Three Top Issues In La Palma

By Kenneth A. "Ken" Blake

I have identified three top issues for the City of La Palma and my solutions to these issues.

The City of La Palma has always paid for fire protection through property taxes, never from the General Fund. The Fire Authority is currently looking at the cost of fire protection by city compared to their property tax contributions. The prelinimary estimated shortfall for La Palma is $300,000 per year. A long-range solution to this problem will come from increases in the property tax revenue. Currently approximately 60% of the homes on La Palma's tax rolls are Pre Prop 13. La Palma's portion from these homes is less than $100.00 per residence. In the 98/99 fiscal year, the property tax revenues increased 15% over the previous year, primarily from the sale of Centerpointe and increase sale of houses. As more homes are sold, the revenue will increase which will reduce this shortfall. A short-term solution would be to negotiate with other cities to cover a protion of or the entire amount of the shortfall, as I did in increasing our library's operations to 5 days a week. This will take an experienced council member who understands this issue and is familiar with the other board members.

To keep the cost of police protection down, I would continue the policy of taking advantage of Federal and State grants. These grants have been used to purchase equipment and cover certain staffing costs at no charge to the General Fund. Last year SCORE volunteered 4,026 hours which equates to two full time employees. I would encourage increasing SCORE's involvement wherever possible to eliminate the need to hire addititional personnel.

SECOND - MAINTAINING THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STABILITY TO PRESERVE THE CURRENT SERVICES WHICH PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR CITY

It is important not to cut the current Police, Fire and Public Works service levels or eliminate any of the programs offered through the Community Services and Recreation Department. Cuts in these departments would definitely decrease the quality of life in La Palma, which could equate to lower property values. The cost of our teen programs, free movies and concerts in the park during the summer, La Palma Days parade and carnival, and other Cultural and Beautification programs only cost $15.00 per person annually.

However, to keep these service levels and programs without additional cost to the citizens, it will be vital to generate new revenue sources for the city.

As more homes sell, the property tax coming to the city will increase. The average Post-Prop 13 home contributes three to four times as much revenue as Pre-Prop 13 homes.

La Palma experienced an increase in sales tax with new business moving into our city. I will work with staff to find incentives to attract businesses would generate sales tax to relocate to La Palma.

Business retention will also be vital. we must create incentives to motivate businesses to stay and expand in the city instead of relocating to new facilities outside of La Palma.

And finally, I will work with staff to create new innovative revenue sources. As an example of an innovative source, the leasing of city property for cell towers, which generate an average of $16,000 annually per tower. Another example is the development of a senior apartment complex which will contribute an estimated $200,000 annually to the General Fund.

THIRD - CONTINUING THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE CITY THAT WILL MAINTAIN HIGH PROPERTY VALUES

I will continue to budget for the upgrading of all major streets running through La Palma, similar to the project that has been approved for La Palma Avenue between Valley View and the west boundary of the city. This includes planting new street trees away from the block walls, planting vines on the block walls, replanting and/or constructing street medians, and the construction of new city monument signs. As for the neighborhoods streets, the seven-year rotation on surrey sealing and gradual replacement of asphalt on bad streets will continue to be a priority.

I will stress the continued education concerning the city's codes, and the continued enforcement of these codes. If the city looks new and refreshed, the citizens will do the same with their homes.

As a council member, I will continue to work to obain grant funding for home improvements available to seniors and other qualifying citizens through the Orange County Housing Authority.