This says it all

 

Our state government at work:

 

http://www.mercurynews.com/california-budget/ci_21150193/state-parks-scandal-honor-system-used-keep-track

 

These reporters deserve a prize.

 

-Lionel Emde

Pacifica's economic woes viewed by Elaine Larsen

Pacifica Tribune/Elaine Larsen, Editor and Publisher, 7/17/12.  "Let's connect the dots-- why Pacifica is not succeeding financially."

"I've been thinking about how our city is challenged to do better financially. Here are some top reasons that come to mind:

Building a balanced city economy

•The only real income the city of Pacifica has known is property taxes, not commercial, and when the housing boom went bust, that income dried up.

•The second city income was from sales of city property. Been there, done that. One shot deal. Nothing left to sell.

•Utility user's tax and fire assessment. Taxes are the ONLY thing the city can count on. Been there, done that. The average voter is tired of shoveling out more money.

Make it a beautiful by numbers picture

•Municipal employee contracts. Employees in Pacifica need to agree to some compromises. They've done so in the past. Good for them. But it's not "business as usual" in Pacifica, at least not right now. We all need to stick together and share the pain. Those of us in the private sector lost pensions years ago. And also any kind of 401K company match. Let's all be reasonable and work together so that all municipal employees keep their jobs.

•Development opportunity. Let's not fight every single thing that could generate income. Hey, City Council, this isn't a popularity contest. You need to vote for what's right for all of us, not just the guy next door to the development who doesn't want his view of the ocean obscured. Be leaders. There will ALWAYS be someone who asks you to vote no. Tell them NO. Do what's right. If you don't, I say we should vote you out.
 
•Quarry development. This is the most outrageous situation I've encountered. The Friends of Pacifica slate put a voter "overlay" on the property to ensure there wouldn't be too many houses. In short, they made sure that the public could always say "no" to any sort of development that involved houses. Even if there would be analysis and oversight beyond the public's knee-jerk reaction. That was a brilliant anti-development move because it's always easy to say "no" to housing before any hapless developer agrees to spend any sort of dime figuring out what can be built. Let's call a spade a spade: the notion that the quarry development was going to be the "crown jewel" of redevelopment was a serious lie that I repeated over and over as a young reporter. Well, it's a lie. Former Tribune Editor/Publisher Chris Hunter called it right: that once the city put the wastewater treatment plant on the site (which is still poorly functioning, I might add) that would guarantee there would never be development due to Fish and Wildlife involvement.

  That's a bite

•Pacifica has a lot of vacant storefront property controlled by land owners who expect too high a rent.

•Pacifica has a lot of vacant land controlled by out-of-town land owners and the land is full of weeds and the city of Pacifica abandoned its former weed-abatement program wherein the city paid someone to clean up the weeds and billed the land owners.

•Shopping centers are allowed to deteriorate and not adhere to a sign program and the city just turns a blind eye.


That's only a few of the reasons that I thought of. I'm just one person with one point of view after having lived and worked in Pacifica 25 years. I'd like to hear your feedback as would our readers as well.

Let us all know what you think and, just as importantly, what the city can do to improve our community's economy."

Note:  Editorial reprint in its entirety allowed courtesy of Elaine Larsen, Pacifica Tribune Editor and Publisher.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Cutting taxes may help the recession, but is not the economic answer

And of course, cutting taxes is never the question in Pacifica, the county or the state.  

The Washington Post/Fareed Zakaria, opinion writer, 6/7/12.  "Romney is wrong on tax cuts."

How about a smarter use of taxes?

"....  And the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service concluded in 2010 that “by almost any economic indicator, the economy performed better in the period before the [Bush] tax cuts than after the tax cuts were enacted. . . . GDP growth, median real household income growth, weekly hours worked, the employment-population ratio, personal savings, and business investment growth were all lower in the period after the tax cuts were enacted.” The years 2000 to 2007 were the period of the weakest job growth in the United States since the Great Depression.

