HomeMy WebLinkAbout0471.091•
October 11, lS91
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
Palo AltQ J California
Attention: Financa committee
Ri§VLTS OP 99MHUN1TY MBETING ON APPROPRIATE LEVELS Of SERVJCR
~t 111 Brief
This report is for information purposes only, and no cOllMcil action
is required. It summarizes the recommendations and suggestions
made by citizens to the Fiflance Comroi ttee at the October J
community ~eetinq on levels of service.
Background
In February 1991, the city Council assigned to the Finance
Committee the task ot defining a Council priority on appropriate
service levels. The Co~ittee asked stafE to provide info~ation
on the current level of direct service provision to the public and
an indication of whether~ in staff's professional judgement, it was
superior, average or minimal~ CMR:385:91 contained this informa
tion.
The Committee invited putllic comments and suggestions about service
levels and revenue enhanc~ment options in the commu~ity Services
Department at a public meeting October 3 in the City Council
Cha:mbers~
Suggestions from the Public
staff has revie~ed each of the approximately 500 letters, cards and
Qral comments made by the public. The majority of public input
involved expressions of support for particular programs or
services s or requests to expand services. The remainiMq recommen
dations and sU9qestions fell into three general catego~ies:
QI.R:471:91
i . ---.--.~ ,,~.~. -~-. . ""~
--'----"-_.-._---.
o
o
o
Potential revenue incrEases or new revenues;
Reduce~ service levels; and
Criteria for prioritizing services.
The sections which follow 5u1MIarize the si,lqgestions made by th-e
puJolic.
Potential Revenu. Increases
Suggestions about increasinq revenues or potential new revenues
included:
Have the R.~creation Division. sponsor a bingo game to raise mone~t.
Increase fees for artists using the CUltural Center.
Add a refuse surcharge on utility hills to fund playground
equipment, park lighting, and rest room lighting. The surcha~ge
would be assessed on refuse collection for residents and busi
nesg~s. and a surcharge should also be added to tollgate collec
tions at the landfill.
Add a donation box in the libraries and other City facilities.
Hold public meetings to explore fundraising and revenue alterna
tiv.es.
Recognize donors publicly, and alIa'''' c1onations to be earmarked for
specific p~ograms.
Fund lighting at parks and dog run areas with pay lighting and/or
corporate donations.
Sell 1 or 2 library branches, and invest the interest earnings to
support library services.
Charge fees or
libraries, such
lectures.
"subscriptions" to use special services at the
as videos~ art check out. music tapes, and
Institute the following new taxes:
a a business license tax;
o a real estate trensfer taxj
o a property parcel tax; and
o a special tax based on square footage on property tax
bills to support services such as libraries.
CMR:471:91 2
•
. -
Increase the tr~nsient occupancy tax~
Establish a checkoff box on property tax bills that is similar to
the one on income tax forms to support specific City services.
Establish a $.50 tax on movie and conce~t tickets.
Sell advertising space at ballparks, and institute and collect a
percentage of vending machine sales and concession stand sales at
ballparks.
Establisb categories for donations (maintenance of City beauty,.
maintenance ot athletic facilities, Friends of the Libraries) and
publish ~onors' names in the newspapers from tjme to time.
Charge a flat annual fee on property tax bills for paramedic
services.
Have fundraising parties and danc~s on a regular basis.
Form citizen commi~sions to assist with fundraisinq.
utilize volunteers for fundraisinq.
utilize the Rinconada Masters Swim group's willingness to volunteer
to do fundraising~
solicit corporate sponsorship from the pet-related businesses in
the area (kennels, grooming salons, etc~).
Create -Friends of (particular activity)-funds.
Increase fees for a wide variety of service~~ Specific recommenda
tions included fees charged for sports facilities, a yearly
household fee for Foothills Park, sell passes for library usage,
increase qreen fees, increase tees tor recreation events and
classes, charge park fees for non-residents.
Increase fees but let the increase be directed to specific areas.
peg the user fee increases to some star.dard, such as inflation
times a constant.
Fine bicycle riders for breaking traffic laws~
Charge residents fer sideW'alk repair and safet:r-related tree
trimming.
