May 10, 2007

District 10 Budget/ Neighborhood Forum gives constituents a voice

Council member, police chief and others discuss priorities

By Carol Rosen
Staff Writer

A group of about 25 constituents joined City Councilmember Nancy Pyle and her staff to discuss the city’s proposed operating and capital budgets and to set priorities for services at the second annual District 10 Budget/Neighborhood Forum.

Some of the participants at the District 10 Budget/Neighborhood Forum work on what services they want maintained or enhanced and what they think should be reduced or eliminated. From left are Cliff Crane, Kris Crane, Richard Silva, George Bajada, Kermit Olson, Ray Hybarger and Maxine Hybarger. Laura Lam officiated and Kathy Sutherland from Nancy Pyle’s office took notes.

The meeting featured presentations from Assistant City Manager Mark Linder and Strong Neighborhoods Initiative Manager Laura Lam. Among those present were Police Chief and Almaden resident Rob Davis, VEP President Marilyn Rodgers and AVCA’s Bob Boydston.

After welcoming the constituents to the Almaden Winery, Pyle introduced Linder, who discussed the budget outlook for the next five years and explained potential positive and negative affects on the budget. He described the general economic environment as one with modest growth in economically sensitive times with slightly higher job growth in the last year yet not close to the peak the valley reached during the 1990s. The city manager’s office does not expect a return to the growth levels of the late 1990s, but it also doesn’t expect a recession. The biggest risks to the economic climate are a drop in the real estate market and a lack of sales tax growth.

The five-year General Fund forecast shows that every year through the 2011-12 fiscal year forecast, there is a shortfall in revenue or expenses. This peaks in 2009-10 when the emergency communications fee sunsets. If it’s not renewed the shortfall is predicted to be $34.3; but if it is renewed, the shortfall drops to $14 million compared with $25.5 million a year earlier.

Linder next discussed this year’s community-based budgeting process. A random telephone survey in January indicated the major priorities among taxpayers were fixing streets and public safety, while a group of neighborhood association presidents said they want to see an improved economic vitality, full funding of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services, code enforcement and police-community relations.

After explaining the need to balance the general fund and that employee costs are two-thirds of the fund’s costs—largely because the price of benefits continues to rise—Linder said that the city has 450 fewer employees than five years ago which led into a discussion about beefing up the police force.

Those attending questioned how to fund additional police officers amid concerns about recent burglaries in the area. Pyle explained that attrition has left only two burglary detectives for the entire south side of the city. Somehow these detectives are managing, catching some responsible for a spate of burglaries in Evergreen, for example. But it’s still hard for these two detectives to meet the needs of a growing population.

“I need to hear loudly and clearly today that you want more police protection,” Pyle said. “That’s what is necessary to turn this thing around.”

For 2007-08, the city added 15 officers, but it takes 18 months to train them and get them out on the street. At the same time, there are a number of officers retiring. Davis and Linder explained that the police department presented its five-year plan to the city, but San Jose can’t afford to add the 500-plus new employees over the next five years.

Among other budget highlights are the addition of 12.6 positions and 23 new parks for PRNS, restoring aquatics positions and funding for four school-leased pool sites, 22 positions for a variety of city community centers and 17 re-use sites and the addition of two code enforcement inspectors.

District 10 capital improvements include the Almaden Lake Park playground, Almaden Winery Irrigation automation, the Graystone Park stage, relocating fire stations 12 and 17, Branham Lane improvements and improvements to the Chateau Drive storm drain-phases one and two.

A number of user fees will be increased during the upcoming fiscal year including recycling to $25.80 from $20.15 for a 32-gallon container, a 9 percent sewer service and use charge, a 9 percent storm sewer increase and a 12 percent municipal water increase.

Linder also announced a number of meetings for the public to attend if they’d like to share their likes and dislikes regarding budget concerns. City council budget study sessions are scheduled for May 10, May 11, May 14, May 16 and May 17. (Check the city council agenda at www.sanjoseca.gov. to get times and locations.) Public budget hearings are scheduled for evening meetings on May 15 and June 11. The city council will review/approve the mayor’s June budget message on June 12 and the budget will be adopted at the June 19 city council meeting.

The next part of the program concerned priorities and eliminations. Lam divided participants into two groups for discussions on what services to maintain and enhance and what services should be reduced and/or eliminated. After the groups worked out their lists, Lam read off the suggestions and then asked each participant to vote for those that were most important. Each person was given three votes for each.

On the maintaining and enhancing side, a cost recovery program—developer fees, city services, police services—differentiating between nonprofit versus private events got 13 votes followed by safety and security—police services, volunteer support—and deferred maintenance for streets, sewers including sidewalk repair grant program with eight votes each.

On the services to reduce and/or eliminate, there were 16 votes for reducing salary and benefits packages for employees including second tier for new employees and “at-will” employees. Eliminating use of outside consultants received six votes and outsourcing security for downtown nightclubs—use only non-city employees—received five votes.

After thanking those attending for giving up a beautiful Saturday morning, Pyle suggested that next year the planning session should be held in the evening to ensure a larger turnout. She also told participants she would be holding an August Economic Development Forum with the time and place to be announced.