....  When pressed, Romney and his advisers sometimes say that they are just for tax reform; other times, they cite the Simpson-Bowles plan. I’ve long argued that reforming the nation’s bloated and corrupt tax code is vital and that Simpson-Bowles is a superb framework for deficit reduction. But neither will cut taxes. Simpson-Bowles raises them by more than a trillion dollars. You can use euphemisms such as “ending tax expenditures” and “closing loopholes,” but when you do that, someone’s taxes will go up. And when you close big loopholes such as the deduction of mortgage interest — which is the only way to get real revenue — tens of millions of peoples’ taxes will go up.

Fair taxes for the most wealthy

.... Tax cuts have been a central cause of America’s deficit problems. For four decades, Washington politicians have bought popularity by cutting taxes, always saying that spending cuts or growth will make up for lost revenue. That rarely happened, and the result is $11 trillion in federal debt held by the public. To perpetuate this pandering one more time is not just dishonest — it is dangerous."  Read Article.

Related -  The Washington Post/Fareed Zakaria, 7/18/12, "What voters are really choosing in November." "...the great shift in the U.S. economy over the past 30 years has not been an increase in taxes and regulations but, rather, a decline in investment in human and physical capital..."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Targeted infrastructure spending our way out of recession

 Time Magazine U.S./ Freed Zakaria, Editor at large, 7/23/12.  "Tax and Spend."

Big company capitalism tool - ship jobs overseas

"The most troubling aspect of June's job numbers--only 80,000 jobs were created last month--is that they are part of a new normal. Over the past two decades, U.S. economic recoveries have tended to be slow and jobless. In every recession from 1945 to 1990, jobs came back to prerecession levels six months after the economy returned to its prerecession level. But after the recession of the early 1990s, jobs came back 15 months later--though then employment grew vigorously. After the slowdown of the early 2000s, jobs took 39 months to come back. And this time, it may take about 60 months--five years!--for employment to return to prerecession levels, according to an analysis by McKinsey.

What happened? Over the past quarter-century, two large forces have swept the world: globalization and the information revolution. They have produced economic growth and innovation that has lifted tens of millions of people out of poverty in countries like China and India. They have helped make American businesses bigger, more global and more productive. They have given us consumer goods and services that were unimaginable at cheap prices. But these forces make it much easier to produce economic growth by using machines or workers in lower-wage countries. Hiring high-wage workers--that is, workers in Western countries--becomes a last resort.

...   One of America's best businessmen has an answer. Fred Smith, the founder of Federal Express, argues that the key to job growth is stimulating private spending on capital goods and services. "There is only one statistic that is almost 100% correlated with job creation," he says, "and it is private investment in equipment and software." But what makes companies spend on equipment and software? More orders from customers or a better climate for business? The two are related. Sometimes businesses will simply create products, which then creates demand. Nobody asked for the iPad; Apple just created it. But most of the time, businesses hire workers once they see that customers are ordering their products again.

....  But if the investment produces jobs, why not also increase government investment? President Obama should announce a growth agenda that combines incentives for businesses to spend with policies that also get the government back in the business of investing--in bridges, highways, airports and other aspects of the U.S.'s aging infrastructure. If the goal is jobs and growth, it can't hurt to try all the best ideas, no matter where they come from."  Read Article.

Related  -  Daily Show interview with Jon Stewart, 6/7/11, 6:27 minutes.  "Fareed Zakaria looks at the effect that technology and globalization have on the American worker."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Where property values are rising, so are reassessed county taxes

Understanding the Proposition 13 amendment.  

Silicon Valley Mercury News/Tracy Seipel, 7/22/12.  "Homeowner headache:  Understanding (the other) Proposition 8."

Home ownership has surprises

That conflicted look you're seeing on your neighbors' faces? That's the gaze of 51,485 Santa Clara County property owners caught in a quandary: They're watching their property values finally going up, which is a good thing, and their property taxes surging as well, which doesn't feel so good. 

....".... But isn't it illegal under Proposition 13 for property taxes to go up more than 2 percent? Nope.

