HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/21/2020 Item 7, Kern -- Received after the deadline
Clerk, Intern
From:Molly Kern <molly@slochamber.org>
Sent:Tuesday, July
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:Jim Dantona; hillary trout; Johnson, Derek
Subject:SLO Forward
Attachments:SLO Forward _ SLO Chamber .pdf
Dear Mayor Harmon and Council Members,
I hope this email finds you well.
Attached, please find a letter on behalf of the SLO Chamber regarding the potential SLO Forward sales tax measure. We
look forward to answering any questions you might have and further discussing this important issue.
Thank you for your consideration,
Molly
Molly Kern
Director of Governmental Affairs
San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce
T: 805.786.2763 C: 805.440.3941
slochamber.org | imagineslo.com
COVID-19 | Resources for Businesses
1
July 21, 2020
City of San Luis Obispo - City Council
990 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Mayor Harmon and City Council Members,
We would like to take this opportunity to share our comments regarding the proposed SLO Forward
sales tax measure.
Over our lifetimes, we have never experienced a threat as menacing to our lives and livelihoods as this
pandemic. But time and again we have witnessed San Luis Obispo pull together to solve daunting
challenges.
Now more than ever, we see clearly the interdependence of business, government, community and
public health and we must once again pull together and invest in our community and our shared future.
It is up to us, not Sacramento or Washington DC, to put in the hard work and commitment to help our
businesses and residents rebound and come out the other side stronger and more resilient.
As an organization that represents nearly 1,400 business members, we have thought long and hard
about the potential SLO Forward sales tax measure. Since March, we have explored the future we
envision for this city - and what it takes to get there - through task force meetings, board and executive
discussions, and countless conversations with more than 80 of our volunteer advisors.
As a Board, we believe unanimously that an essential step to achieving the future we want is advancing
this SLO Forward sales tax measure at 1.5% until ended by voters. This measure would support long
term community and economic health through key investments in local businesses, infrastructure and
ongoing protection of our natural resources.
Along with this measure, we must ensure that sales tax generating businesses are offered a seat at the
table for oversight, and the identification of long term community investment priorities and reevaluating
them every eight years. This can be accomplished through simple changes to section 2.14 of the
municipal code
1)Add a preference for applicants representing sales tax generating businesses to section 2.14.020
| Membership and appointment:
The REOC shall consist of five members who are residents of the city. Members shall be
appointed by the whole city council through a public application and appointment
process. When recruiting members, the city will seek members that:
●represent a sales tax generating business
●have professional experience with finance or budgeting
●have experience with municipal accounting
2)Add a section to 2.14.040 | Powers and duties to identify Long Term Community Priorities every
eight years:
E. Long Term Community Investment Priorities. Every eight years, the REOC shall meet
for the purpose of recommending Long Term Community Investment Priorities to the
city council regarding the spending of revenue generated by the essential services
measure. The REOC shall take into consideration the input provided by residents and
community members, approved elements of the general plan, the purpose of the
essential services measure, and the amount of revenue projected to be available during
the coming fiscal years, in making its recommendations to the council.
As there is not a predetermined sunset of the tax, the periodic identification of investment priorities is
key to ensuring continued accountability and enabling the community to come together to reevaluate
long term goals.
We believe these actions will ensure that the funds are put towards their intended use, that the
community is engaged on spending priorities, and that the City’s long-term financial health is continually
evaluated.
When we imagine the future of San Luis Obispo, we see a place that ignites creativity, celebrates
diversity and spurs innovation; a place where people work together from across the region to tackle
shared challenges, drive economic growth and preserve our natural resources.
This measure can be instrumental in achieving that vision if we devote revenue to helping businesses
and residents rebounded from the pandemic in the near term and invest in capital improvements,
provide for clean and safe neighborhoods, prioritize open space, and support our local economy in the
long term.
We believe that this vision is possible if we – our elected leadership, the residents and the business
community - collectively come together to achieve it.
Sincerely,
Hillary Trout Jim Dantona
2020 SLO Chamber Board Chair SLO Chamber President/CEO