HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RESO 2008-191RESOLUTION NO. 2008 — 191
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY OPPOSING
PROPOSITION A ON THE NOVEMBER 2008 BALLOT,
THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO INITIATIVE MEASURE
THAT WOULD IMPOSE A COUNTY -WIDE PARCEL TAX
FOR REGIONAL AND LOCAL FIRE PROTECTION
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego has placed on
the November 2008 ballot a measure that, if approved by the voters, would impose a special
parcel tax for fire protection purposes upon every taxable parcel in the incorporated and
unincorporated areas of the County; and
WHEREAS, said measure will appear on the November 2008 ballot as
Proposition A; and
WHEREAS, the amount of the parcel tax would be between $52 and $1,000 per
year for each parcel subject to the tax, and would be adjusted each year commencing with the
2010-2011 fiscal year by the Consumer Price Index for San Diego County; and
WHEREAS the parcel tax would first be levied during the 2009-2010 fiscal year,
and would remain in effect for thirty (30) years; and
WHEREAS, Proposition A would create a joint powers agency known as the
"San Diego Regional Fire Protection Agency" (the "Agency") to manage, administer, and
oversee the expenditure of the parcel tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, the Board of the Agency would be comprised of one member from
the Board of Supervisors, one member from the City of San Diego, four members from the
remaining 17 cities in the County, four members from four of the independent special districts,
and five non -voting members made up of members of the fire service and military; and
WHEREAS, Proposition A would require a city or fire protection district to be a
member of the Agency in order to be eligible for the parcel tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, the parcel tax would be collected within the city or fire protection
district whether or not the jurisdiction is a member of the Agency; and
WHEREAS, Proposition A would require that 50% of the parcel tax revenues that
are collected each fiscal year would be allocated to the Agency, and 50% of the parcel tax
revenues would be allocated to the member agencies; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of National City has given due
consideration to the provisions of Proposition A, and determined that the parcel tax that would
be imposed pursuant thereto would be detrimental to the City of National City and its residents
for the following reasons:
• The governance structure of the joint powers agency that would be created does not
provide adequate representation for the member cities, in that the cities will generate
the majority of the tax revenues, yet will not have the majority of the seats on the
Board.
Resolution No. 2008 — 191
September 16, 2008
Page 2
• The City of National City consistently makes a significant financial commitment to the
City's fire protection services out of its general fund; the County should likewise take
responsibility for its fire protection needs by utilizing existing revenue sources, such
as the $235 Million in Proposition 172 tax revenues it received in 2007, rather then
imposing a new county -wide tax.
• The County of San Diego's current "maintenance of effort" for fire protection is
deficient. The County of San Diego is the only large urban county in California that
does not have a county fire department. With Proposition A, the cities and special
districts would generate the majority of tax revenues, and in this way would be
subsidizing the County's maintenance of effort.
• The County has never acknowledged its responsibility for fire protection in the
unincorporated areas, and has failed to adequately allocate Proposition 172 funds to
meet it obligations.
• The City of National City, like other cities in the County, are already contributing a
disproportionate share of tax revenues for regional fire protection under Proposition
172. In 2007, under Proposition 172, National City provided $8 Million in sales tax
revenue for regional fire needs, and was able to keep $200,000 to fund its own fire
protection program. That same year, the County also provided $8 Million in sales tax
revenue, but kept $235 Million in Proposition 172 revenues.
• Proposition A would create a system of taxation without representation, because the
parcel tax would be collected within the cities and specials districts even when those
jurisdictions are not members of the joint powers agency.
• The County continues to approve development in the unincorporated areas without
due regard for the fire protection needs generated by such development. As a result,
fire protection responsibilities are placed upon unfunded and underfunded special
districts.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
National City opposes the San Diego County Board of Supervisors' proposed parcel tax
ordinance appearing on the November 2008 ballot as Proposition A, and titled "Proposed Ballot
Measure to Improve and Enhance Firefighting Resources and Services by Adoption of a
Regional and Local Fire Protection Parcel Tax and Funding Plan".
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of National City continues to support
the concept of taking a regional approach to the critical issue of fire protection in the
unincorporated areas, but recognizes that the proposed Proposition A is not the correct way to
further this concept.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of National City remains completely
committed to automatic and mutual aid.
-- Signature Page to Follow --
Resolution No. 2008 — 191
September 16, 2008
Page 3
PASSED and ADOPTED this 16th day of Septe7r, 2008.
on orrison, Mayor
ATTEST:
pziA
if
Mic aeI R. Dalla, C fy Clerk
t
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
George H. Eiser, III
City Attorney
Passed and adopted by the Council of the City of National City, California, on
September 16, 2008 by the following vote, to -wit:
Ayes: Councilmembers Morrison, Parra, Ungab, Zarate.
Nays: None.
Absent: Councilmember Natividad.
Abstain: None.
AUTHENTICATED BY: RON MORRISON
Mayor of the City of National City, California
is /
City CI=rk of the Ci of tional City, California
By:
Deputy
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of
RESOLUTION NO. 2008-191 of the City of National City, California, passed and
adopted by the Council of said City on September 16, 2008.
City Clerk of the City of National City, California
By:
Deputy