... but expensive

Karen Kreshel's home is worth far less than what she and her husband paid for it in 2007, but over the past two years, the value of their Willow Glen Craftsman-style bungalow has slowly started rising -- to the point where the couple's property tax bill this year is expected to go up 9.4 percent.

....  Didn't Proposition 13 -- passed by voters in 1978 -- limit the growth of a property's assessed value to no more than 2 percent a year?  Well, yes, said Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone -- except that many forget about an addendum: If the assessed value of a property falls below the property's most recent purchase price, then when values start to go back up, there is no limit of 2 percent, at least not until the value has returned to its original value, plus annual increases allowed under Proposition 13."  Read Article. 

Related - Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Proposition 13 background,. Wikipedia/CA Proposition 13.  And,  Public Policy Institute of CA/Jeffrey I. Chapman, Occassional Papers (no date)."Some Unintended Consequences.". 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Reminder city council meeting tonight, Monday July 23, 2012

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  Or, view on local channel 26, also live internet feed, pct26.com.  The meeting begins at 7pm, or shortly there following.  City Council updates on City website.   

Fix Pacifica article and agenda, 7/ 23/ 12.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

States deal with city financial failure; proposed CA teacher pension reform

San Francisco Examiner/Melissa Griffin, 7/22/12. "Sniffing out financial failure in California cities." Article printed in its entirety, approved by Melissa Griffin.

"The Golden State cities of Vallejo, Stockton, Mammoth Lakes and San Bernardino have all declared bankruptcy, and city leaders in Compton are publicly pondering that option as well. Basically the roster of California cities has become a game of dead pool to see which one will drop next.

Boosting city survival against odds

And while that might not be entirely preventable, State Controller John Chiang has asked legislators to give his office permission to deploy “red teams” of auditors to swoop in and dig around in the books of local governments when the whiff of financial failure first fills the air. Currently, the auditors can only go in once a city’s finances are ruined.

The argument for Chiang’s proposal just got a boost from the July 17 report of a State Budget Crisis Task Force. The multi-state task force advisory group is co-chaired by former New York Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch and former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, and its members are a bipartisan group of luminaries that are my new answer to the “fantasy dinner party” game.

The report compares the financial condition of various states and offers recommendations for reform. One of those recommendations is that states get a better handle on the finances of local governments. According to the report, states such as North Carolina, New Jersey and Pennsylvania require cities to report their finances and offer early assistance where distress is evident. Even Kentucky has a better system of local budget controls than California.   Here’s hoping that Chiang’s proposal passes and that the “red teams” get awesome superhero uniforms. Take that, Kentucky.

Alienating the math-savvy.  That the California State Teachers’ Retirement System fund just posted a 1.8 percent investment return for fiscal year 2011-2012 is definitely a problem. 

But a more dire problem is that legislators won’t fund the system. CalSTERS is different from other public pension funds in that the benefits and contributions aren’t negotiated between employees and the employer; they are set by the Legislature. Since at least 1993, teachers have paid 8 percent of their salaries toward the fund and school districts have paid 8.5 percent. The state contribution used to be 4.43 percent, but now it’s 2.017 percent thanks in part to a 1998 deal that simultaneously lowered the state contribution and increased retiree benefits.

".. from the government, .. here to help."

Other public pension funds have fixed employee contributions, and the governments have no choice but to fork over any shortfall. But while CalSTERS’ current funding just isn’t cutting it, legislation is needed to change the contribution levels. That leaves the pension fund with a $64.5 billion dollar shortfall and only 69 percent funded for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Because our fearful leaders won’t dare cross teachers unions or local school boards by demanding they pay more or get fewer benefits, even the most ambitious reform scenarios being considered in Sacramento wouldn’t dent the unfunded liabilities that CalSTERS has racked up.  The longer this continues the more insolvent the fund will become and the harder it will be to recruit new talent."

