HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - October 3, 2018 Public CommentMike Lusk expressed concern about the newspaper article regarding the well water at Henderson
School and whether its close proximity to the City limits could effect City wells. Further, he stated
he supports Measure L and shared some of the concerns citizens have shared with him who feel
it is more of a bond issue than a tax measure and that it is for the California Public Employees
Retirement System (Cal -PERS) issue and nothing else, along with other negative views. He
stated he is unsure how the City will educate the public on the measure, but he is doing his best
to promote the measure that it is not solely for the Cal -PERS crisis.
City Manager Schwabauer responded that City wells are monitored and may ultimately require
treatment; however, no water is currently out of compliance. The City reached out to the Lodi
Unified School District to see if it can assist in any way. Further, he explained that, with regard to
the measure, staff can only present factual information, and nothing of a political or campaign
nature, and provided details regarding the City's budget and the negative effects if no new
revenues are added to the equation. The City will be forced to cut $6 to $7 million, which will
equate to reductions in or elimination of public services.
Alex Aliferis spoke against Measure L, stating the City has been untruthful about the measure
and why it is needed and that he has heard nothing from the City Manager or Council Members
about pension reform. He stated most Lodians do not make $100,000 to $200,000 salaries and
that City Hall does not want a solution to the Cal -PERS problem because it loves the great
pension payout.
Doug Cheney spoke against Measure L and questioned what will happen five years after the
sales tax increase, stating he believes it would be better to set a permanent quarter -cent sales
tax rather than a five-year tax. He stated the City became aware of the Cal -PERS issue in 1998,
but passed it from administration to administration, and now the City is stuck with the problem.
Further, he does not believe anything the City, Council, or management has to say on the issue
because figures are continuously being inflated or deflated depending on the demand. He stated
he will continue to walk Kettleman Lane with his sign opposing Measure L and submitted a
handout (filed) showing the City's organization chart.
Mr. Schwabauer responded to the comment that the City has not done anything to address the
Cal -PERS issue by outlining the various actions, including shifting 15 to 20 percent of retirement
costs to employees, putting saved expenses into a pension stabilization fund in lieu of giving
employee raises, reducing value of pension plans, creating a post -2009 tier for reduced vacations
and accruals, keeping employee pay at below 2008 levels, transferring funding for the Lodi
Conference and Visitors Bureau to hotels who now pay 100 percent of the program, paying the
unfunded accrued liability early to get the higher interest earning, and maintaining City
management employee pay at 12 percent below the average of comparison cities. Further, he
outlined the efforts taken by him and Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce to testify before the Cal -PERS
Board to convince it on the need for pension reform, in which it was not interested, and stated
reform can only come from the State, not cities, because it is State law. Further, he clarified that
the sales tax increase would be permanent, not five years.
Elizabeth Kirkley, representing the Lodi Community Band, announced it will have a fundraiser
next Wednesday, October 10, 2018, at Chili's with 20 percent of proceeds going to the band to
fund performances at the Hutchins Street Square theater.
E. Comments by the City Council Members on Non -Agenda Items
Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce responded to the comments claiming Council has made no effort to
address pension reform by outlining the steps she, the City Manager, and the League of
California Cities have taken over the last four years to reach some sort of pension reform other
than what the Governor did previously. She stated the City Manager was one of the few in
California brave enough to tell Councils there is a problem with the pension system and he
communicated that to the League and cities across the state, while she fought on the League and
with the Governor to make changes. She stated she does not typically support tax increases, but
by placing this sales tax measure on the ballot, citizens have a choice on what kind of community
they want. She expressed disappointment that people she respects come to the podium and say
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