HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-2015 BW1 RibleCOUNCIL M
Subject: FW: Budget and Laguna ITEM NO.:�
From: Henry Rible
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 12:55:02 AM JAN 15 2015
To: Marx, Jan
Cc: Ashbaugh, John; Carpenter, Dan; Rivoire, Dan; Christianson, Carlyn; Hill, Robert; Otte, Freddy
Subject: Budget and Laguna
Dear Mayor Marx and Councilmembers Ashbaugh, Carpenter, Rivoire and Christianson,
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the "budget meeting" of January 13, 2015. My non - attendance in no way
reflects my interest level in which budget priorities your Council sets for the City in general and for Laguna
Lake Park and Reserve in particular. I have been a resident of the original Laguna Lake subdivision (Ray
Skinner- developer) for 46 years, the most recent 40 of those years on the lake itself. My late wife and I had the
privilege of raising our 2 daughters in our home on the lake. We consciously chose to live on the lake though
aware of all the potential downsides: floods, droughts, wind, liquefaction- in the event of an earthquake, and
more. The reason for the choice to live here is obvious. It is a beautiful place. "Lake watching" has been and is a
regular activity in this household. What we did not anticipate was neglect of the lake by the City
Some thoughts:
I voted for Measure Y. I voted for Measure G as well though with little enthusiasm and the
knowledge few or none of the funds generated would likely be spent on the lake or the reserve.
The proposal floated (no pun intended) a while back wherein lakefront property owners would be
assessed through a zone -of- benefit mechanism to pay for any attempts by the City to catch up on its care
of the lake and reserve is neither fair nor realistic. Lakefront property owners already pay higher taxes
due to the higher value of their property as compared with similar non - lakefront property in the area. If
you care to engage in a search for the meaning of the words "active opposition," attempt to impose taxes
or fees on those who own property on the lake to finance activities the City should have undertaken
years ago.
The lake, the park, and the reserve have been studied, work - shopped, and master- planned repeatedly
(endlessly ?) but no measureable progress has been made toward solutions. Perhaps now is the time to
put all those staff and consultant hours to work.
Looking forward optimistically, I hope you will at last see fit to act responsibly where past councils have
not and begin restoring the precious assets that Laguna Lake, Laguna Lake Park, and Laguna Lake
Natural Reserve are for the entire city.
Thank you for serving on the council and considering repairing the damage done by 50 years of
disinterest.
Sincerely,
Henry Rible