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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUtilities Tax Revenue, Ordinances, and Exemptions 1970-1988 _ /o 6 �U - 17 % Shell Western E&P Inc. A Subsidiary of Snell Oil Company - P.O. BOX 191 June 27, 1988 D `� G C Huntington Beach. CA 92648 ' f Mr. Paul Cook VTY OF HUN- 11VGT0rq 9E1Uq S/ �c�-'^��P"' A16 City Administration `ppryry� ` NpISTRA. City of Huntington. Beach C Kph✓ 2000 Main Street wt Huntington Beach, California 92648 Dear Mr. Cook: SUBJECT: CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH COGENERATION TAX ORDINANCE NO. 2933 PROPOSED 2ND READING JULY 5 , 1988 At the City Council meeting of June 20 , 1988, it was mentioned by your staff that they would like Shell Western E&P Inc. (SWEPT) to furnish written comments of why we thought proposed Ordinance No. 2933 might not be in order. As a point of interest: If this Ordinance was activated because SWEPI staff has been talking with the City about our wishing to install a cogeneration facility, then you should know it will only be after we .obtain a Conditional Use Permit from the. City. If we do decide to go forward with permitting, we would not do so for at least another year, and we figure the permitting process will take another year. As the Ordinance is currently drafted, it reads there must be a charge for such electrical energy, and there must be a sale. Should SWEPI build a cogenerated facility, we will use the major- ity of its cogenerated electricity on the lease, however, some energy may be sold to Southern California Edison Company for local use. Thus it appears from the language of the statute that the 5% . Utility Tax will apply only to the electrical energy sold to Edison of SWEPI ' s excess electricity, but would not apply against the electricity produced by SWEPI and used by SWEPI on the lease. There are five (5) independent arguments which we include herewith as an attachment for your consideration on why Cogeneration may not be subject to taxation. After you have had an opportunity to review our comments and should you have any questions, our Tax Counsel has indicated he would be glad to discuss the same with your legal staff. City Council July 14, 1988 Page 2 represent more than 20 railroads . The defendants include the State Board of Equalization, represented by the California Attorney Gen- eral, 51 counties, including the County of Orange, and most of the cities located within those counties. Under the California Constitution, the State Board of Equalization is responsible for assessing all railroad property. The State Board then allocates the assessment between the counties which levy taxes at the local rate. Collectively, the cases seek recovery of a portion of taxes levied for fiscal years 1978-79 through 1985-86 . State Court Cases All of the railroads' state court actions claim that the State Board improperly valued and assessed their properties throughout the state. Of these cases, one has gone to trial in San Francisco County Superior Court, and judgment was granted in favor of plain- tiffs and against all defendants. The court determined that, of the total judgment of $1,864,153.43, the County-wide liability, in- . cluding all taxing entities who take a proportionate share of the taxes collected in Orange County, is $115,860 . 73 . It is an- ticipated that the.-Attorney General will appeal this judgment, and that the counties and cities will join in the appeal. Depending on the outcome of the appeal, it can be expected that a similar determination will be made in each of the remaining six state court cases . While we can only approximate, it is not unlikely that the County-wide liability will be roughly the same $115,000 for each of the remaining cases . Federal Court Cases These actions arise under the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976, commonly know as the 114-R" Act. The Act makes it unlawful for an assessing authority to assess railroad transportation property at a value which bears a higher ratio to the true market value of such property than the ratio which the as- sessed value of other commercial industrial property in the assess- ing jurisdiction bears to the true market value of such commercial industrial property. All of the plaintiffs contend that due to Proposition 13, their railroad transportation property is assessed at a higher assessment to market value ratio than the assessment to market value ratio of other commercial and industrial property as- sessed under Proposition 13. Plaintiffs also contend that their property has improperly been overvalued by the State Board, the same issue raised in the state court cases . chaffee/037 City Council July 14, 1988 Page 3 Because these actions involve issues relating to local assess- ment, rather than just state-wide assessment by the State Board, the various county defendants have heretofore taken an active role in these actions through outside counsel, Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Robertson & Falk. The Orange County Board of Supervisors has authorized such representation. Since 1982 the court has enjoined the counties from collecting approximately 40% of the taxes levied on the State Board assess- ments. The court ultimately made a determination that the rail- roads' property was impermissibly assessed at a market value ratio approximately 40% higher than that of other commercial and indus- trial property assessed under Proposition 13. Because of the court's injunction prohibiting collection of 40% of the taxes lev- ied since 1982, the County of Orange and its co-defendant cities have little, if any, liability for those years. Still pending is the County and City liability for tax years 1978-79 through 1981- 82. Pursuant to a ruling of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, the