Tuesday, September 21, 2004
The MROSD will discuss redistricting and its Good Neighbor Policy on Wednesday
The next regularly-scheduled meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) will begin to address the open issues of their expansion to the coastside [agenda].
They have a 60-day deadline (until November 10) to hire an ombudsperson and decide on redistricting the District’s wards. Perhaps it should be called ‘re-warding”, but I’m not sure the “rewarding the District” would be the right thing to put on the agenda.
Tomorrow night, the MROSD board is expected to authorize $25,000 to hire a consultant to help them with the public communication process for revising the District’s Good Neighbor Policy [MS Word doc], as well as to facilitate the series of public meetings on the policy. The plan for the GNP revision needs to be in place before the November 10 deadline.
Also on the agenda is approval of a series of public meetings beginning October 21, a public workshop to discuss redistricting ward boundaries and evaluate alternatives; November 4, to present revised boundaries for feedback; and November 9 for the board vote on the alternatives. The location of the October 21 and November 4 meetings has not yet been set. The November 9 meeting will be at the District’s office in Los Altos.
The board will also vote on a public workshop to prioritize amendments to the District’s Resource Management Policies [MS Word doc]. That workshop will be Monday, October 25, 2004, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the District Administrative Office.
Not on the agenda is an October 20 meeting in which the board will interview candidates for the ombudsperson position.
UPDATE: The proposed resolutions were approved at Wednesday’s meeting. Click on “comments” in the byline to read MROSD’s press release.
Comments
For Immediate Release
Contact: Rudy Jurgensen
Public Affairs Manager
650-691-1200
Open Space District Board Adopts Resolution Supporting Proposition 1A
— Measure Will Prohibit the State Legislature from Taking Local Tax Dollars —
LOS ALTOS, CA - [September 23, 2004] - Last night, the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) unanimously adopted a Resolution supporting Proposition 1A, which would prohibit the state from taking and diverting funds originally committed to local government to pay for state purposes. Proposition 1A is a Constitutional Amendment placed on the November 2004 ballot by the Legislature as part of the budget package negotiated by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, legislative leaders from both parties, local government officials, and community leaders, among others.
“The District is pleased to support this historic measure,” said Mary Davey, the District’s Board President. “Proposition 1A will help protect funding for open space lands and our room to breathe.”
California cities, counties, and special districts provide essential local services such as public safety, medical care, and open space lands and pay for these services and programs with funds from local taxes. Over the past 12 years, the state has used its authority over local government tax revenues to change tax rates and the distribution of tax revenues among local governments. Now, the state is again using its authority to shift $2.6 billion in the next two years from local government funds to the state. Special districts will be contributing $700 million of this $2.6 billion.
State government currently shifts more than $5.2 billion annually in local property tax funds statewide, reducing resources available for local services, and costing local governments more than $40 billion in lost revenues. The financial burden placed on California cities, counties, and special districts has prompted the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties, and the California Special Districts Association to support Proposition 1A authored by Senator Torlakson.
Proposition 1A does not raise taxes and will, in fact, help reduce pressure for local fee and tax increases by limiting state reallocation. Proposition 1A will not reduce funding for schools or any other state program or service, and was carefully written to allow flexibility in the event of a state budget emergency.
About Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is an independent, non-enterprise, California special district whose mission is to acquire and preserve a regional greenbelt of open space land in perpetuity, protect and restore the natural environment, and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. The District is divided into seven geographic wards, each represented for a four-year term by an elected Board member. Created by voters more than 30 years ago, the District has successfully protected and managed nearly 50,000 acres of open space. The public enjoys the District’s diverse and beautiful preserves 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.openspace.org
Rudy Jurgensen
Public Affairs Manager
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
330 Distel Circle
Los Altos, CA 94022
Ph: 650-691-1200
Fax: 650-691-0485
For Immediate Release Contact: Rudy Jurgensen
Public Affairs Manager 650-691-1200
Open Space District Board Adopts Resolution Supporting Proposition 1A
— Measure Will Prohibit the State Legislature from Taking Local Tax Dollars —
LOS ALTOS, CA - [September 23, 2004] - Last night, the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) unanimously adopted a Resolution supporting Proposition 1A, which would prohibit the state from taking and diverting funds originally committed to local government to pay for state purposes. Proposition 1A is a Constitutional Amendment placed on the November 2004 ballot by the Legislature as part of the budget package negotiated by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, legislative leaders from both parties, local government officials, and community leaders, among others.
“The District is pleased to support this historic measure,” said Mary Davey, the District’s Board President. “Proposition 1A will help protect funding for open space lands and our room to breathe.”
California cities, counties, and special districts provide essential local services such as public safety, medical care, and open space lands and pay for these services and programs with funds from local taxes. Over the past 12 years, the state has used its authority over local government tax revenues to change tax rates and the distribution of tax revenues among local governments. Now, the state is again using its authority to shift $2.6 billion in the next two years from local government funds to the state. Special districts will be contributing $700 million of this $2.6 billion.
State government currently shifts more than $5.2 billion annually in local property tax funds statewide, reducing resources available for local services, and costing local governments more than $40 billion in lost revenues. The financial burden placed on California cities, counties, and special districts has prompted the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties, and the California Special Districts Association to support Proposition 1A authored by Senator Torlakson.
Proposition 1A does not raise taxes and will, in fact, help reduce pressure for local fee and tax increases by limiting state reallocation. Proposition 1A will not reduce funding for schools or any other state program or service, and was carefully written to allow flexibility in the event of a state budget emergency.
About Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is an independent, non-enterprise, California special district whose mission is to acquire and preserve a regional greenbelt of open space land in perpetuity, protect and restore the natural environment, and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. The District is divided into seven geographic wards, each represented for a four-year term by an elected Board member. Created by voters more than 30 years ago, the District has successfully protected and managed nearly 50,000 acres of open space. The public enjoys the District’s diverse and beautiful preserves 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.openspace.org
Rudy Jurgensen Public Affairs Manager Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District 330 Distel Circle Los Altos, CA 94022 Ph: 650-691-1200 Fax: 650-691-0485