From: Cordell Hindler
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: public comments- Open Session prior to closed session Date: Thursday, April 28, 2022 4:31:12 PM
This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Good Evening Mayor Butt, Council Members and Staff
Dave Aleshire has done an incredible job as the city attorney Sincerely
Cordell
From: Cordell Hindler
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: public comments- Open Forum
Date: Thursday, April 28, 2022 4:35:20 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Good Evening Mayor Butt, Council Members and Staff, I have some comments for the Record
1. for the June 28th Agenda, the Council should consider Inviting Sabrina Landreth to Provide a Report on how CO-VID has impacted Park Services
2. Also to Have Lavonna Martin to Provide an Update on Homelessness Sincerely
Cordell
From: Steve Bischoff
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comment - Open Forum
Date: Monday, May 2, 2022 2:52:31 PM
Attachments: RCC re CCC crisis response program.pdf
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Please give copies of the attached document to the Mayor and City Council members.
From: Cordell Hindler
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments- R.1 Budget Session
Date: Thursday, April 28, 2022 4:43:32 PM
This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Good Evening Mayor Butt, Council Members and Staff,
I Must Commend the City Council, Mayor's Office and Public Works for the Presentations Sincerely
Cordell
From: Cordell Hindler
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public comments- R.2 Budget Session
Date: Thursday, April 28, 2022 4:49:50 PM
This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Good Evening Mayor Butt, Council and Staff
I am requesting that the Council ACKNOWELDGE the work that the City Manager's Office and Finance department has put into the Draft Budget.
Sincerely
Cordell
From: Katrinka Ruk
To: City Clerk Dept User; Tom Butt - external; Eduardo Martinez; Nat Bates; Demnlus Johnson III; claudia jimenez; Gayle McLaughlin; Melvin Willis
Cc: Bob Connolly; Scott Sexton; Scott Sexton; Sharla Sullivan; Aaron Winer; Hakim Johnson; Julie Abate; Maryann Moran; Barbara O"Neill; Desiree Heveroh; Fred Glueck; Bob Connolly; Stan Teaderman; Jill Rodby; Bielle Moore; Larry Ficken; James Lee; John Ziesenhenne
Subject: 05/03/22 council meeting / Public Comments/ R3. Update on Cost Recovery and Revenue Enhancement Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2022 12:25:45 PM
Attachments: 05.03.22 Item R3 Revenue Enhancements ltr.docx This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
COUNCIL OF INDUSTRIES
P.O. BOX 70088, PT. RICHMOND, CA 94807
(510)215-9325
501(C)(6) FED ID# 94-0672760
05/03/22
To: City Clerk, Richmond
Cc: Council Members, City Manager
S.6 Update on Cost Recovery and Revenue Enhancement
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->RECEIVE an update on the Cost Recovery and Revenue Enhancement tracking document and Options for Long-term Fiscal Sustainability; and PROVIDE input to City staff – City Manager’s Office (Shasa Curl/LaShonda White 620-6512).
This letter is being submitted on behalf of the Council of Business & Industries.
Whereas we support the city being fiscally responsible, that the city ensures city services meet the expectations of the community and businesses that operate in the city, and, that the budget is balanced – however, focusing only on revenue enhancements is not being responsible to property owners, residents and businesses.
In addition, the city needs to focus on cost containment, and we have yet to see an analysis of such.
The majority of the twelve recommended “Revenue Enhancement Options” will impact property owners, residents and businesses. According to the agenda report, estimated revenues from this group (excluding the ECIA) will result in $15.5Million of the $27.3 Million estimate.
It is concerning that such an important discussion should be delegated to the end of city council agenda that is already very impacted. In addition, the material that is posted on the website – particularly “Proposed Revenue Generators” – which appears to have a great deal of information, is unreadable due to the font size.
We understand that more information will be brought back to the council, please consider providing comment regarding the following:
1) The Agenda Report notes that Management Partners were authorized to “gather best practices from around the country that might be good options for Richmond to Consider”- what local, similar cities were contacted and what was their input.
2) The Agenda Report states that the consultant will look at feedback from stakeholders and unions – has any feedback been requested from residents, the business community, and Economic Development Commission?
3) The recommendations include THREE parcel or property taxes (vacant parcel tax, library services parcel tax, transient occupancy tax increase to 10%, increase real property transfer tax by 20%). These total $9.5Million if all were implemented.
