local control. Fourteen regional representatives were hired to help the League's 16 divisions and 477 cities advance priority legislation. The goal is to heighten awareness of city issues, making state lawmakers more accountable back home. Regional representatives arrange meetings with legislators, plan news conferences, organize letter writing and media campaigns, coordinate activities with community groups, and provide periodic legislative updates. To further these efforts, Mr. Mullinax would like to meet with each of you individually for about 15 minutes on June 5, 2002. Please let me know if you are available, and what time you prefer, by June 3, 2002. I will confirm the arrangements via e-mail. If you have questions, please call me at 517 -6247. Better Cities —A Better tiff Leaque of California pities L.O.C.A.L. Coalition Formed to Protect Local Revenues In State Budget Fight The League of California Cities is continuing its alliance with the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) in the fight to protect local revenues. After deciding to postpone a ballot measure for this election cycle, all three levels of local government have united to stage a multi- faceted effort to protect local government services. Under the acronym LOCAL (Leave Our Community Assets Local) the League and its counterparts will be actively engage in seeking the support of legislators, third party coalition members and citizens at large in what is sizing up to be a protracted budget fight in Sacramento. This unprecedented alliance has come together under some key principles, including; the fundamental notion that essential local services should not be sacrificed to solve state budget problems, local taxes paid by Californians should stay in the community to fund local services and that local governments are already doing their part to help solve the budget challenges. To this end, the LOCAL Coalition will also identify areas where state government can help close the budget shortfall without harming local governments. In a very real sense, the League has entered a "campaign style" approach to this budget fight. From the establishment of a statewide steering committee and regional advisory boards throughout the state to the nuts and bolts of letter writing and press conferences the LOCAL effort will engage all of the constituencies of local government in a comprehensive and coordinated effort. While our regional representatives have already begun outreach efforts to various constituencies likely to be affected by any budget cuts - member efforts will be paramount to our success. Although it is true that the League's Grassroots Network provides us with an added advantage over many other interests in Sacramento, our effectiveness will be measured only in so far as city leaders are willing to get involved and take a stand. LOCAL Legislative Action Days (May 15th and 16th) in Sacramento are a great way to continue the momentum local government has begun to build. Members from special districts, counties and cities throughout California will meet over a two -day period to demonstrate commitment and resolve to the legislature that quality of life is directly proportional to the quality of local government services we provide. Headquarters Southern California Office 140-0 K Street 602 Last liuntingion Dr., Sui c C Sacramento, CA 9:814 Monro\ia, CA 9 10 16 9i6.6 )8.8200 626305.1315 :AX 916.658.S.'_40 PAX 626.305..1 45 M E _143-1 LEAVE OUR COMMUNITY ASSETS LOCAL T Dedicated to Protecting Funding for Police, Fire, Health and other Essential LOCAL Services STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES Leave our Community Assets Local (LOCAL Coalition) has united around the growing imperative to protect our local services by protecting local government revenues. The LOCAL Coalition will be actively involved in this year's budget process to ensure that funding for essential local services is not compromised. Following are some key principles that will guide the coalition: 1. Essential Local Services Should Not Be Sacrificed to Solve State Budget Problems. Police and fire protection. Emergency medical services. Hospital trauma care. Public health services. Road repair and maintenance. Clean drinking water. Parks. Libraries. Senior Services. These are just a few of the important local services that are provided by local governments in California. But now, these services could be in jeopardy as state lawmakers seek to balance the state budget. Sacrifices will be necessary to help close the budget gap, but our local services have been sacrificed enough. State lawmakers should avoid taking revenues away from the local services we all rely on. 2. Local Taxes and Fees Paid by Local Residents Should Stay in the Community to Fund Local Services. Already, a large portion of taxes paid by local residents is used to fund state - controlled programs. Only a small portion of these revenues is left under local control to fund essential services such as fire, police and health services. These limited, locally controlled revenues should not be diverted to fix the state's budget crisis. 3. Local Governments and Local Revenues are Already Part of the State Budget Solution. Since 1992, the last time the State incurred a major budget deficit, tens of billions of dollars have been diverted from local governments to the state — now totaling nearly $5 Billion annually. Since that time, the funding for essential local services, including police, fire, hospital and public health services, has been stretched thin while demand for these services has increased. Our local services cannot withstand further cuts. 4. State Government Should Balance the Budget Without Taking More Money Away from Local Communities. The Coalition is opposing measures that would take any more of our local funds away from police, fire, emergency medical and other important local services. The coalition believes the state should balance the budget... Without cutting essential local services by taking local revenues or shifting revenues from one local government to the other. Without mandating additional programs or services on local governments without reimbursing them for the costs. Without imposing more of the financial responsibility on cities, counties or special districts for the cost of programs jointly funded by the state and local governments. Cuts in certain joint programs may be necessary. But the state should avoid any "cost- shifting" that increases the local revenues required.