Charge parking fees in City lots.
Institute higher penalties for infractions of the building code.
CMR:471:91 1
--".------"---------
,
.;\,;., ':''-'-.
•
: 1
I
I
i
-;~~s.:,
<!"if-
J,-::
Increase fee for ga.rbage collection. (Note: This is a Refuse Fund
prcqr.1n. )
Institute a time-limited, modest property parcel tax for specifi
cally identified prograrls, ser· ... ices and/or infrastrl..3.cture projects.
Charge a hotel tax.
Charge a tax on luxury items, such as alcohol, restaurant meals,
~otel roo~s, cigarettes, movie theatre tickets.
Increase book fines at libraries.
Have a yearly ball to raise money.
Fo~ a citizens' committee to obtain grant money.
Explore the possibility of obtaining a special collect ion which
might make the library an attractive recipient of additional gifts.
Seek donaticns from corpcrations.
Institute a special tax for libraries.
Charge a fea to renew library cards, collect it ~hen the pat~on
next uses card to avoid billing.
Implement a user fee for library usage~ with the alternative opt.ion
of volunteering time. Charge non-residents more than residents for
library usage.
Seek donations from construction companies, architects, designers,
etc4, to upgrade parks.
Make it easier for people to make donations to programs.
Create a tax deductible charitable donation system set up so that
-mone.y coulo. be directed to specific services~ similar to a
university alumni fund.
Suggest that community residents volunteer one day per month to
community service or contribute one day's net salary per month for
one year to save City programs.
Ask all adults to make a donation to the cit 1· at Christmas time
instead of buying qifts for other adults.
Explore trusts and bequests set up for specific servicE'S.
Ask downtown merchants to install pay toilets in parking a~eas to
attract shoppers to downtow~ Palo Alto.
CMR:471:91 4
\
,
!
l The Te.r.nan Te;1nis Termites (Senior Tennis Gro\.lp) has volunteered to
help maintain the courts and to provide heavy-duty trash cC'llectors
for-the court.s.
Sell advertisinq space in monthly utility bills.
Allow office use (i.e., highest and best use) dc~nto~~ if it pays
an average equivalent to the ~ales tax.
Encourage private-public partnerships by waiving fees.
Solicit ohotos from residents of their families and the City.
Create an exhibit and charge ~dmis~ion.
consider raising business taxes modestly for those type~ of
businesses that do not pay very much sales tax.
Reduced Service Le.vels
several citizens pOinted to areas in which service le'lels could be
tr immed ba ck :
Use volunteers at night to run City facilities, such as the
CUltural Center.
Use volunteers in other program areas.
cancel the El Camino Park lease.
Residents and those who ~ork in the City could vol~nteer to fixl
renovate I and build necessary community projec~s~
participate in cooperat.ive training programs with neighboring
jurisdictions and agencies using the South Bay Cooperative Library
system as a model~
Change the loan period for library materials from three '...:~eks to
one week. By doing this l fe.wer copie~ of one volume -would be
needed because a given volume could circulate to more people.
Change the heating system at the pools so that they are either more
cost effective heaters, or so they heat less of the pool volume.
Have program Users do D",aintenance work, particularly at facility
related pr-ogram areas (arts l theaters, pools, etc.).
Restructure hu:rnan service contracts on a fee per client basis ~ith
a reduced number of clients.
Have an outside management audit of city staff, and communicate the
results clearly to the community.
CHR: 471: 91 5
~.-~.,,"-~ .. ~---"--
•
Form citizen cOIn.onissions to allow cutbacks in adrninistrati ve staff.
House hum;n
efficiencies
cos.ts.. etc.
service agencies together so that they I'tay realize
in utilitie.s. clerical coverage, photocopy machine
The City could support human service groups by
o coordinating a bartering process between different
9roups. For example, one group could exchange its space
to artist and child care groups for other services~
o allo-.ing groups to tap int.o the City' s larg~ buying
po'olller, and therefore realize disccunts.
Information and referral services are duplicated in £>alo Alto.
