HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/24(1)/2001, C7 - RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION CHECK-OFF PROGRAM council ° °�
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CITY OF SAN LUIS O B I S P O
FROM: Lee Price, City Cler
Prepared By: Mary Kopecky, Assi an City Clerk f ,`K—
SUBJECT: Resolution Establishing a Voluntary Contribution Check-Off Program
CAO RECOMMENDATIONS:
Adopt a resolution establishing a Voluntary Contribution Check-Off Program, which sets up a
process for elected officials to make financial contributions to Action for Better Cities (ABC),
the League of California Cities' political action committee.
DISCUSSION
Under Communications during the meeting of April 3, 2001, Council Member Schwartz
proposed that the Council consider establishing a Voluntary Contribution Check-Off Program for
elected officials to make financial contributions to Action for Better Cities (ABC). A majority of
the Council supported placing this matter on the next agenda and staff was directed to bring the
item forward for formal consideration.
Action for Better Cities (ABC) is a non-profit corporation created to help California cities protect
and strengthen decision-making control and stabilize city finance. ABC informs important
audiences about what local government means to average citizens and works to ensure that city
officials have the resources they need to be responsive, accountable and effective in serving their
constituencies. ABC helps to ensure that the Legislature is informed of the financial challenges
facing local governments and works to secure approval for proposed solutions that protect city
revenues from other levels of government.
The City of San Luis Obispo shares the same vision as the ABC. Council has the opportunity to
support this privately-funded organization by approving a resolution that allows individual
elected officials to participate in a Voluntary Contribution Check-Off Program.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost for administering the program is insignificant and can be covered within existing
resources.
ALTERNATIVE
Do Nothing.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution
2. Letter from Action for Better Cities (ABC)
3. Action Steps to Help ABC Make a Difference in Sacramento
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Attachment 1
Page 1 of 2
RESOLUTION NO. (2001 Series)
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
ESTABLISHING A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION CHECK-OFF PROGRAM
WHEREAS, as a general rule, communities are in a better position than State
government to make decisions governing local affairs, educate the citizenry as to the benefits of
strong local government, and advocate on behalf of cities; and
WHEREAS, measures enacted through the legislative process, as well as by statewide
ballot initiatives, over the past 20 years have produced the unintended consequences of
destabilizing city finances and have weakened the ability of city residents to govern local affairs
through their elected community representatives; and
WHEREAS, several statewide commissions and study groups are preparing
recommendations for local government reform which may be considered by the voters through
the initiative process, and cities may wish to propose changes proactivcly, as well; and
WHEREAS, many of the "local government reform" changes proposed by others which
will appear on a statewide ballot are likely to further weaken constitutional protections of local
self-determination unless information is provided to the voters using conventional campaign
methods; and
WHEREAS, Action for Better Cities was created by the Board of Directors of the
League of California Cities for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, elected officials in local government have the opportunity to provide
leadership in Action for Better Cities through voluntary financial assistance; and
WHEREAS, monies collected by Action for Better Cities shall be limited to those
programs and efforts intended specifically for strengthening the position of local government.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo that:
SECTION 1. There is hereby established the Voluntary Contribution Check-Off
Program of the City of San Luis Obispo.
SECTION 2. Any member of the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo is eligible
to participate in the Program.
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Resolution No. (2001)
Page 2
Attachment 1
Page 2 of 2
SECTION 3. The purpose of the Program is to allow any member of the City Council to
direct the City of San Luis Obispo to remit a portion of his/her salary to charitable, .
educational, governmental, or other purposes for which non-profit mutual benefit corporations
are organized.
SECTION 4. Participation in the Program is voluntary.
SECTION 5. The City Administrative Officer is directed to do all things necessary and
proper to implement the Program established by this Resolution including, but not limited to,
preparing appropriate forms to be completed by participating city council members, informing
city council members of the full range of charitable, educational, governmental, or other
purposes for which non-profit mutual benefit corporations are organized, carrying out the
direction of the participating city council members by remitting a portion of their salary as
stated in the appropriate forms.
SECTION 6. In establishing this Program, the City Council specifically wishes to make
its support known for a voluntary contribution check-off to support the mission and objectives
of Action for Better Cities.
Upon motion of , seconded by , and
on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this 24th day of April 2001.
Mayor Allen Settle
ATTEST:
Lee Price, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
J ey . Jor ns , C Attomey
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Attach
ACTION FOR BETTER CITIES I of
1400 K Street,Suite 307,Sacramento,CA 95814
916-658-8272•fax 658-8289•www.betterdties.org
OFFICERS March 15,2001
Ronald Bates,Chair
Mayor Pro Tem,Los Alamitos
Pat Eklund,Vice Chair Dear city official:
Counci[Member,Novato
As Action for Better Cities(ABC)continues its efforts to strengthen the position of cities
Kathy Millison,Secretary in the legislature, we recognize the need to find common cause with all who share an.
City Manager,Clovis interest in stabilizing city revenues and strengthening local control.
