Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 01/25/1999 All articles from this issue

City gears for possible ballot to get funding

printer friendly version

By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

City officials are frustrated. They get requests for basketball courts the city doesn't have. They get complaints about service levels the city can't afford.

"It's an issue: the number of things that have gone through the budget process, that people want, that we can't do," said Phil Rose, Los Altos city manager.

So Los Altos City Council members are gearing up to do something about it. At their Jan. 19 meeting they voted to establish a 30-50 member blue-ribbon citizen committee that will consider city service levels and the feasibility of increasing them.

Then the committee will look at funding the wish list - which may mean a ballot measure in November that would raise local taxes.

Councilman King Lear said he believes the problems go back to a general shortfall based on prior "state take-aways."

Unlike Los Gatos, which has "a huge amount of sales tax," Lear said, Los Altos relies on other sources of city income, some of which may need to go up.

A city-wide blue ribbon committee "will give credibility to the city's needs," said Councilman John Moss.

"The more people who can get involved, the better," said Mayor Lou Becker.

The city needs money to finish its recreation development at 401 Rosita. City and school officials are considering developing the gyms at Blach and Egan intermediate schools for city-schools use.

The city lacks funds to respond to the review of the city's public service department that showed several areas in which the city could provide a higher level of service, including streets, median landscaping, park maintenance and engineering services, Rose said.

Those who want to serve on the committee will apply to the mayor. He will nominate his selections to the city council, which will confirm the committee at its March 9 meeting.

Once under way, the committee will complete its work by May. The council will hold public hearings and, if deemed appropriate, will adopt ballot measure language and prepare for a campaign.

The last day to approve ballot measure language is Aug. 6, 1999.

"It would be useless to go out and do this if you couldn't deal with it (on the ballot) for another year," Rose said. So the council has structured a process that leaves that option open.