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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 275-05.' City of Palo Alto City Manager's Report ---------------------------------- TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM: CITY MANAGER DATE: JUNE 13, 2005 2 DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES CMR: 275:05 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO CAST BALLOTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY IN FAVOR OF A PROPOSED INCREASE IN A SANTA CLARA COUNTY VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT ASSESSMENT ON CITY-OWNED PROPERTY RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Council adopt the attached Resolution authorizing the City Manager to cast ballots on behalf of the City in favor of a proposed increase in a Santa Clara County Vector Control District assessment on City-owned property. DISCUSSION The Santa Clara County Vector Control District (District) has recently sent ballots to County property owners for the purpose of voting for or against a proposed assessment for mosquito, vector and disease control services. The City has received ballots for assessments on 21 city- owned properties totaling $585.20 for fiscal year 2005-06. Individual property assessments range from a high of $163.02 to a low of $8.36, based on use and size. The proposed assessment is an increase to the District's current assessment approved in 1996. (For fiscal year 2004-05, the City paid District assessments totaling $153.98 on 12 City-owned parcels.) The proposed assessment cannot be increased in future years without an approval from property owners in another ballot proceeding, except for an annual adjustment tied to the change in the San Francisco Bay Area Consumer Price Index, not to exceed 3 percent per year. Funded by a special property assessment established in 1988, the District is managed by the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health and is governed by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. The District is the only Santa Clara County public health program that controls and monitors mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects and rodents. It also tests for and works to prevent diseases that are spread by mosquitoes, rodents and other insects, such as West Nile Virus, encephalitis, hantavirus and plague. According to the ballot information provided by the District, the proposed increase in assessment is necessary to compensate for inflationary cost increases causing service costs to exceed available revenues. In addition, the District has recently depleted its reserve by spending extra funds to protect public health, animals and wildlife from West Nile Virus, a new disease spread by mosquitoes. If the proposed CMR:275:05 Page 1 of3 assessment is not approved, the District has represented that it will be forced to reduce its mosquito control and disease prevention service levels. If approved, the District states that it would have sufficient resources to continue controlling insects and other harmful animals and to enhance such services in order to better respond to emerging public health threats such as West Nile virus. i A summary of proposed services to be paid for by the new assessment is attached. It should be noted that the District's abatement and disease prevention effort involves the use of environmentally-sensitive approaches. Instead of spraying for adult mosquitoes, the District finds and removes the stagnant water and weedy/overgrown areas that support mosquito breeding. For breeding sources that cannot be removed, the District uses mosquito fish and natural materials to eliminate mosquito larvae. This approach is endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency, the University of California and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESOURCE IMPACT Should the proposed assessment be approved, the cost to the City FY 2005-06 will be $585.20. For future years, the cost could increase based on an annual CPI adjustment not to exceed 3 percent per year. If approved, funds to cover the assessment cost will be budgeted. POLICY IMPLICATIONS This recommendation is consistent with existing City policy in seeking Council's position on ballot measures. TIMELINE To be counted, ballots must be cast by June 21, 2005. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Voting for an increased property assessment for County services does not constitute a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act. PREPARED BY: WILLIAM W. FELLMAN Manager, Real Property DEPARTMENT HEAD APPROVAL: CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: I Direct, Administrative Services ~paJ;J CMR:275:05 Page 2 of3 '. :. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Summary of Proposed District Services Attachment B: Resolution CMR:275:05 Page 3 of3 ATTACHMENT A Summary of Proposed Services: Mosquito Controu-Year-round control of m0squitoes before they hatch, from water sources, using environmentally sensitive methods. Inspection and control of mosquitoes in residential, commercial, and agricultural areas. Free mosquito-eating fish are available for backyard fishponds. West Nile Virus Disease Prevention -: Enhanced year-round testing for West Nile Virus and other disease prevention services in locations in which disease is found. Disease Surveillance/Prevention -Year-round testing and monitoring for other diseases carried by insects and rodents, such as encephalitis, dog heartworm, malaria, plague, hantavirus, and Lyme disease and other new or emerging pathogens. If diseases are discovered, the District would take actions to help prevent a disease outbreak. Rodent Control-Management of rats and other harmful rodents in outdoor areas, residential yard inspection and monitoring for rodenttransmitied diseases such as hantavirus, arenavirus, and plague. Community Education -Regularly educate the public about protecting themselves and their pets from diseases carried by insects and rodents, and how to prevent mosquito breeding in backyard locations. Vector Control /Facilities -Proposed assessment includes funding for a vector control facility, including laboratory space for disease testing and adequate space for mosquito and disease control equipment, supplies and technicians. Response to Service Requests -Property owners and residents can call the District year-round for a service request on their property. Service technicians arrive and address owners' problems, typically within 2-3 business days of receiving a service request. ATTACHMENT B NOT YET APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO CAST BALLOTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY IN FAVOR OF A PROPOSED INCREASE IN A SANTA CLARA COUNTY VECTOR CONTROL DISTRIcT ASSESSMENT ON CITY-OwNED PROPERTY WHEREAS, the Santa Clara County Vector Control District ("District") is proposing to levy an assessment on real property within Santa Clara County 'to provide funding for mosquito vector and disease control services which is in addition to the District's current assessment approved in 1996; and WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto ("City") has received ballots for the purpose of voting for or against assessments on 21 city-owned properties which collectively total $585.20 for fiscal year 2005-06; and WHEREAS, the proposed assessment would be subject to an annual adjustment tied to the change in the San Francisco Bay Area Consumer P~ice Index, not to exceed 3 percent per year and cannot otherwise be increased without approval from property owners in another ballot proceeding; and WHEREAS, the District has represented that if the assessment is not approved it will be forced to reduce its mosquito control and disease prevention service levels; and WHEREAS, the District has represented that if the assessment is approved it will have sufficient resources to continue providing services to control insects and other harmful animals and to enhance such services in order to better respond to emerging public heath threats such as West Nile virus; and WHEREAS, the City, in the interest of public health and safety, supports providing additional funding to the District to ensure year-round control of mosquitoes and enhanced disease prevention services, including year-found testing for and responding to diseases that are carried by mosquitoes, rodents, and other insects, such as West Nile Virus, encephalitis, hantavirus and plague. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: 1 050525 sm 0100368 NOT YET APPROVED SECTION 1. The Council hereby authorizes the City Manager to cast ballots on behalf of the City in favor of a proposed increase in a Santa Clara County Vector Control District Assessment on City-owned Property. SECTION 2. The Council finds that this resolution does not constitute a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Senior Assistant City Attorney 050525 SID 0100368 2 Mayor APPROVED: City Manager Director of Administrative Services