AgdaPkt 2018-04-09 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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Results from the survey also strongly indicate that voters believe funding from a potential funding measure should be used to protect the safety of Redwood City residents. Specifically, voters identify protecting rapid 911 emergency response times, continuing afterschool and recreation programs for youth, and preserving the number of on-duty firefighters, paramedics and police officers as high-priority City services to be supported by locally controlled revenue. It is also important to voters that funding stays local to address local needs, and they are supportive of the idea that the State cannot take away or redirect any funding from a local revenue measure. Informational outreach and public engagement will be an important next step in preparing a potential sales tax measure for the November 2018 ballot. TBWB Strategies has compiled a recommended public communication plan aimed at building consensus around the City’s needs, soliciting community and stakeholder feedback about the potential solution to address those needs, and preparing the necessary legal documents in order to qualify a sales tax measure for the November 2018 ballot. The plan includes outreach to key internal and external stakeholders, a dedicated page on the City’s website, and proactive informational communication through direct mail, online promotion and social media engagement. TBWB and EMC also recommend additional voter opinion research following the June 2018 Primary Election in order to refine the specifics of the potential sales tax measure, track any changes in voter perceptions of the City’s needs, and reassess the feasibility of a sales tax measure on the November 2018 ballot. Additional polling should provide critical insight into the City Council’s final decision in June or July 2018 whether or not to place a sales tax measure on the November 2018 ballot. ALTERNATIVES The City Council could decide not to proceed with informational outreach and public engagement on a potential revenue measure and direct staff to take other actions to balance the City’s budget. FISCAL IMPACT As previously noted the adopted Financial Sustainability Plan includes a balanced strategy of increasing revenues by approximately $6.0 million and reducing expenditures by $6.0 million. Expenditure reductions will be phased in over two years: expenditure reductions of approximately $3.8 million are expected in FY 2018-19, with additional reductions of $2.2 million in FY 2019-20. The City Council took the first step in generating new revenue by approving fee increases that will generate an estimated $2.0 million in new revenue annually. It is 8.B. - Page 3