Will It Be an Incumbent Sweep? - The Spectrum Magazine

Candidates answer Spectrum questions and show differences on tax increases
(Continued from page 19)
Redwood City’s hotel tax is lower than our neighboring jurisdictions and it
makes sense to remain close to the competing areas. The business license
tax has not been changed in Redwood City since 1994; this has deprived the
residents of the potential benefit that gradual increases could have provided
to support resident services. Our neighboring communities have similar
sources of revenue that are helping maintain services in their communities.
Our community needs updated revenues to support our police, fire, libraries,
streets, park and recreation and senior services.
If your answer was Yes, tell why it is fair to grant pay
increases for upper management at City Hall and in
the Fire Department and then ask residents to vote
Yes? Isn’t this just an example of taxpayers paying for
out-of-control salaries and benefits?
Alicia Aguirre: No, salary increases were part of the agreements established
in order to get the concessions that we were able to achieve. We have asked
all of our groups to work with the city and they have done so, even without
the salary increases that they deserve.
Ian Bain: Some salaries were negotiated in exchange for concessions over
pension plans. These concessions were essential to making sure that our
budget can be balanced now and into the future. Additionally, our Fire
Department has taken on more responsibility by providing services to San
Carlos, an arrangement that will benefit our city financially.
Rosanne Foust: Redwood City was the first city in San Mateo County
to work productively and successfully with each of its bargaining units
to close the structural deficit in the city’s general fund budget. Employee
groups, including executive management, have had wage freezes, are now
contributing to their health care costs, have increased the retirement age and
accepted a two-tier system for new hires. Please see my previous answer for
additional comments.
Paul McCarthy: See above answer. Does not support either tax increase.
Barbara Pierce: For the past three years the management and the different
departments took a pay freeze, including upper management. Any “pay
increases” were the result of changes in responsibility or “step” increases.
The salaries in Redwood City are within the norm for our area and size city
as are our benefits. We have worked with all our employee groups to address
some of the issues regarding health benefit costs and pensions, and this will
decrease our cost in the future.
Besides labor union contract concessions, where do
you see the need for budgetary decreases to balance
the budget or decrease the usage of reserves?
Alicia Aguirre: We are working with a three-step approach: labor concessions,
partnering with other agencies to increase revenue such as with San Carlos
Fire, and reorganizing the city departments in order to be more efficient.
Ian Bain: We have balanced the budget every year and only used reserves
to soften the blow of some of the budget cuts. We have already made deep
cuts over the last several years, and the public is feeling the effects of this
in decreased library hours, reduced street sweeping and park maintenance,
among other things. I believe we can find more savings through energy
efficiency projects. We also need to continue attracting new businesses such
as the Old Spaghetti Factory.
Rosanne Foust: A clear and consistent focus of this City Council has been
the alignment of resources and revenue so that reserves remain healthy and
our level of service remains high. Redwood City has also contracted its
services (fire, IT, vehicle maintenance and finance) to other jurisdictions and
continues to seek opportunities for partnerships and shared services. We
have looked both within the organization and outside of it to implement best
practices in all areas of the organization.
Paul McCarthy: In the 2011–12 operating budget, Parks, Recreation and
Community Services has a budget of $12,060,528. A significant portion of
this is spent on sports and activities. This expenditure could be significantly
reduced by increasing fees and using private contractors for services.
Barbara Pierce: We cannot continue to balance our budget by decreasing
services and decreasing staff. The city and staff have streamlined many
services, are determining which services to continue and how best to provide
them. We now provide services for other cities and charge them for those
services; the hybrid model of fire service with San Carlos will provide some additional
focus on the Emergency Operations Center and CERT (Community
Emergency Response Team) and spread some costs across a broader
base. Additionally we need to create revenues by attracting and retaining
businesses, ensure that our property taxes and sales tax base is strong.
What traits should our new chief of police have?
Alicia Aguirre: The new chief of police should have a vision for the
department that makes it one of the best on the Peninsula. They should also
understand the complexities of a city of our size. Someone that is sensitive to
the diverse communities we serve is also important.
Ian Bain: Redwood City needs a police chief who can make decisions and command
the respect of the department. Ideally, it will be someone who thoroughly
knows and understands this community, or who will get involved and work
to understand it. The new chief will also face continued budget pressure, so it
will need to be someone who understands finance and staffing and can help
stretch our limited dollars while ensuring community protection.
Rosanne Foust: I want our new police chief to be a champion of the
department by fostering a sense of shared pride in our collective work, the
department, the organization and the Redwood City community. I want a
police chief that aligns revenues and resources, is creative and seeks out
opportunities, holds people accountable, is open to new ideas and is willing
to roll up his/her sleeves to work from the bottom up and top down in
continuing the great work of RCPD.
Paul McCarthy: I believe that the new chief of police should have an
understanding of local issues and come from the Peninsula law enforcement
community. Although there are many qualified candidates throughout the
state, I would support the appointment of a chief who has a vested interest in
making Redwood City and San Mateo County a safer community.
Barbara Pierce: Experienced law enforcement profession, strong leadership
and organizational skills, ability to build relationships within the department,
city management team and with our diverse community.
What would you like to see done with the 1,436-acre salt
harvesting Cargill site in Redwood City?
Alicia Aguirre: This site in our city is an opportunity that few cities have.
I would like to see a very open and inclusive process so that all residents in
Redwood City can benefit from the outcome of this site. I am committed to
keeping an open mind and allowing the process to move forward.
Ian Bain: Ultimately, the voters of Redwood City will decide that. My job is
to review a range of options and study the environmental impact of those. My
opinion will be shaped by listening to the public, and we will have a thorough
public input process over the next several years.
Rosanne Foust: I am sorry but I am unable to comment on this project.
(continues on page 25)
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