Reference -  California State Teachers' Retirement System (CAlSTRS).  See "Summary of Governor Brown's Twelve point pension proposal and its impact on CalSTRS members,"  here. 

Definition -  Wikipedia. A red team is a independent group that seeks to challenge an organization in order to improve effectiveness.

Submitted by Jim Alex

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Transient young Brown Pelicans having problems finding fish

San Mateo County Daily Journal/Staff, 7/20/12. "PHS caring for dozens of pelicans."

Looking for an estuary

The Peninsula Humane Society is giving a helping hand — or is that wing? — to more than 30 sickly Brown Pelicans in need of urgent care over the past two weeks after they became grounded in San Mateo County.

Pacifica fished-out

The fledgling animals, which were formerly considered an endangered species, are thought to be starving as they migrate up the coast because their primary food source of various fish has been depleted, according to PHS spokesman Scott Delucchi.

In a typical year, PHS may see 20 to 25 pelicans but not in a concentrated time frame as is happening now. PHS staff are calling in extra volunteers and staff to get the birds examined, warmed, medicated, hydrated and fed while also continuing the care of the other 200-plus animals in the agency’s care. .... 

Once endangered, maybe again

The goal is making the birds healthy enough for release or transfer to another facility within the week but Delucchi said PHS staff recognize some will not survive."  Read Article.

Related article - Half Moon Bay Review, 7/20/12.

Reference -  Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA, Volunteer. 

Reference -  Smithsonian National Zooligical Park, "Meet our Animals"  Brown Peligan Facts:  Distribution and habitat:  There are seven or eight species of pelican in the world. Brown Pelicans breed from Anacapa Island, California south to Chile and from Maryland to Venezuela and Trinidad. After breeding, they may be seen as far north as British Columbia and Nova Scotia. They are the only species of pelican that is strictly marine in habitat, never found more than 20 miles out to sea or inland on fresh water. They prefer shallow inshore waters such as estuaries and bays."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Compton will run out of money 9/1/12, high unemployment

"Compton, Calif. could be the fourth city in the Golden State to seek bankruptcy protection.  At a city council meeting Tuesday, officials announced that Compton is set to run out of funds by Sept. 1. Compton, which has only 93,000 residents, faces a deficit of $43 million after having depleted a $22 million reserve, reports Reuters.

....  Standard & Poor's put Compton's revenue bonds on a negative credit watch last Friday, citing concern over allegations of "abuse of public moneys" and fraud, reports the Los Angeles Times.  S&P also warned that unless they receive independently audited financial information from Compton, the city's ratings -- already at BB, or "junk" status -- could be withdrawn or suspended.

"I guess its time for trama, with the E-A-Z-Y-E comma "

....  While it's unknown exactly why Compton faces such dire financial straits, the city has collected less property taxes due to rising home foreclosures, notes Reuters. Compton also has an unusually high unemployment rate of 18.8 percent. Nationwide, that figure is 8.2 percent.
  . 
The string of California bankruptcies is part of a larger trend of local and state governments facing budget woes. A recent report from budget experts found that local governments will likely face intense financial challenges in years to come if no one takes action."  The Huffington Post/Los Angeles/Anna Almendrala, 7/18/12. "Compton Bankruptcy?  California city announces that it will run out of funds by September 1." Read Article, includes  embedded ABC, channel 7 news video, 1:.49 minutes.

"Mayor Perrodin was more optimistic than his financial staff that the city could avoid bankruptcy, although he noted similarities between Compton and San Bernardino, which has a population twice that of his city.  Unemployment is worse in Compton than San Bernardino, he said, although both have seen property taxes fall precipitously due to rising home foreclosures.

Unlike San Bernardino, which has a large unfunded liability to pay its employees' pensions, Compton years ago increased its property tax to fund its workers' pension obligations, said Perrodin, and the retirement program is fully funded.

"Those other cities that went bankrupt all had huge pension liabilities that they couldn't meet," said the mayor. "Even so, we're in pretty dire straits."  Reuters, Ronald Grover and Jim Christie, 7/18/12, "Corrected-City of Compton may declare bankruptcy by Septembers-officials."  Read Article   

Reference - City of Compton.  Picture -  New ERA (Compton) 59Fifty Fitted cap.

