pages: CityCouncil/2009-01-06.pdf, 8
This data as json
body | date | page | text | path |
---|---|---|---|---|
CityCouncil | 2009-01-06 | 8 | Vice Mayor deHaan stated doing a two year budget becomes concerning during tough times; good estimates are needed while the City has to wait for reports to come from the County, etc. ; everyday that goes by without action while waiting for the shoe to fall causes the City to always be behind; making it through the current year is not a good way to run a budget; the Fiscal Sustainability Committee is looking at ten years out and will provide a report on how to address obligations. The Interim Finance Director stated the Saturday workshop would be scheduled as soon as possible. (09-016) Recommendation to receive a report on Fire Department resource allocation. The City Manager provided a brief presentation. Mayor Johnson opened the public comment. Speakers : Domenick Weaver, Alameda Firefighters (submitted letter) ; Dan Robertson, Oakland Firefighters Local 55; David Howard, Save Our City Alameda; Jeff DelBono, Local 689 Alameda City Firefighters; Rosemary McNally, Alameda; Bill Smith, Alameda. There being no further speakers, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment. The Interim Finance Director stated the world is not the same as it was when the Measure P process began in April and May of last year; on July 18, the Anderson School at UCLA indicated there would be no recession in the balance of 2008 and 2009; then, the bottom fell out of the market in August and the country had the blackest October since the depression; if the Anderson School of Economics could not have forecasted what occurred in the national and global economy, no one working at the City or designing Measure P calculations could have done any better; if the economy recovers in 36 months, the City will reap the rewards of the effort; the tax is a discretionary fund that the Council can allocate as desired; the City is not in bankruptcy mode; however, times are tough; the City hired an economic firm to look at the property transfer tax because it is a compounded revenue source that depends on the number of transactions, the value of the house, the time of the close of escrow and the ability to get financing; the revenues are not going to be as optimistic as estimated in April and May the City needs to remain cautious and retain the reserve; further stated the Fire Department budget is in line with appropriations and are on projection; funding would require taking money from other Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 8 January 6, 2009 | CityCouncil/2009-01-06.pdf |