Federal District Court may still consider whether the State Board has also improperly overvalued the railroads' property. However, it appears that the federal court will abstain from that determina- tion pending determination of the state court cases. Appearances in Future Proceedings As previously mentioned, the State Board of Equalization per- formed all of the assessment work related to plaintiffs' properties . The State Board has been, and will continue defending those assessments through the office of the Attorney General. That portion of the federal cases relating to local assess- ments has now been resolved, and it is unlikely that the plaintiffs' will be granted much more relief, as the federal court has chosen to abstain from hearing the valuation issues pending resolution of the state court cases. In view of the fact that virtually all of the remaining issues in all of these cases relate to the State Board's valuation of the railroads' property, it is clear that the State Board and its coun- sel, the Attorney General, must carry the burden of defense. Therefore, we have proposed, and the Orange County Board of Supervisors has approved, entering the following stipulations to be filed in the various courts where the Railroad Cases are pending: chaffee/037 City Council July 14, 1988 Page 4 1 . The plaintiffs shall not be required to serve any further Pleadings on Orange County defendants, and service on the Attorney General is sufficient; 2 . - The Orange County defendants shall not be required to make any further appearances or submit any further Pleadings in the action; and 3. . The Orange County defendants agree to be bound by any fi- nal judgment ordered and approved by the court including, if appli- cable, the payment of refunds in proportion to the taxes allocated to the County. In entering these stipulations, it is our understanding that the State Board and the Attorney General will continue their de- fense of the assessments to, and including, appeal from the re- cently entered judgment in the first state court case in San Fran- cisco. As a practical matter, Orange County's interests, and the interests of the cities located therein, will be defended by the Attorney General. However, the Attorney General will not spe- cifically appear for, or represent, the County or the Cities . In view of the foregoing, it is our intention to prepare and enter the foregoing stipulations pursuant to our prior authoriza- tion from the Orange County Board of Supervisors . However, prior to entering such stipulations, as a matter of professional responsibility, we wish to notify you of this proposed action. In view of the short time remaining in which to file the pro- posed stipulations, we must request that any objection to the pro- posed action be received by this office prior to August 1, 1988. If you have not responded by that date, we will assume your City's approval of this action. In the event of objection, or if there are any questions, we will be happy to discuss the matter with your City Attorney. Very truly yours, ADRIAN KUYPER, COUNTY COUNSEL By David R. Chaffee, Depu DRC:rer chaffee/037 REQUE4 FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION Date October 28, 1986 Submitted to: Honorable Mayor and City Council Member Charles W. Thompson, City Administr r Submitted by: P � Y Prepared by: Robert J. Franz, Chief of Administrative Ser Subject: Utility User Tax Exemption Al OQ� Consistent with Council Policy? [x] Yes [ ] New Policy or Exception Statement of Issue, Recommendation,Analysis, Funding Source, Alternative Actions, Attachments: Statement of Issue: Council requested this subject be scheduled for review at your November 3, 1986 regular meeting. Recommended Action: Review current provisions and advise staff if any changes are desired. Analysis: Following is the current provision for exemption of senior citizens from utility users taxes: "Senior Citizens - Exemption The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any individual service user sixty-two years of age or older who uses telephone, electric, water or gas services, in or upon any premises occupied by such individual, provided the combined adjusted gross income as used for Federal income tax reporting purposes of all members of the household in which such service user resides was less than eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for the calendar year prior to the fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) for which the exemption provided by this chapter is applied. The exemption granted by this section shall not eliminate the duty of the service supplier to collect taxes from such exempt service users or the duty of such exempt service users to pay such taxes to the service supplier unless an exemption has been applied for by the service user and granted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter." This provision was adopted October 15, 1980 by City Ordinance No. 2452. Funding Source: Not applicable Alternative Action: Not applicable Attachments: None 2819j P10 5/85 REQUES ll FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION Date October 28, 1986 Submitted to: Honorable Mayor and City Council Member _.' Submitted by: Charles W. Thompson, City Administr r �!