Submitted by Jim Alex  (article and cap picture)

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Pipeline notification and November ballot measures

Starting July 1, 2013, every contract for the sale of residential real property must contain a specified notice regarding gas and hazardous liquid transmission pipelines. This notice informs buyers that the U.S. Department of Transportation maintains the general location of these pipelines through the National Pipeline Mapping System at www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov  This new requirement is a response to the 2010 pipeline explosion in San Bruno and other tragedies that have occurred.

The new pipeline notice provides a valuable shield from liability for sellers and brokers. Delivery of the notice to a buyer will be deemed to be adequate to inform the buyer about the existence of a statewide database for the location of gas and hazardous liquid transmission pipelines, and information from the database regarding those locations. C.A.R. will revise its standard form purchase agreements to comply with this new requirement. (Source: Assembly Bill 1511.)

 
November 2012 Ballot Measure Summary

From genetically engineered foods to human sex trafficking; and from increasing the state’s income and sales taxes to repealing the death penalty, California voters will wade in on 11 distinct initiatives that will appear on the November 2012 ballot. This is the first statewide ballot which implements the legislative mandate that all initiatives from now on be placed in the November election cycle in California. While there may be some proposals appearing in a June election cycle, they will be mostly local or emergency measures.

Click here to download a synopsis of the ballot measures
 
Jim Wagner

House fire in north Pacifica likely ignited by a cigarette

Condolences for this family's tragic loss, April 1st, 2012. Christian, the great-grandson was only age 13. Virgen, the great-grandfather may have fallen asleep while smoking. 

San Mateo County Times/Joshua Melvin, 7/19/12.  "Human error likely sparked fatal Pacifica house fire, report says."

Leaving a cigarette unattended is a mistake

"Due to lack of evidence, officials can't say for sure what sparked a Pacifica house fire that killed two people in April, but they say the cause was likely "human error," according to a report released this week.

The report does not say how the April 1 blaze -- which killed Christian Haro, 13, and Javier Virgen, 90 -- started in the home on the 500 block of Inverness Drive. But it does note Virgen slept in the area where the fire apparently began and had been known to smoke cigarettes in the house. 

According to the report, the fire sparked at the south end of a couch under a north facing living room window. In addition to burn damage, investigators relied on witness accounts in making their judgment."  Read Article.

Related articles -  Newark Patch/Karil Hulac, 4/1/12,  And, Fix Pacifica reprinted article from KTVU News 4/1/12.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

State Parks Scam

California's park system secretly stashed away $54 million even though it was cutting services and threatening to close parks, officials announced Friday, and the department's director resigned as the hidden surplus was revealed.

The announcement means the department has plenty of cash, even though it's been soliciting hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations in what was thought to be a desperate scramble to keep parks open.

"We will get to the bottom of this situation,” said a statement from secretary John Laird of the California Natural Resources Agency, which oversees the parks department.

Officials said the department has underreported tens of millions of dollars for the last 12 years. News of the surplus was first reported by the Sacramento Bee.

Read more...

Posted by Steve Sinai

Reminder - Dog Daze, Saturday July 21, 2012

4th Annual Dog Daze event  - Saturday July 21, 2012.

One day only, 11 AM to 3 PM 

Parking and shuttle pick-up at:
Alma Heights Christian High School, 1030 Linda Mar Boulevard, and 
St Peters Catholic Church, 700 Oddstad Boulevard

For details see the Fix Pacifica Dog Daze article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Searching for our economy

Pacifica Tribune, "My Turn" Guest Column, 7/17/12.  "Our environment should be our economy" by Samuel Casillas 

This is our economy, Sam

"There is no question that Pacifica is at a critical juncture in its economic evolution. Yes, our economy continues to struggle in the wake of a recession that, I believe, we all must bear some responsibility for. Yet, I feel that during this time of crisis, we must not succumb to fear and ignorance which can easily drive our community into petty bickering that does not serve our city in the least. Together, we must look at this time as an opportunity to transform our great city into a self-sustainable model of economic growth that develops in unison with our core principles and preserves all that we care about in Pacifica. 

