HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002 - MINUTES - 9/5/2002 WORKSHOPWORKSHOP
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
SEPTEMBER 5, 2002
CALL TO ORDER
A. ROLL CALL – All Present
B. REPORT POSTING OF AGENDA: City Clerk reported the Agenda was posted
in accordance with Council procedures.
C. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Howard Lapham, read prepared statement, copy attached.
Ken Hinckley, San Marino Hotel, stated he did author Measure V arguments; that
small hotels are not benefiting from the TOT as it is currently being used; and
that passage of the measure will require accountability of the funds.
Rob Parkins, Palm Springs, stated that Measure V will take away funding from
public safety and should not be supported; and in fact Measure U though X
should be opposed, see attached copy.
Mathew Talala, stated that the initiatives on the ballot will only serve to
undermine the City; that the people who initiated these Measures are unknown;
that no one knows who the signatures gathers were; that there are no answers to
why these initiatives were brought forward and that the Council is elected to
govern the people and the government should not be run by initiative.
Jim Dollar, Palm Springs stated that concurrence is given to the preceding
comments.
Eric Langmann, Hotelier, sated that the UUT is still needed and should be
supported by the citizens.
WORKSHOP: THE FOLLOWING ARE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS EXPRESSED
BY MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, NOT NECESSARILY IN ORDER, NOR
CATEGORIZED BY WHOM,
1. VOTER EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ON BALLOT MEASURES
City Manager presented handouts concerning budget scenes and reviewed each
in detail
Council discussion included review of each scenario; it was determined some
cuts to safety will result in life and property loss; that the paramedic program
would be cut and Fire Station 5 closed; the Downtown Police Officers would be
cut along with the Bike Patrol; that response time will be longer throughout the
City; the Mounted Police program will be cut along with PAL and DARE; that
tourism will be effected by the cuts to safety; that the stoppage of the expansion
to the Convention Center will cause tourism to decline; that it has taken three
years to bring some tourism back to the Community from the recession times and
all will go back to the same level; that the scenarios are not who the City is or
wants to be; that many programs were implemented to enhance the City; ;that
Quality of Life should be and does need to be maintained; that every department
will be effected with across the board cuts; that the City will be forced to move
away from being a full service community; that a 20% cut to services will be
drastic to the Community; that the initial cuts may not be enough and more
needed in years 2 and 3; that the education program must be impartial, see
attached City Attorney analysis; that a consultant could be hired to conduct the
impartial campaign, see attached proposal; that time is of the essence and that
the Community must be made aware of what will happen if these measures do
succeed.
Council direction: That a formal Budget Resolution be prepared for consideration
for September 10, 2002 along with a proposal from TMG Consultants for
conducting the educational information campaign for the voters.
ADJOURN