/ V l Prepared by: Robert .1. Franz, Chief of _ydministrative Ser , Subject: - Utility User Tax FYempi:ion j Consis€ent with Council Policy? (.t] Yes ( ) New Policy or Exception Statement of issue, Recommendation, Analysis, Funding Source, Alternative Actions, Attachments: Statement of Lssue. Council requested this subject be scheduled for review at your November 3, 1986 regular :meeting. Recommended _Action: R-view current provisions and advise staff if any changes are de`ired. nalvsis: Following .is the current provision for exemption of senior citizens from utility users taxes: "Senior Citizens - Exemption The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any individual service user sixty-two years of age or older who uses telephone, electric, water or gas services, in or upon any premises occupied by such individual, provided the combined adjusted gross income as used for Federal income tax reporting purposes of all members of the household in which such service user resides was less than eight thousand dollars ($§,OW for the calendar year prior to the fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) for which the exemption provided by this chapter is applied. . �f a C The exemption granted by this section shall not eliminate the duty of the service supplier to collect taxes from such exempt service users or the duty of such exempt service users to pay such taxes to the service supplier unless an exemption has been applied for by the service user and granted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter." This provision was adopted October 15, 1980 by City Ordinance No. 2452. v aY # x o f x o it x vt n 7 .7 v`. 00 � 111 T d in • J J O O • O O CC • (� • M1 • M • • e 000 OOa. ao v% m o o 'cc m CD Cc ac �o w �o �o OD o. o (NJ C�, C a3 an 0� c$ cB ad c8 � a a a; o. T vZ �...�. 9V9Z6 V) Vea9 uo;Suilunli �/L' ac:san�r su3_�� 1588 AP 6PO NOI1nN1Sf;dlWQ7 AlMNS 7nnnc j Authorized to Publish Advertisements of all kinds including public notices by Decree of the Superior Court of Orange County. California, Number A-6214, dated 29 September. 1961, and A-24831. dated 11 June, 1963. STATE OF CALIFORNIA County of Orange Pvotpc No,pu AorK7tlMng covwoa Dy thH •rtlo&ten H wi rn 7 t)Dtn1 with 10 DKt1 column width I am a Citizen of the United States and a resident of PUBLIC NOTICE the Count aforesaid; I am over the age of eighteen LEGAL NOTICE y g g ORDINANCE NO.2886 years, and not a party to or interested in the below "AN ORDNANCE OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON entitled matter. I am a principal clerk Of the Orange BEACH AMENDING THE HUNTINGTON BEACH MU- Coast DAILY PILOT, with which Is combined the NICIPAL CODE BY AMEND- ING 80 EN- NEWS-PRESS, a newspaper of general circulation, T T LEE DON,'SENIOR 2 rimed and y CITIZENS-EXEMPTION" p published in the City of Costa Mesa, SYNOPSIS: Ordinance County of Orange. State of California, and that a S.3.36.280 entitled""Seniors Notice of Legal Notice Ordinance #2886 as Citizens-Exemption" read as follows: 3.36.280 Senior Citizens—Exemption. The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any indi- vidual service user sixty-two of which copy attached hereto is a true and complete years of age or older who uses telephone, electric, copy, was printed and published in the Costa Mesa, water or gas services, in or upon any premises occupied Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, by such individual,provided the combined adjusted Irvine, the South Coast communities and La gross income as used for g Una Federal Income Tax report- Beach issues of said newspaper for one time ing purposes of all members of.the household in which such service user resides S��Lr 1d IX� t: to wit the issue(s) Of was less than ten thousand (10,000) dollars for the calendar year prior to the fis- cal year(July 1 through June 30)for which the exemption provided by this chapter is December 17 �gg6 allied. THE FULL TEXT OF THE ORDINANCE IS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OF- 1 98 FICE ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Hunt- Ington Beach at an ad- 198 journed meeting'held Mon- day, December 1, 1986, by the following roll call vote: AYES,:Councilmen: 198 Winchell,Mays,Finley,Kelly, Erskine,Green,Bannister NOES:Councilmen:None ABSENT: Councilmen: 198 None CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH, Alicia M. Wentworth,City Clerk Published Orange Coast 1 declare, under penalty of perjury, that the 1986 Pil°t December 99 foregoing is true and correct. w4 ; Executed on December 17 198 6 at Costa Mesa, California- _ In , Signature PROOF OF PUBLICATION Mr. Paul Cook 2 . June 27, 1988 I thank you for providing the opportunity to present this material and to meet with Mr. D. Villila on June 29, 1988 . Bruce G. Kerr Production Administration West Coast Production Division BG K/ts e Attachments cc: Honorable Mayor John Erskine, City of Huntington Beach Councilman Jack Kelly Mr. Richard Barnard, Assistant City Administrator 1. Preemption Article XI, § 7 of the California Constitution authorizes a city to make regulations (ordinances) that "are not in conflict with general laws". A city which adopts "home rule" however, in its charter is exempt from the "conflict with general laws" restriction cited above. See Cal Const. Article II,§ S. In the present case CN8 has adopted home rule in section 103 of its Charter. Notwithstanding the "home rule" exemption, as to matters which are of statewide concern charter cities remain subject to and controlled by general state laws regardless of the provisions of their charters if it is the intent and purpose of such general laws to occupy the field to the exclusion of municipal regulation. See Pacific Tele hone and Tele ra h Co. v. City and Count of San rancisco, 51 Cal . Zd 766, 768-69 T1959) . Where there is a con ict between state and municipal law, a determination is made as to whether the issue. is of a statewide concern. Galvan v. Superior Court,. 70 Cal . 2d 851, 855-856 (1969); Pacific Tel . and Tel . Co.., supra. Specifically, in the area of taxation, a city's authority to tax is never at issue unless "the city ordinance is in direct and immediate conflict with a state statute or statutory scheme". Weeks v. City of Oakland, 21 Cal . 