Hiking our hills, not so much

This city was founded on the principle of a family-based community that lives in harmony with the beauty of the surrounding environment which encompasses emerald hills falling into the majestic Pacific Ocean. I strongly believe that our town's stunning beauty directly impacts the physical health and mental well-being of our citizens. Pacifica's beaches and coastal vistas are arguably some of the most stunning landscapes in Northern California and we are very privileged to have this to recreate in and gain solace from in the hustle and bustle of our daily work lives. Our environment also turns out to be our greatest potential economic asset that should be developed to ensure our viability as we look to the future.

Soon after Pacifica was incorporated, we lost our way and became a bedroom community for San Francisco; we became an inexpensive option for living outside of the city of San Francisco that contributed to the blight of strip malls and tract housing which dominate the American landscape to this day.

Hard on our environment?

Some would think the answer to our economic woes is to actually build more residential subdivisions and bring in big box stores. This is not the answer. Countless studies (including Conservation Financing Comes of Age, R. Stapleton, 2001 and and www.lta.org/public policy/landvote2001.htm) actually demonstrate that the opposite is actually true: for every $1.00 in taxes a household brings into the city budget, $1.26 is spent on services that a household uses including police, fire and sewer. For every $1 in taxes there is only 54 cents spent on open space and farmland. That means there is a profit of 46 cents on undeveloped land. As for big box stores, look at the vast expanses that used to be car dealerships and Circuit Cities in places like Colma and Daly City. Today they are asphalt deserts.

Our economy is our dog off leash fine

In Pacifica there is actually a much higher cost to households when you consider the large volume of unauthorized in-law units that put a huge burden on our sewer system and do not pay into critical services like sewer, fire, etc. or pay their planning fees and taxes. Again, the major reason these multiple-unit houses keep cropping up is that it is a cheaper alternative to living in San Francisco, yet the lure of the City, only being a few minutes away, is where all of us "go over the hill" to get our entertainment and buy cheaper goods at the big box stores. The fact is that our hotels even market on the premise that we are cheaper to stay in than San Francisco. The fact is that no amount of additional housing in Pacifica would have ever saved Pacifica Lumber or other like businesses; we all go over the hill to get less expensive commodity goods.

So then, how can Pacifica move our economy forward? The answer is that our environment should be our economy. Our unrivaled open space in Pacifica can and does attract hikers, bikers, surfers and others who enjoy the outdoors. But we need to do a better job of promoting our natural beauty to more potential tourists and then find ways to keep those visitors here once they arrive.   

This one we agree on

That would require us to transform our economy into a visitor-based economy that capitalizes in the one area that Pacifica holds a differentiated strength versus other Bay Area communities: our open space. Many volunteers and dedicated city officials have had, and still hold to, a true bold vision of what Pacifica can be and they have laid the groundwork for Pacifica to move forward in this endeavor.  We need to continue to build on the vision of the coastal trail and build a business-minded strategy that incorporates and takes advantage of the Devil's Slide parkland that will be our inheritance and our gift to future generations. The tourists that come to hike in the Pedro Point Headlands and take in the views from Devil's Slide will be the ones who add to the revenue base, not only for the Pedro Point Shopping Center, but potentially in a commercial recreational space in Pedro Point that is currently an open lot and in the Linda Mar shopping center, Rockaway, Vallemar and the rest of our business districts. We need to preserve the Sharp Park golf course that generates 55,000 rounds of golf a year with 70 percent of those rounds played by residents of other counties, but we need to find ways to keep those golfers here after they have played their rounds of golf. The planned Palmetto Streetscape has the potential to re-invent a business district that can transform into a vibrant visitor-based shopping district that spills into Mori Point and our Beach Boulevard promenade.

