Palm Street Perspective March 10, 2009
Hello Friends and Neighbors! For those of you who have been asking, I am happy to report that my second term on City Council is off to a very good start.
I was appointed to represent the city on the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG), the San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority (SLORTA) Board, the Air Pollution Control District (ACPD) Board and the Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA) Board. Serving on these Boards along with the Supervisors and representatives of other cities is giving me a deeper regional perspective on emerging land use, mass transportation, air quality, waste management and financial issues. Our city must be a good team player with our neighbors–to plan the most environmentally sustainable land use, grow the green economy, reduce our carbon footprint, increase efficiencies and take advantage of federal stimulus and other grants–without sacrificing our own priorities and character.
The city is not exempt from the challenges of dealing with the economy, since sales tax and hotel revenues are down. This means Council and staff are thinking about the budget a lot these days. We may have to cut approximately $10.5 million from our General Fund Budget of about $65 million. The question is how to do this without reducing services to residents, laying off staff, dipping into our 20% reserve, or getting trapped into short term decision making, just when long term planning is more important than ever. The good news is that the City’s bond rating has been upgraded to AA, our investments are holding steady, and union representatives have expressed willingness to help close the budget gap.
More good news is that the City has decided to master plan the 90 acres of prime agricultural land between LOVR, Madonna Road and 101, as property in that area develops and comes into the city. (Organic demonstration farm, anyone?) Also, the community is giving generously to help make great things happen, for instance the recent Hind Foundation’s $100,000 gift to the Railroad Museum, the pending SLO Rotary’s gift of $50,000 (plus $35,000 from the general public) to the Railroad Safety Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail, and the pledge of the Art Center Board to build its new facility with no cost to the city.
There is also an exciting opportunity for the City to purchase 310 acres of the Froom Ranch from the Madonna family at an excellent price, if we can raise $150,000 locally by June 30, 2010. This will increase the Irish Hills Natural Preserve to over 1,000 acres of rich habitat, including one half mile of Froom Creek inhabited by steelhead trout. If you would like to help add to our greenbelt, send your donation, identified as being for the Froom Creek Project, to the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County PO Box 12206 San Luis Obispo CA 93406.
