HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso - CC - 024-2012RESOLUTION NO. 24-2012
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURLINGAME
SUPPORTING AB 1455 (HARDY) HIGH SPEED RAIL "CONSTITUTIONAL LEMON" LAW
WHEREAS, voters approved Proposition 1A in November 2008 providing for a $9.95 billion bond, of which $9
billion was approved to fund high speed rail from San Francisco to San Diego in California; and
WHEREAS, the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) business plan is not in keeping with what voters
approved in 2008, nearly tripling the original cost, now estimated at $98.5 to $117 billion for construction costs for Phase I
only (San Francisco to Los Angeles -Anaheim) which does not include maintenance and operating costs; and
WHEREAS, the authors of the Prop IA ballot language and supporting arguments never told voters that the
majority and perhaps totality of construction costs would have to be home by taxpayers rather than the riders of High Speed
Rail or the private sector (indeed, the clear implication to voters was the reverse); and
WHEREAS, the CHSRA has only $3.3 billion in federal funding awarded to construct high speed rail in the Central
Valley with future funding sources unknown but likely to fall upon the State and its taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, the CHSRA potential ridership, revenue and job estimates, having been assessed by independent
experts after the Bond vote, appear to have been significantly overstated, and therefore High Speed Rail may well require
perpetual operating subsidies from the State's General Fund at the expense of other State priorities; and
WHEREAS, the proposed CHSRA business plan has suffered growing criticism and legal challenges from many
communities through which it will run, including those who voted in favor of the original initiative, who are now concerned
as more information is available about CHSRA's use of the power of Eminent Domain to destroy prime agricultural land,
neighborhoods and existing business centers along the proposed route; and
WHEREAS, the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) and the California High Speed Rail Peer Review Group
identified a number of serious deficiencies with the CHSRA business plan related to compliance with the voter approved
bond, Proposition 1A, funding, ridership, route, and overall viability of the project and the California State Auditor report
released on January 24, 2012 states that the high speed rail network's financial situation has become "increasingly risky"; and
WHEREAS, the City of Burlingame has consistently raised these concerns to its local and state legislators,
including most recently in a March 1, 2012 letter to the Governor requesting that he put the matter back before the voters;
and
WHEREAS, any existing rail monies would be better used on the extension, expansion and maintenance of existing
regional and commuter passenger rail systems; and
WHEREAS, AB 1455 would remove the remaining available balance of the $9 billion in State debt funding for the
high speed rail project, while allowing the $950 million segment aimed at local transportation to remain available for future
funding.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Cplmcil of the C�r�y`pf Burlin fie does hereby support
AB 1455. ' I �/J / /
I, Mary Ellen Kearney, Clerk of the City of Burlingame, J#reby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and
regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the Burlingame City Council held on the 2nd day of April 2012, by
the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councihnembers BAYLOCK, BROWNRIGG, DEAL, KEIGHRAN
NOES: Councilmembers: NAGEL (abWZ )
ABSENT: Councilmembers: none /� o xI
Clerk