Return from visiting our over the hill economy

I applaud the reluctance of our city council to hand over the old sewer plant site to housing developers and instead wait until the right projects come our way that will actually boost our economy; doing otherwise is how we end up with apartment buildings in the prime business district gateway of Palmetto and with a Taco Bell on Linda Mar Beach instead of a Sam's Chowder House and potentially more run-down apartments along the Beach Boulevard site instead of a potential Half Moon Bay Brewery- like restaurant across from our beloved Pier.

We are at a critical crossroads in the economic life of our picturesque city. The question is, do we want to look like Daly City with their green hills carved up and covered in miles of asphalt parking lots and monolithic billboards covering once majestic vistas or do we want to be a model for the state and the country, where we can demonstrate that we can live in harmony with the environment, while harnessing its economic potential, and protect the vulnerable wildlife while nourishing our own healthy existence?

Our environment can, and should, most definitely be our economy. With vision, leadership, and policies that support its development we will create a win-win situation for Pacifica -- a vibrant economy based on our environmental assets- and a healthier future for generations to come."   *** End

Note:  Comments about the household tax benefits.  Embedded in the article the Land Trust Alliance link doesn't seem to work, but neither does the argument: "for every $1.00 in taxes a household brings into the city budget, $1.26 is spent on services that a household uses including police, fire and sewer."  Until proven otherwise this repeated ECO-NIMBY argument as it applies to this city appears to be completely false.

The argument may work better in a rural farmland community, not in this city in this metropolitan area.  There were blog conversations, including some research from about 5/30 until 6/1,2012. See articles Recall, 5/22/12, and County and City Parcel Tax Funding, 5/31/12.  

REALITY, our parcel taxes returned from San Mateo County to our City General Fund for fire, police, paramedics and other city services amount to 17% of what  property owners paid.  But in this city,  that 17% represents  39% funding of our total City General Fund budget.  Sewer taxes are separate, parcel owners pay these taxes directly to our City Enterprise Fund, and that impact to the city should be more or less neutral. 

 

One thing we can agree on Sam, we should keep San Francisco Sharp Park golf course, however that choice is ultimately not ours.   

  
Posted by Kathy Meeh

Bay Area tax to drive?

"This is going too far. taxing us for driving!  We pay Federal highway gas tax, State gas tax, San Mateo County Measure A tax, all for our streets."  (Jim Wagner)   

 "San Francisco Bay area officials are mulling the idea of charging motorists a tax on every mile they drive in the nine-county region as a way to raise money for roads and public transit while reducing traffic and pollution from car emissions.   

Just saying....

Members of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments have scheduled a vote Thursday night on whether to approve a long-range study on the merits of imposing a Vehicle Miles Traveled tax.

Under a proposal still in its early stages, drivers would be required to install GPS-like odometers in their vehicles and pay from a penny to a dime for every mile driven."  Silicon Valley Mercury News/Associated Press, 7/19/12. "Officials float San Francisco Bay area mileage tax."  Read article. 

....  "Is it crazy or the way of the future? The Bay Area is considering a long-range plan to become the first place in the nation to tax drivers for every mile they travel, with an average bill of up to $1,300 per year.

....  "I don't want to say it's pie in the sky. A VMT charge is really an option for the future to be looked at and considered," said Randy Rentschler, spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the agency leading the effort. He said realistically the plan is so complex it might take a decade to implement if the public buys in.

Under the early proposal, the VMT tax could cost up to a dime per mile, or the cost may peak during rush hour and bottom out, perhaps to less than a penny per mile, when the roads are mostly empty.

.... The VMT study is part of the long-term transportation and housing effort called Plan Bay Area, which also includes strategies like raising the Bay Bridge rush-hour toll from $6 to $8 and reducing the size of parking lots. The results are expected in December before the two agencies vote in April."  Palo Alto Daily News/Mike Rosenberg, 7/17/12.  "Bay Area drivers could pay to drive each mile under tax proposal."  Read Article. 