BN Perry,Treasurer
Council Member,Brea anyone, p You know, as well as an the extent to which erosion has occurred in the municipal
revenue base—and the growing possibility of even greater takeaways in the future.
Michul Madrid,CEO
ABC is organizing education campaigns,candidate forums,training seminars and possibly
political campaigns to protect remaining city revenue, strengthen local control and stop.
olREcroRs unfunded mandates. We will focus our efforts exclusively on these purposes recognizing
that stabilizing our funding source is common ground upon which all cities agree.
Andrew Fox
Council Member,Thousand Oaks
We need your help. We are asking that individual elected officials weigh in by adopting
Richard S.Keay the attached resolution and contributing$10.00 per month through payroll check-off to
Council Member,Palm Desert help meet our goal. The assistance of city managers in setting up the proper procedures to
make this process as easy as possible will be helpful in making this effort a success.
Ron Loveridge '
Mayor,RiversMe
As you know, other interests have a tremendous edge over cities now because they engage
Oscar Rios in all kinds of campaign activities in pursuit of their public policy goals. By the time these
Pan Pres.lanno Caucros,Wanonville interests get what they want cities are left with nothing,or even a loss. We want to
remedy that situation but we can't do so unless every city stakeholder contributes to the
Richard Tefank effort. Enclosed is packet of information explaining how,you can start contributing.
Police Cli f,Buena Park
A legal analysis of the Voluntary Contribution Check-Off Program is available for review
by your city attorney at the City Attorney's Paper and Opinion Database on the City
Attorney's website.
Sincerely,
Kathy Millison
Secretary,ABC
City Manager, Clovis
1400 K Street,Suite 307
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916)658-8272 P.S. As City Managers and appointed staff,we also share the responsibility of`leading by
(916)658-8289 fax example.' I hope you'll consider donating$10 a month to this important effort.
madridm@bettercities.org
"MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR COMMUNITYC7-4
i
Attachment 3
Action Steps t® Help ABC
Make a Difference In Sacramento
Inform your council colleagues of the
important role ABC will play-in the future
of California cities.
Introduce and pass the attached
resolution establishing the voluntary
contribution check-off program for
elected officials in your city.
Have the city manager establish a
process for payroll deduction and
forwarding of contributions to:
Action for Better Cities
1400 K Street, Suite 307
Sacramento, CA 95814
It's as simple as that! Direct any questions you, your
colleagues, city manager, city attorney, or
personnel manager may have directly to Mike
Madrid at Action for Better Cities at (916) 658-8272.
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c 1
RESOLUTION#
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF
ESTABLISHING A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION CHECK-OFF PROGRAM
WHEREAS, as a general rule, communities are in a better position than State government to
make decisions governing local affairs, educate the citizenry as to the benefits of strong local
government, and advocate on behalf of cities; and
WHEREAS, measures enacted through the legislative process, as well as by statewide ballot
initiatives, over the past 20 years have produced the unintended consequences of destabilizing
city finances and have weakened the ability of city residents to govern local affairs through their
elected community representatives; and
WHEREAS, several statewide commissions and study groups are preparing recommendations
for local government reform which may be considered by the voters through the initiative
process, and cities may wish to propose changes proactively, as well; and
WHEREAS, many of the "local government reform"changes proposed by others which will
appear on a statewide ballot are likely to further weaken constitutional protections of local self-
determination unless information is provided to the voters using conventional campaign
methods; and
WHEREAS, Action for Better Cities was created by the Board of Directors of the League of
California Cities for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, elected and appointed officials in local government have the opportunity to provide
leadership in Action for Better Cities through voluntary financial assistance; and
WHEREAS, monies collected by Action for Better Cities shall be limited to those programs and
efforts intended specifically for strengthening the position of local government.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
that.
Section One. There is hereby established the Voluntary Contribution Check-Off Program of the
City of
Section Two. Any member of the City Council of the City of is eligible to
participate in the Program.
C7-6
Section Three. The purpose of the Program is to allow a member of the City Council to direct
the City of to remit a portion of the salary payable'pursuant to
(ordinance or resolution number that establishes amount of a payment procedure for City
Council salary), to charitable, educational, governmental, or other purposes for which non-profit
mutual benefit corporations are organized.
Section Four. Participation in the Program is voluntary.
Section Five. The City Manager is directed to do all things necessary and proper to implement
the Program established by this Resolution including, but not limited to,preparing appropriate
forms to be completed by participating city council members, informing city council members of
the full range of charitable,educational, governmental, or other purposes for which non-profit
mutual benefit corporations are organized, carrying out the direction of the participating city
council members by remitting a portion of their salary as stated in the appropriate forms.
Section Six. In establishing this Program, the City Council specifically wishes to make its
support known for a voluntary contribution check-off to support the mission and objectives of
Action for Better Cities.
(Upon approval,please send or fax a copy of this resolution to ABC)
Model Resolution Establishing 2
A Voluntary Contribution Check-off Program C7-7
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