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I . . - - expensive long-term project. He described the impediments that had caused long delays including Proposition 218, and said he was thrilled that the Council was providing leadership to move this project along. 2) Ed Bailey, 3215 Page Street, said he appreciated the City Manager's support addressing the flooding problems and his influence with fellow City Managers, and said the Neighborhoods were willing to do what they could to move the process along. Mr. Bailey expressed his concern for the renovation plans for Fire Station 11 and said Midpointe had been asked if they would allow a temporary station on one of its back parking lots. He said the contract with the County obligated the City to go forward with the retrofit. Mr. Bailey asked what part of the $100,000 allocated for the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program would be spent in Friendly Acres. City Manager Everett explained that these allocated funds were separate from the $50,000 commitment made by Midpointe, and would be spent throughout the City. Mr. Bailey expressed support for the partnership for playing fields supported by the City, County and School District, and said a good maintenance program was needed to make it viable. 3) Anne Palu, 1710 Whipple Avenue, expressed her support for a Skateboard Park in Redwood City, and said if it did cost $150,000 that would only be $15,000 - over a ten year period, with very, very little maintenance. She said she could also fill the Chamber with supporters, and described fund raising support. 4) Brent Britschgi, 57 Woodsworth, former Mayor of Redwood City, said the proposed Budget was the fattest he had ever seen in his twenty years of being involved in the system. He said, "You have more money than you know what to do with. You have almost $10 million in reserves and by the time you finish this year, it's going to be about $12 million. I would like to offer to you an opportunity tonight, and certainly something I have talked to you about before... and this is the Utilities Users Tax." Mr. Britschgi said this year the Utility Users Tax would bring in about $4.5 million and $4.7 million next year. He said the Council adopted the Utility Users Tax in 1983 to build a new Fire Station and a new Library. He said, "We were not smart enough at that time to cap that Utility Users Tax to cover the cost of the Bonds." He said the revenues are upwards of $4.5 million and the cost of the Bonds is about $2.3 million, and the rest of it goes into the Capital Improvement Projects Budget. Mr. Britschgi said it was arguable whether the intention originally was to use excess revenues to pay for smaller C.I.P. projects or only major projects like the Library and Fire Station. He said this 5% tax on the citizens of Redwood City, half of which was a needless tax. He offered the Council "an opportunity" to cut the Utility Users Tax in the amount sufficient to cover the amount needed to pay for the Bonds, - about 1% or 25 of the Tax. Mr. Britschgi said there were enough funds in the BUDGET STUDY SESSION MINUTE BOOK NO. 57 JULY 6,1998 MINUTES Page No. 061 PAGE 18