Submitted by Jim Wagner 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Chamber of Commerce forms a PAC to promote sound city economics

Pacifica Tribune, 7/17/12. "Pacifica Chamber of Commerce forms Business and Community Political Action Committee." 

Pacifica, a city with economic challenges

"The Pacifica Chamber of Commerce, in response to the membership requests, has formed a political action committee (BACPAC) to further advocate sound economic decisions by our elected officials. We understand the burden that can placed on local business due to poorly written regulatory decisions.

Chamber of Commerce (Rockaway)

Pacifica is emerging from 14 years of structural deficits. This is unacceptable and we will work to make sure that sound fiscal decisions are made considering all aspects of economic impact to our residents and our business community. We need to establish an open and transparent dialogue with our elected and appointed city officials with the stated goal of working to make Pacifica a viable and strong economic community realizing that our natural beauty must be maintained.

The Pacifica Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee will host a public forum this fall so that the public can participate in a thorough question and answer session with city council candidates. Additionally a candidate questionnaire will be mailed to all candidates and the responses posted in the Tribune and local blogs.

Empty store fronts  (Eureka Square)

BACPAC will allow our business members and the community at large to support candidates with a vision to move Pacifica forward. Participation in the decision process will make Pacifica stronger in the long run.

We have some major challenges facing Pacifica. The Palmetto Avenue beautiful project will be a major undertaking. The final EIR on the OWWTP is due to be released soon. A new library project is in the works.

We have too many vacant storefronts in town. The Chamber is looking for new leaders who have a plan and vision to address Pacifica challenges."

-- Jim Wagner
Chair, Pacifica Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee

Posted by Kathy Meeh

City Council meeting, Monday July 23, 2012

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  Or, view on local channel 26, also live internet feed, pct26.com.  The meeting begins at 7pm, or shortly there following.  City Council updates on City website. 

City Council Agenda, 7/23/12, 46 pages.

No worry its Pacifica, at least I won't hit a development

A.    Closed session - None.

B.    Open session (7:00 pm)

Consent Calendar (pass through)
1.    Approval of cash disbursements. 
2.    Approval of Minutes (meeting of  7/9/12).  
3.    Resolution:  Measure A Call for Projects, San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA), Highway 1 widening, Westport Drive to Fassler Avenue, "Calera Parkway". No budget authority required.

4.    Resolution:  2012 Storm drainage system master plan.

5.    Resolution:  Measure A call for Projects, San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA),

 Route 1, San Pedro Creek Bridge replacement and creek widening project. Rescinding resolution No 25-2012.  No budget authority required.

6.    Amendment to finalize the Kermani Consulting Group disaster, hazard mitigation project agreement. $50,000 reimbursed 75% Federal, 25% State. Pages 18-22.  

Special presentation - none.

Public hearing 

7.    Resolution accepting sewer service charges for fiscal year 2012-13, and filing of charges for collection by the County Controller.

8.    Approve a General plan amendment for a 96 unit assisted living center proposed at 721 Oddstad Boulevard.  Approval recommendation from the Planning Commission.

Consideration 

9.   Consider and review city municipal code amendments "limiting the number and duration of development project approval extensions."   Resolution recommendations from the Planning Commission.  

Adjourn

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Special city council goal setting meeting, July 22, 2012

Thanks, let us know

City of Pacifica, City Council goal setting workshop
(open to the public).  

Location:  Police Station, 2075 Coast Highway

Date:  Sunday, July 22, 2012

Time:  9:15 a.m., call to order 9:30 a.m., adjourn 3:30 pm.

Description:  The City Council goal setting workshop agenda includes input from  police (9:45), fire (10:00), planning (10:30), Parks, Beach and Recreation (10:45), Administrative (11:00), Waste Water (11:15), Public Work (11:30), City Clerk (11:45), Public Comment (12:00), Council discussion (1:00), Wrap-up Summary (3:15). 





Posted by Kathy Meeh