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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 2014-08-04 - Special Meeting 101 City Council, Special Meeting Civic Center Council Chambers 777 Cypress Avenue Redding, California August 4, 2014 3:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Rick Bosetti with the following Council Members present: Gary Cadd, Patrick Jones, Missy McArthur, and Francie Sullivan. Also present were: City Manager Kurt Starman, Assistant City Manager/Electric Utility Director Barry Tippin, City Attorney Rick Duvernay, Deputy City Manager Greg Clark, Assistant City Clerk Teresa Rudolph, and Executive Assistant Sharlene Tipton. REGULAR CALENDAR: REPORTS & COMMUNICATIONS OF DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMTITEES 2A. Proposal to Call and Provide for a Municipal Election for the Purpose of Submitting to the Voters a Measure to Adopt a One-Half Cent Special Transactions and Use Tax [E-070/T-010] City Manager Starman relayed Mayor Bosetti's proposal as outlined in the Report to City Council (staff report), incorporated herein by reference, to: (1)discuss calling for a municipal election to be held on November 4, 2014, for the purpose of submitting to the voters a measure to adopt a one-half cent special transactions and use tax to be used to reduce crime and public nuisances associated with the effects of the Public Safety Realignment Act (AB 109); and (2) adopt, modify, or reject a resolution pertaining to the proposal. Mr. Starman explained that the Council cannot unilaterally impose a special one-half cent transactions and use tax, it must be approved by a minimum of two-thirds of the voters. He further explained that it also requires four affirmative votes of the City Council in order to place such a measure on the ballot, and noted that Friday, August 8, 2014, is the deadline to place a measure on the November 4, 2014,ballot. City Attorney Duvernay noted that the ordinance, as written, would sunset in six years. He explained that a vote of the people is required to increase taxes, but it only takes the vote of the City Council to reduce taxes. Mayor Bosetti opined that he would like to see the County's work release program expanded to at least 500-600 offenders, with offenders not completing the program being sent to out-of-area facilities. He noted that this would require the City entering into a contract with the County of Shasta Sheriff's Department to monitor and administer the program. The following speakers opposed submitting to the voters a measure to adopt a special transactions and use tax: Robert Belgeri, Rob McDonald, Peter Scales, Tracy Costello, Linda Johnson, Bob Reitenbach, Murray Blake, and Charles W. Alexander. In response to a suggestion to look at other ways to help fight crime, Mayor Bosetti referred to Police Chief Paoletti's Course of Action, incorporated herein by reference, distributed at the quarterly Town Hall meeting on July 30, 2014, which is available to the public in the Office of the City Clerk. Jeremy Pagan and Bud Hancock each provided suggestions to modify the proposed ballot box language, and are incorporated herein by reference. Mary Machado, representing Shasta Voices, supported the proposed measure with the following modifications: (1) reduce the tax to one-quarter cent; (2) fund work programs, versus community clean up; and (3) fund additional Community Service Officers. She stressed that this is a County problem which needs to be addressed by everyone, not just the City of Redding. Ron Largent favored submission of a measure to adopt a special transactions and use tax on the November 4, 2014,ballot. 08/04/2014 102 A discussion amongst the Council ensued. Council Member Jones stated that while he fundamentally opposes taxes, it is the right of the people to gather signatures to submit issues to the vote of the people. He expressed disappointment with the City Council for not looking to the City's budget to find the necessary monies to fund the Police Department. Council Member Cadd opined that he personally did not support such a tax, but he would vote for a measure seeking a one-quarter cent tax increase only because it allows the voters a right to have a say on the ballot. Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko provided a brief overview of how the Shasta County Sheriff's Department utilizes citizen volunteers. Chief Paoletti stated that as the leader of an organization, his main concern is safety for the police officers and volunteers. He opined that the emphasis on volunteers should not overshadow the necessity for more trained police officers. A MOTION WAS MADE by Council Member Sullivan, seconded by Council Member McArthur, to adopt a resolution calling and providing for a municipal election to be held on November 4, 2014, for the purpose of submitting to the voters a measure to adopt a one-half cent special transactions and use (sales) tax, establishing policies and procedures in connection with such an election; and requesting the services of the registrar of Voters in conducting said election; all to be used to reduce crime and public nuisances associated with the effects of the Public Safety Realignment Act(AB 109). The Vote: AYES: Council Members - McArthur, Sullivan, and Bosetti NOES: Council Members - Cadd and Jones ABSTAIN: Council Members - None ABSENT: Council Members - None Motion failed due to the lack of four affirmative votes. A MOTION WAS MADE by Council Member Cadd, seconded by Council Member Jones, to adopt Resolution No. 2014-083, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Redding calling and providing for a municipal election to be held on November 4, 2014, for the purpose of submitting to the voters a measure to adopt a one-quarter cent special transactions and use (sales) tax, establishing policies and procedures in connection with such an election; and requesting the services of the registrar of Voters in conducting said election; if approved by the voters, the tax would sunset in six years and be used for reducing crime and public nuisances associated with effects of AB109 and other criminal activity by hiring additional police officers and personnel within Redding Police Department; funding offender work programs; and funding incarceration outside the County, to address problems associated with the release of criminals due to lack of jail space. The Vote: AYES: Council Members - Cadd, Jones, McArthur, Sullivan, and Bosetti NOES: Council Members - None ABSTAIN: Council Members - None ABSENT: Council Members - None Resolution No. 2014-083 is on file in the Office of the City Clerk. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Bosetti declared the meeting adjourned at the hour of 5:05 p.m. APPROVED: • 4111Rick Bosetti, Mayor ATTEST: 4111 1 / Teresa Rudolph,Assistant City Clerk 08/04/2014