Pe:'linsula Area r.nfornation. and Referral Service (PUIRS) could
re~uce its services to seniors as the Senior Center and La Com ida
otfer 5imilar services~
Terminate PAArRS -~ediatjon can be taken over by Human Resources
Commission. Other services can be done by eay Area Information and
RQtrleval system (BArRS).
Phase out Palo Alto community Child Care (PACCC) administrative
allocation over the next few years.
~aximize the use of part~tirne personnel~
Consolidate at the middle manage~ent level.
Maximize the use of volunteers; invite specific
specific services use their expertise;
recognition program to encourage volunteerism.
citizens to provide
develop a citi.zen
Have a Palo Alto ~entennial Initiative on Service, celebrating all
that volunteers do and encouraging more to get involved.
C~eate a City-wide volunteer corps and a preservation fund for city
5e~~ices. ~he City ~ould match what the volunteer~ raise.
Eliminate all positions with open personnel requisitions.
Reduce Police and :Fire staffing levels~
Review salaries and perks for administrators.
salaries by from 1.5 to 10 percent.
cut open hours of City facilities.
Cut management
change to horticulturally sound plant maintenance practices as
recommended by Plant ~nesty of Seattle.
CHR:471:91 5
l~~"" ,
LU
/
Ask Garden Club to maintain some of Palo Alto gardens, such as the
triangies at some intersectio~s.
Have community Gardeners upgrade parks and playground landscaping.
Groups that use facilities could provide voluntary maintenance for
all events and could maintain fields, ...,ith the city pr-ovidii19
supervision.
Employ financial consultants to meet with community organizations
to determine lllore efficient ways to operate and explore fundraising
possibilities.
Close a library -Terman and/or College Terrace.
xeep further development of Byxbee Park to a minimum. {Note: This
is a Refuse Fund program.)
Make the skateboard bowl pay tor itself or close it.
Hire better contractors.
Postpone landscaping and paving of parkinq lots.
Recycle leftover lumber from various projects.
Cancel plans for traffic light at Bryant and Embarcadero.
This is funded by the Electric Fund.)
Lease the Golf Course to a private operator.
Install timed lights at Mitchell Park.
(Note:
section off a few shallow lanes of Rinconada Pool so they can be
heated to a comfortable level for older swimmers and leave the rest
of the pool cooler for others.
Check out solar heating for Rinconada Pool.
Place signs in Rinconada Pool sho~ers to conserve water. Install
showerheads that save water.
TUrn off the lights at Rinconada Pool after dawn.
Have fewer special events unless entry fees are charged.
Eliminate the coax cable system.
Analyze the effectiveness of the para~edics~
Reduce street sweeping to once a month except '\fWi·~~n leaves are
falling. (Note: This is a Refuse Fund program.)
C>!R:471:91 7
•
\
'<',"
·>
Purchase a maximmc of one copy per library of best sellers and then
establish a shelf of rental books. Books vould be free for t~o
days and then there 'l/io'Uld be a charge of $ • .20 per day thereafter~
Vse Kid-Penin~ula Access Corporation (¥2AC) to disperse informa
tion.
The local 9'overnment shoula continue to facili ta"te interagency
agreements and ir.stitutional chanqes that result in innovative
collaborations between city and private agencies (i.e., tne City's
facilitation of the on-site School Age Child Care agreement bet",een
PACCC, a non-profit cbild care agency, and the Palo Alto Unified
Schoal District.
Criteria for Oeciding Which Service Lev~ls Shou~g be Changed
A number of suggestions ... ere tnade for specific cr iterLa that
Council could consider in deciding ~hich service levels should be
changed;
Increase participation/volume in fee-related areas I such as the
pools, ~here most costs are fixed and each additional participant
therefore contributes more towards recovering total costs than the
previous participant.
~eductions snould not occur for services or programs that:
o are unique
o ~eceive community support, evidenced by
-volunteers
-fundraisinq
-user fees
o the city has a long-term comndtment towards funding
o have a constituency that is grol,,'ing
Use efficiency or numbEr of clients served as criteria for
prioritizing services, rather than whether a service is ranked as
Superior, Average, or Minimal.
city Council staff reports should include 1) utilization data, and
2} net cost of programs in order to be useful.
