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<br /> Renuel Myers, 1930 Alameda de las Pulgas, spoke about Emeryville revoking their sales tax and San
<br /> Francisco being forced to raise their sales tax rate to 11%. The City Manager replied to the
<br /> Emeryville situation and stated that Western Electric Company moved their business to San Leandro
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<br /> and thus deprived Emeryville of approximately $300,000. San Leandro had the sales tax as well as
<br /> Emeryville so that wasn't the reason why the company moved.
<br /> Councilman Stout again spoke in regard to the sales tax. He spoke about the possibility of the city
<br /> adopting an ordinance which in effect would state that in the event that this sales tax passes and
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<br /> the other cities in the area do not go along with the sales tax and the County does not adopt a
<br /> uniform sales tax then the Council place the matter on before the people in 1958.
<br /> Councilman Granger, in his belief that this is for the best interest of the City of Redwood City and
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<br /> based on the recommendation of the Department Heads and the City Manager, offered the introduction
<br /> of the ordinance imposing a license tax for the privilege of selling tangible personal property at
<br /> • retail, providing for permits to retailers, providing for the collecting and paying of such tax, and
<br /> prescribing penalties for violations of the provisions. This was seconded by Councilman Weymouth.
<br /> Councilman Weiss read the following prepared statement:
<br /> Whenever the question of taxation or sources of revenue are the subject of discussion,
<br /> I invariably am reminded of the thoughts expressed by Emund Burke, the great English
<br /> Orator and Statesman, and I deem it proper to quote him on this occasion, to wit; "Taxing
<br /> is an easy business - Any projector can contrive new impositions; andy bungler can add
<br /> to the old; but is it altogether wise to have no other bounds to you impositions than
<br /> the patience of those who are to bear them?"
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<br /> In approaching and evaluating the advisability and necessity of the Sales and Use
<br /> Tax, I have been and am guided by those sage words.
<br /> May be erroneously, but at least in all honesty and sincerity, I have come to believe
<br /> in the equity of the Sales and Use Tax. Yet, in approaching its imposition I wanted at
<br /> all times to be certain that I have weighed allpossible aspects and could justify its
<br /> propriety and necessity. At the same time I wanted to be certain that we have done
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<br /> our utmost to provide adequate safeguards to ensure that the imposition of the Sales and
<br /> Use Tax does not be come just another tax on top of all the other taxes that our people
<br /> are already burndened with. Nor did I whish to be a party to any action that would %mai
<br /> permit it becoming just another source, of revenue. I felt that it must definitely be an
<br /> in lieu tax in so far as it is humanly possible to make it so., I am happy to say that the
<br /> majority, if not all, of the council has acquiesced to that philosoPy.
<br /> When the council began its studies of the advisability of the imposition of a sales
<br /> and use tax and more specifically at out meeting of September 2L , and October 1, 1956, I
<br /> definitely urged the council to provide adequate safeguards in the allocation of revenues
<br /> from the proposed sales and use tax; and I spelled out in fairly clear language my -
<br /> thinking on the matter.
<br /> Further, at said meeting of September 2I , 1956, when the resolution of intention
<br /> on the question' of the imposition of sales and use tax was presented and adopted, I
<br /> stated: " . • ., as I see it, we must be candid and fair to our constituents - We must
<br /> explore our foreseeable requirements, that is the long range program - both from an
<br /> operational, capital outly or expansion standpoint, as well as taking into consideration
<br /> essential, but postponed, maintenance projects; we must determine priorities, costs,
<br /> means of financing, and whether or not they can be adequately provided for under existing
<br /> revenues; We must explore, and if facts warrant, admit, that for all practical purposes
<br /> some of this additional revenue is essential and necessary to meet current roquirments;
<br /> that the imposition is warranted as the only means by which adequate funds can be
<br /> provided for all purposes and yet permit and provide definete relief to the small home
<br /> owner and other property owners who are already bearing too heavy. a burden in property
<br /> taxes."
<br /> On many occasions I have talked long range planning and programming, though such "•ii
<br /> plans programs are still nebulous, I can from personal observation set forth some very
<br /> pertinent items that this city must face and meet, eith now or in the very, very near
<br /> future, and all of them will cost money, they are the accumulations of many years delay,
<br /> years prior to my becoming a member of this body. There is no question that the longer
<br /> wer ,continue to delay them the more costly their accompishment; their continued delay
<br /> will tend to blight the community more and more, so it is im erative that we take action wig
<br /> at the earliest possible moment. To illustrate I call attention the following more or
<br /> less urgently needed projects, some recurring, others of a capital nature; vow
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<br /> Expansion of Sewage Disposal Plant and Facilities $ 1,250,000
<br /> Additional Funds for Water Reservoir (my estimate) 250,000
<br /> New Fire Station and Equipment • • • 250,000
<br /> Stulsaft Park & Other Recreational Developments . 225,000
<br /> Railroad Crossing Safety Devices, etc 75,000
<br /> Street Realignments, Widening, Bridges, eta. . 750,000
<br /> City Hall Renovation, etc 20,000
<br /> Badly needed street maintenance • . 150,000
<br /> Planning Staff (Recurring annually) 20,000
<br /> Civilian Defense (Recurring Annually) 10,000
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