This is your city. Though these challenges are shared with a nation and indeed the world, we need to come up with our own solutions. How would you like to see the city handle these trying times?
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209 votes
Coordinate Public Services with other Local Jurisdictions
For a county of 250,000, we have far too many overlapping agencies with duplicative mandates. We need to have agencies (Police, Fire, School Districts, Water Districts, et. al) work together to reduce the costs of governmental services. Begin with a comprehensive study of our County' and its se... more
Status: under reviewThis duplicates an earlier suggestion that got ten votes, but this is more articulate. We'll move those votes to here.
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178 votes
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101 votes
Sliding scale pay cuts - 15% 10% 5%
Rather than a 10% cut across the board - how about making tiered pay cuts where top salary emplyees take 15% cuts and lowest take 5% cuts. This will allow lowest earners to survive in a high cost community.
For years the City struggled to attract and retain public safety personnel. We’ve made enormous gains in this area, and for the first time in decades, we have a fully staffed police force. So the choices we have to make now are particularly painful.
Our police and fire units are far busier than departments in comparable sized cities, largely due to the fact that we have an attractive seaside community, university and a vibrant downtown.
In recent weeks, out public safety bargaining units (like all our other bargaining units) have made salary concessions that will allow us to retain more of our workforce. For this, we are extremely grateful.
We’ve also looked at efficiencies in both the police and fire departments, which included eliminating some management positions. Since 2000 the Police Department has reduced civilian staff by 40% and sworn staff by approximately 15%.
-Cynthia Mathews
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85 votes
Convert the Palomar to hotel/condos w/redevelopment funds
it's time to turn what was once the crown jewel of downtown into the revenue generating machine it could be again. instead of run-down affordable apartments, utilize redevelopment funds to convert the Palomar to a luxury hotel/condo project that would generate hotel tax revenue, and replace low i... more
Downtown Santa Cruz is successful in part because of the rich mix of residential, retail, business and entertainment uses. The trend in recent years has been to achieve a healthy balance of housing types downtown by adding more market rate units rather than reducing the affordable ones. In any event, the Palomar is not a prime candidate for any such discussion as it is a privately-owned facility.
-Cynthia Mathews
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84 votes
Explore contracting out some city services
The City has long contracted for certain services (e.g. technical consultants on topics such as water, economic development, major public works projects) because the level of specialization is so high that it would not make sense to hire regular full time staff in these fields. On a different level, the City has more recently contracted for janitorial services because of the very significant savings that can be achieved.
The City does not enter into contracting for services lightly, but we have a wide range of highly technical demands as a full service City, and a great many facilities and programs for a City our size. Especially in these difficult budgetary times, this option will have to be explored from time to time as we seek the best mix of preserving services and staying within our budget.
-Cynthia Mathews -
84 votes
Have people donate to support the services they want
Many services such as the libraries, teen center and other social services could be supported by volunteer time and money if they city can't fund them any longer.
Status: started -
80 votes
Analyze Efficiencies Within City Systems
I suggest you have a non-government related consultant come in and analyze the City operations and give some assistance on efficiencies.Any well run business is always looking at way to be more efficient. It seems like there is a lot of City money/time spent on things that never actually happen f... more
Status: started -
69 votes
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65 votes
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60 votes
Eliminate contributions to charitable organizations
The city could save money by eliminating funds it provides to local non-profit social services organizations, and city residents could donate to these charities to make up the difference if they feel the services are essential.
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56 votes
limit police department overtime
the PD systematically overpays for police time on the streets by awarding vast amounts of overtime when a disciplined budgetary process could put more full-time police on the streets for the same money.
Status: startedThere are times during the year when we do need police overtime for high profile events such as Halloween and New Year’s Eve, or major crimes that require intense focus. However, we realize that limiting overtime is one of the areas where we can realize some economies, and we will look for reasonable savings on overtime costs without compromising public safety.
It’s worth noting that the police department is now fully-staffed for the first time in nearly a decade, and has reduced overtime in the upcoming budget year by 25%.
-Cynthia Mathews
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55 votes
Cancel/postpone Parks & Rec projects that are not critica
In this time of budget crisis, we need to focus on the basics. The city is spending money on projects that are not critical (such as funding to restore the old clubhouse in Pogonip and to build bridges and pave a bikeway across Arana Gulch Greenbelt). Review the list of projects in the works and ... more
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53 votes
Bribe Apple to open a store in the Rittenhouse building.
Give Apple a tax break or some other major incentive to open up a store on Pacific in the Rittenhouse building. This would bring residents from all over the county as well as tourists looking to repair or replace their iGear downtown, where they would undoubtedly spend at other businesses. Genera... more
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50 votes
Negotiate salary reductions for Fire/Police
As someone who supports the valuable work of our Fire and Police departments, even a casual review of the city salary database suggests that many of their salaries are far out of line given the supply/demand in those labor markets.
Don't lay them off, but consider an across-the-board pay cut. ... more
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32 votes
charge higher property taxes for non-owner occupied property
There is presently a homeowner exemtion for owner occupied properties, but you have to apply for it and it's nominal ( < $100 ), but it does help. So this idea exists in practice.
Here' the link to the form.
sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/asr/forms/taxform1a.pdf
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30 votes
10% paycut + cut "community support" + cut depts = $8 mill!
Here's how the City should get to $8 million reduction:
1) 10% accross the board pay cut ($4 million)
2) Eliminate "Community Contributions" except for Visitors Bureau which generates revenue ($1.5 million)
3) 6% budget cut for all City Departments spending accross the board $2.5 mi... more -
25 votes
Transform boardwalk/beach flats for upscale tourism
More upscale tourism will help Santa Cruz increase it's tax base. The beach flats area which is currently about as seedy as possible could be redeveloped for higher end tourism.
The Beach Boardwalk is a world-class, locally owned and operated seaside amusement park that attracts visitors from far and wide throughout the year. In addition to this community gem, we have a beautiful, historic wharf with outstanding special events, and a growing inventory of high quality lodging options including the renovated Dream Inn and Holiday Inn Express. Additional new lodging projects have been approved including the La Bahia hotel and the new Marriott on Riverside Avenue, breaking ground this autumn.
With the Marine Sanctuary Visitors Center coming online soon, as well as the Depot Park Bike Park the future street improvements, this process is well underway.
-Cynthia Mathews
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25 votes
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23 votes
Start a Santa Cruz Currency
Santa Cruz should print and govern a new currency. Like the Berkshire example in Massachusetts. (http://www.berkshares.org/whatareberkshares.htm) It will stimulate local business and entrepreneurs.
For a short informational video news story visit: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWAXQBT6dn8)
Status: startedThe Downtown Association is running a limited program right now called "Downtown Dollars." Here's a link to their program
http://www.downtownsantacruz.com/whats_new.php?id=79&title=Downtown_Dollars
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19 votes
Lease sidewalks to the fronting businesses.
Allow the businesses along Pacific and other streets to lease the sidewalk from the city for a reasonable rate. This would give the businesses greater control over what takes place there (or doesn't), improving the overall atmosphere of downtown, and thereby increasing sales and tax revenue.