Maintain Palo Alto's commit-rnent to children and youth.
Mandate that clubs, service groups, etc., pay their own way it the
City is going to provide administration, managell1F.nt and facilities~
CMR:471:91 a
. ;
\
"
Cut programs ac~oss the board.
Be fair! Take a li~tle from each department.
Let the public prioritize thrcugh elections or polls.
cut areas where duplication of services exists. For example, cut
recreation proqrama that are duplicates of programs offered by
YWCA, YMCA. Adult Education, Foothill College, etc.
It 6. library has to be closed, make the choice based on which
provide full service (i.e. reference).
All discounted fees s~ould be based on proof of need.
Maintain Palo Alto's commitment to the arts.
GiVe priority to agencies that provide essential human services -
health, childcare, programs for the needy, children's services.
GiVe priority to agencies that fundraise. Give matching funds.
Place the higfie&t priority with the most vulnerable citizens.
The numbers of users per day should determine which facilities to
maintain.
Provide an even distribution of events for all ages.
City should provide for basic health and Eafety of the ~ommunity.
Retain heavily used programs for children~ youth and seniors.
Drop programs "Which no longer provide an important or timely
service to residents.
Ask Which classes supplement or replace curtailments in publ ie
education.
Consider which programs are self-supporting.
Let the public vote on CUbberley programs.
Look at non-revenue-producing departments.
Changes and/or cuts to Human Services programs should be based on
the ability of the program to generate revenue on it's own.
Prioriti.es should be based on the need for services to individuals
the City deems as priority. Suggested priority list:
CHR:471:91 9
~-----, ........ ,~.-.. "' ... -,-~-'''--....
/'
"
a. safety; police and fire prevention services.
~. services to low income children, Aid to Families vith Depen
dent Children (AFDC) recipients, and $ingle-parent (amilies.
c. services to seniors on fixed incomes.
d. mental health and crisis prevention services.
e. environmer.tal programs that benefit the greater community and
enhance citizen health and ~ell being.
Can the City somehow "broker~ cheaper audits for non-profits it
supports, such as Community Development Block Grant aUdits?
Why does the city spend as much on animal services as on school
maintenance?
FUture PUblic Comment
At its october 10 meeting, the Finance Committee sU9gested further
public input in a 1l'Iore structured and focused format to c.ontinue
the appropriate levels of service discussions. Specific ideas are
to be solicited in t~o areas: ho~ to provide services with less
resourCes through efficiency improvementsj and how program areas
can raise more revenues specif ica lly relate" to their programs.
staff has ~ecommendcd the following format for public input
sessions.
Format Several concurrent -brainstorming-sessions with members
of the community will be hel~ at the CUbberley community
site.
Time Early November, ... ith two sessions on one night. Th.e
first session ~ill run from approximately 6:30 to 8:00
p.m., and the seco!1d session from about 8:00 to 9~30 p.m.
A second round of meetings may also be scheduled to allow
time for representatives to get back to their respective
groups to solicit reactions and/or additional input.
Stafting ~ member of the Finance Co~~ittea ~ill chair each
meeting. Staff support ~ill be provided by the Finance
Department and the Community services Department. Other
members of the Council ~ill be encouraged to attend the
groups of their choice.
CMR:471:91 10
, Subjects
Public
'-''''''
/'
."
-Brainstorming" groups will be broken dOllin into the
following subject areas: Sports~ parks, Libraries, Human
Services, Seniors, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts.
Chairperson McCown will make aGsiqnments for the subject
areas to the Finance committee members.
Already organized cow~unity groups will be contacted by
the community Services Department for participation in
the qroups. Public notices of the meGtings will infor~
the general citizenry.
Respect~tted'
2:EELE '"
!!:udget Manager
! fc"-9-,,£r
HARRISON/
tor of F 'ne.nee
Related Staff Reports:
CMR;:471:91
CMR.:215:91
CMR:385:91
11
~--_"_'_r J; ... '""" ... _ ......... "-~-----.'.
..
•