HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso - CC - 107-2009RESOLUTION NO. 107-2009
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURLINGAME
IN SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL TAXPAYER, PUBLIC SAFETY AND
TRANSPORTATION PROTECTION ACT OF 2010
WHEREAS, California voters have repeatedly and overwhelmingly passed separate ballot
measures to stop State raids of local government funds, and to dedicate the taxes on gasoline to fund
local and state transportation improvement projects; and
WHEREAS, these local government funds are critical to provide the police and fire, emergency
response, parks, libraries, and other vital local services that residents rely upon every day, and gas tax
funds are vital to maintain and improve local streets and roads, to make road safety improvements,
relieve traffic congestion, and provide mass transit; and
WHEREAS, despite the fact that voters have repeatedly passed measures to prevent the State
from taking these revenues dedicated to funding local government services and transportation
improvement projects, the State Legislature has seized and borrowed billions of dollars in local
government and transportation funds in the past few years; and
WHEREAS, this year's borrowing and raids of local government, redevelopment and transit
funds, as well as previous, ongoing raids of local government and transportation funds have lead to
severe consequences for cities, such as layoffs of police, fire and paramedic first responders, fire station
closures, stalled economic development, healthcare cutbacks, delays in road safety improvements,
public transit fare increases and cutbacks in public transit services; and
WHEREAS, State politicians in Sacramento have continued to ignore the will of the voters, and
current law provides no penalties when state politicians take or borrow these locally -dedicated funds;
and
WHEREAS, a coalition of local government, transportation and transit advocates recently filed
a constitutional amendment with the California Attorney General, called the Local Taxpayer, Public
Safety, and Transportation Protection Act of 2010, for potential placement on California's November
2010 statewide ballot; and
WHEREAS, approval of this ballot initiative would close loopholes and change the constitution
to further prevent State politicians in Sacramento from seizing, diverting, shifting, borrowing,
transferring, suspending or otherwise taking or interfering with tax revenues dedicated to funding local
government services, including redevelopment, or dedicated to transportation improvement projects and
mass transit.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Burlingame as
follows:
1. The City Council formally endorses the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation
Protection Act of 2010, a proposed constitutional amendment to the California Constitution.
2. The City Council hereby authorizes the listing of the City of Burlingame in support of the
Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act of 2010 and instructs staff to fax a
copy of this resolution to the drafters of the measure.
Ann Kei an, Mayor
I, Mary Ellen Kearney, City Clerk of the City of Burlingame do hereby certify that the foregoing
Resolution was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 16th day of November, 2009,
and was adopted thereafter by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers: BAYLOCK, DEAL, KEIGHRAN, NAGEL, O'NARONY
NOES: Councilmembers: NONE
ABSENT: Councilmembers: NONE
Mary Ellen Kearney, City Clerk