CC 12-04-01 APPROVED MINUTES
CUPERTINO CITY COUNCIL
Regular Adjourned Meeting
Tuesday December 4, 2001
ROLL CALL
At 4:00 p.m. Mayor Lowenthal called the meeting to order. City Council members present:
Mayor Richard Lowenthal, Vice-Mayor Michael Chang, and Council members Patrick Kwok
and Dolly Sandoval. Council members absent: Sandra James.
Staff present: City Manager David Knapp, Administrative Services Director Carol Atwood,
Public Works Director Ralph Qualls, Assistant City Attorney Eileen Murray, and City Clerk
Kimbefly Smith.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS - PRESENTATIONS - None
POSTPONEMENTS - None
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None
CONSENT CALENDAR - None
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR (above) - None
PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS
1. Preparation of argument in favor of the March 2002 measure to extend the utility users
excise tax (continued from Monday, December 4).
Barbara Rogers said that the language of the measure needed to be strengthened and
suggested that it specifically refer to the library. She said that all five Council members
should sign the rebuttal to any argument submitted against the measure and that the
election should not be delayed until November.
After discussion, the Council members agreed upon the following wording for the
argument in favor of the measure:
December 4, 2001 Cupertino City Council Page 2
"In 1990, the voters of Cupertino approved a 2.4% utility tax to
fund the capital improvement program, which included the
preservation of Blackberry Farm and Creekside Park as permanent
open space. These properties are now public parks for all residents
to enjoy. In March 2000, Cupertino voters overwhelmingly
favored a new library. In order to finance these projects we are
asking you to extend the utility users tax until the year 2030 from
its sunset of 2015. This is not a new tax but an extension of the
current tax, and will not increase your tax liability. Moreover
senior citizens will continue to be exempt from this tax.
In order to fund the city's capital improvement program, which
includes the construction of the new library, it is imperative that
the city preserves its existing revenue sources. The utility tax is
2.4% of electricity, gas, and telephone charges. The utility tax
currently provides $2.4 million per year towards capital project
financing. The measure would provide that the existing utility
users tax be extended from 2015 to 2030. This would allow the
city to refinance its debt to pay for capital projects. This will not
raise your taxes.
A yes vote will also safeguard the revenues for future capital
projects while maintaining a prudent budget reserve. Those
projects may include traffic safety, enhanced parks, and the new
library.
Cupertino residents have always been intelligent visionaries. Your
support for past capital improvements has ensured our quality of
life in a fiscally responsible manner, Please help our city maintain
this vision, without increasing taxes, by voting Yes on Measure
The four Council members present said that they would all like to sign the Argument in
Favor of the measure, and the City Manager said he would contact Council member
James to see if she would also like to sign it.
ORDINANCES - None
STAFF REPORTS - None
COUNCIL REPORTS - None
CLOSED SESSION - None
December 4, 2001 Cupertino City Council Page 3
ADJOURNMENT
At 6:10 p.m. the meeting was adjourned to Monday, December 17 at 6:00 p.m. for a Council
workshop discussion &the Mary Avenue/Stevens Creek Boulevard Improvement project.
Ki~y Clerkr~~