Regarding Chief Metzger's comment on staffing the Truck Company.
What is the OSHA and NFPA stance on reducing the staffing for the ladder truck. How does this affect the response plans and safety of the citizens of the city?
My comment is about a lack of city revenue, any potential tax increase or assessment and the lack of compromise by this council.
And the March 2020 elections in CA show there is a growing weariness to approve tax increases. Post COVID-19 with an economy decimated there is even less of an appetite now. People's income are affected and a lot of people unemployed and scared.
Last December this council considered a Sales & Use Tax that could have raised up to ~$7M per year if passed (0.75%). But due to the disfunction of the council and poor advice to start down that path without knowing that a 5-0 vote would be needed wasted a lot of time. At the December meeting both sides, "Let's do it now" and "Let's wait and see," were wrong. Last December in order to secure the 5-0 vote the "Let's do it now" faction should have agreed to finish the LA County Fire Study. Even if it showed no savings as you firmly believe I believe you would have gotten the proposed Sales and Use Tax on the March 2020 ballot. Both sides need to hold your noses more and vote for the good of the people rather than partake in punching each other on the nose, metaphorically. COVID-19 and all the negative effects show what can happen when you wait and see and fail to hold your nose and compromise.
In the current environment any ask of the residents would be difficult. If a sales and use tax or an assessment for the Street & Lighting district fee or something else, the city council and the Mayor need to be able to sell it to residents why it is important. The earliest any ballot measure could go to the residents is March 2021 when 3 council members are likely running for reelection as is the Mayor. What a great time to be explaining any potential ask of the residents.
And hopefully by March of next year both the economy and residents are back to near full health from COVID-19 pandemic impacts. That would be a great time to have a conversation with residents and explain that even before COVID-19 the city's finances were in a tough spot. But that conversation starts now, even in this most difficult time, knowing that in March 2021 something needs to be done.
Regarding Chief Metzger's comment on staffing the Truck Company.
What is the OSHA and NFPA stance on reducing the staffing for the ladder truck. How does this affect the response plans and safety of the citizens of the city?
My comment is about a lack of city revenue, any potential tax increase or assessment and the lack of compromise by this council.
And the March 2020 elections in CA show there is a growing weariness to approve tax increases. Post COVID-19 with an economy decimated there is even less of an appetite now. People's income are affected and a lot of people unemployed and scared.
Last December this council considered a Sales & Use Tax that could have raised up to ~$7M per year if passed (0.75%). But due to the disfunction of the council and poor advice to start down that path without knowing that a 5-0 vote would be needed wasted a lot of time. At the December meeting both sides, "Let's do it now" and "Let's wait and see," were wrong. Last December in order to secure the 5-0 vote the "Let's do it now" faction should have agreed to finish the LA County Fire Study. Even if it showed no savings as you firmly believe I believe you would have gotten the proposed Sales and Use Tax on the March 2020 ballot. Both sides need to hold your noses more and vote for the good of the people rather than partake in punching each other on the nose, metaphorically. COVID-19 and all the negative effects show what can happen when you wait and see and fail to hold your nose and compromise.
In the current environment any ask of the residents would be difficult. If a sales and use tax or an assessment for the Street & Lighting district fee or something else, the city council and the Mayor need to be able to sell it to residents why it is important. The earliest any ballot measure could go to the residents is March 2021 when 3 council members are likely running for reelection as is the Mayor. What a great time to be explaining any potential ask of the residents.
And hopefully by March of next year both the economy and residents are back to near full health from COVID-19 pandemic impacts. That would be a great time to have a conversation with residents and explain that even before COVID-19 the city's finances were in a tough spot. But that conversation starts now, even in this most difficult time, knowing that in March 2021 something needs to be done.
Matthew Hinsley
District 3