4) Impact to residents would include an additional $6Million by raising the utility users tax rates by 1%, creating neighborhood improvement districts and increasing cost recovery on recreation services, if all implemented.
5) We have approximately 15,000 seniors in our city the majority on fixed incomes – will they be able to afford increases in property taxes? This could severely impact them. In addition, some property owners use their rentals to support their retirement.
Have you reached out to property owners to determine if they can take on this additional tax burden?
Two years ago, you put more burdens on businesses with a new tax. Now, you are targeting property owners and residents with these “revenue enhancements” totaling $15.5Mil – putting 56.8% of the increased tax burden on them.
6) The revenue enhancers recommended for the city total $2.8Million. These would include the option to increase the cost recovery on planning, building services - how does Richmond compare with other similar cities? Increasing city permitting fees beyond what other similar cities charge will not incentivize developers to consider projects in this city.
7) What local, comparable cities were contacted for their “best practices” to increase revenues and what information was provided?
We are still recovering from the pandemic – individuals and businesses. Any additional taxes and fees need to be fully vetted and shared with the public prior to final decisions being made. This should be done in parallel with cost reductions.
Thank you for your consideration.
Katrinka Ruk, Executive Director
Cc: COI and Chamber
Katrinka Ruk
Executive Director
Council of Business & Industries
510)260-4820 cell
http://www.councilofindustries.com
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From: Leisa Johnson
To: City Clerk Dept User
Cc: Leisa Johnson
Subject: Public comment for City Council, Agenda Item R.3, 5/3/2022 Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2022 9:02:56 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Dear City Clerk,
Can you please include the below written comments in the supplementary minutes?
Warmly,
Leisa
****************************************************************** Good Evening Mayor, Councilmembers and Staff-
I am respectfully requesting that City Staff finally propose a serious discussion on all of the options for fiscal sustainability that the City’s consultant, Management Partners, first publicly discussed at the July 27, 2021 City Council meeting and provided City Staff and Council.
In that presentation, they provided 2 slides of revenue enhancements and 6 slides on cost & expenditure reductions.
In the attachments associated with tonight’s agenda item, Management Partners again covered:
12 items for revenue enhancements, including 6 voter-approved taxes and 6 council-led options.
The 6 voter-approved taxes would bring in an estimated $14.5M if all were approved.
4 of those 6 taxes further jack up our property taxes and total $9.5M if all were approved.
The 6 council-led options would bring in an estimated $12.8M if all were approved.
Together, all 12 options total $27.3M.
Importantly, Management Partners also included 20, yes 20, options to address service delivery alternatives, expenditure controls & cost shifts, and service level reductions.
There were 6 service delivery alternatives highlighted bringing in an estimated $14.4M if all were approved.
There were 9 expenditure controls & cost shifts highlighted bringing in an estimated $14.05M if all were approved.
There were 5 service level reductions options highlighted bringing in an estimated $17.3M if all were approved.
Together, all 20 options total $45.75M in savings.
Please explain to the public how you can have a honest and effective budgetary discussion when you don’t review both revenues and cost savings?
All we have heard from the City Manager and Staff for the past year is how to further harm property owners, businesses and residents with yet more tax hikes, once again. We already pay the highest cumulative taxes in the county.
The agenda report details that City Staff directors ranked all 12 revenue enhancements.
How many City Directors or high level managers even live in the City of Richmond and would be directly impacted by these harmful taxes?
I mean no disrespect, but why are they influencing these recommendations if they don’t even live here and don’t pay these taxes?
Where is our voice in this discussion?
Between Covid, Measure U and our highly punitive rent control & just cause policies — businesses and housing providers simply cannot afford to do business in Richmond and will leave, taking critically needed housing, jobs, and revenue with them. It’s already happening.
For those who don’t own property in Richmond, please ask someone who does to show you their property tax statements. Depending upon where you live in Richmond, we already have 26 or 27 additional taxes in addition to the 1% county-wide property tax.
I, myself, have 2 neighbors who bought their house less than 2 years ago and have told me they are selling and moving due to the excessive taxation and draconian policies that the majority council are passing.
This is simply unsustainable.
While you may think that you can continue to put more & more leeches on Richmond taxpayers, you can’t as they will simply starve as you have already sucked all of the blood out of us, yet we see fewer services because all of those dollars are going to pay unsustainable employee compensation packages.
Respectfully,
Leisa Johnson
22 year Richmond Resident