RESOLUTION NO. 10 -343
<br /> A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PLEASANTON IN
<br /> SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL TAXPAYER, PUBLIC SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION
<br /> PROTECTION ACT OF 2010
<br /> WHEREAS, California voters have repeatedly and overwhelmingly passed separate
<br /> ballot measures to stop State raids of local government funds, and to dedicate the taxes on
<br /> gasoline to fund local and state transportation improvement projects; and
<br /> WHEREAS, these local government funds are critical to provide the police and fire,
<br /> emergency response, parks, libraries, and other vital local services that residents rely upon
<br /> every day, and gas tax funds are vital to maintain and improve local streets and roads, to make
<br /> road safety improvements, relieve traffic congestion, and provide mass transit; and
<br /> WHEREAS, despite the fact that voters have repeatedly passed measures to prevent
<br /> the State from taking these revenues dedicated to funding local government services and
<br /> transportation improvement projects, the State Legislature has seized and borrowed billions of
<br /> dollars in local government and transportation funds in the past few years; and
<br /> WHEREAS, this year's borrowing and raids of local government, redevelopment and
<br /> transit funds, as well as previous, ongoing raids of local government and transportation funds
<br /> have lead to severe consequences, such as layoffs of police, fire and paramedic first
<br /> responders, fire station closures, stalled economic development, healthcare cutbacks, delays in
<br /> road safety improvements, public transit fare increases and cutbacks in public transit services;
<br /> and
<br /> WHEREAS, State politicians in Sacramento have continued to ignore the will of the
<br /> voters, and current law provides no penalties when state politicians take or borrow these locally
<br /> dedicated funds; and
<br /> WHEREAS, a coalition of local government, transportation and transit advocates
<br /> recently filed a constitutional amendment with the California Attorney General, called the Local
<br /> Taxpayer, Public Safety, and Transportation Protection Act of 2010, for potential placement on
<br /> California's November 2010 statewide ballot; and
<br /> WHEREAS, approval of this ballot initiative would close loopholes and change the
<br /> constitution to further prevent State politicians in Sacramento from seizing, diverting, shifting,
<br /> borrowing, transferring, suspending or otherwise taking or interfering with tax revenues
<br /> dedicated to funding local government services, including redevelopment, or dedicated to
<br /> transportation improvement projects and mass transit.
<br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
<br /> PLEASANTON DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER THE FOLLOWING:
<br /> Section 1. The City Council formally endorses the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and
<br /> Transportation Protection Act of 2010, a proposed constitutional amendment.
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