3d 386, 392 (1978). In the present case, it may be argued that the City's attempt to tax a cogeneration project. is in conflict with state legislation that is . designed to promote cogeneration technology. Specifically, the state enacted Public Resources Code (PRC) section 25000 et. seq. with the following intent: The Legislature finds that it is necessary and essential that the state. . . use all practical and commercially feasible means to promote the prompt and efficient development of. energy sources which are renewable or which more efficiently utilize and conserve scarce energy resources. Furthermore, the Legislature finds that the promotion of energy sources which reduce the degradation of the environment and which protects the health, welfare, and safety of the people of this state is in the public interest and serves a public purpose. PRC § 25000, titled 'Energy Conservation and Development" was enacted to encourage new energy resources as provided in sections 25001 - 25005 as follows: § 25001. Legislative Finding and Declaration The Legislature hereby finds and declares that electrical energy is essential to the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this state and to the state economy, and that it is the responsibility of state government to ensure that a reliable supply of electrical energy is maintained at a level consistent with the need for such energy for protection of public health and safety, for promotion of the general welfare, and for environmental quality protection. I § 250Q2. Elimination of Waste The Legislature further finds and declares that the present rapid rate of growth in demand for electric energy is in part due to wasteful , uneconomic, inefficient, and unnecessary uses of power and a continuation of this trend will result in serious depletion or ,irreversible commitment of energy, land and water resources, and potential threats to the state's environmental quality. 25004.2. Legislative Finding The Legislature further finds that cogeneration technology is a potential energy resource and should be an important element of the state's energy supply mix. The legislature further finds that cogeneration technology can assist meeting the state's energy needs while reducing the long-term use of conventional fuels , is readily available for immediate application, and reduces negative environmental impacts. The Legislature further finds that cogeneration technology is important with respect to the providing of a reliable and clean source of energy within the state and that cogeneration technology should receive immediate support and commitment from state government. § 25005. Expanded Authority and Technical Capability Within -State Government The Legislature further finds and declares that prevention of delays and interruptions in the orderly provisions of electrical energy, protection of environmental values , and conservation of energy resources require expanded authority and technical capability within state government. JAs such the legislature has clearly stated that the growth and I encouragement of cogeneration is both in the public interest and is 'a public purpose. To the extent that taxing cogeneration technology makes :( such development any less economic and any less feasible, such tax is in i conflict with the state and public purpose. Further, that the development of electricity is a statewide concern is evidenced by the above referenced statutes. CHB's attempt to tax cogeneration may result in the elimination of a new source of energy that would benefit the state as a whole. Finally, it may be implied from the state legislature's above referenced intent, purpose, findings and declarations that the I state has occupied this area of the law excluding local jurisdictions. Therefore, it may be concluded that the area of law concerning cogeneration has been preempted by the state and that any tax on cogeneration technology is in conflict with the state and public purposes and as such cannot stand. 2. Taxable Event The tax law requires that in order to levy a tax there must first be a taxable event or transaction. For example in Yells Fargo Bank v. Cory, 167 Cal . Rptr. 778 (Cal . App. 1980) the court ruled that the making or creating of a demand loan was not a taxable event or transaction, as there was no economic benefit to the borrower. Further, with respect to a lessor who is subject to use taxes with respect -to leasing a particular -property, it is the actual creation of the lessee's use through the lease that is a taxable event, i.e. , the lease transaction. Debtor Reor anizers, Inc. v. State Bd. of Equalization, 130 CaT:-Vptr. 64 (Cal . App. n SuQarman v. St. 5d. of Equalization of the St. of Cal . , the court ruled that in the c_a_s_e7`5T goods imported through oreign -commerce (which are exempt from sale and use taxes while in transit) the taxable event or transaction that gives rise to the tax is taking the imported goods out of foreign commerce and holding them for sale in the state. In the present case there is no taxable event or transaction for the CHB to tax. SWEPI is generating electrical power for its own use. For the tax to be valid, the tax proposed by the city imputes a transaction or sale from SWEPI to itself. As there is no measure of the gross receipts that would have resulted from such an imputed sale which would be subject to the tax, the City must also impute a value of the sale. Both presumptions are precluded under the law without a transaction, and the mere use of your own facilities on private property is not a taxable transaction, as discussed below. In the present case there is no economic benefit (other than reduce costs of operation) , taxable use, and no other event or transaction that would place the use of SWEPI 's self-generated electricity in the stream of commerce subject to tax. 3. Energy Resources Surcharge The CHB may argue that the ordinance in question is an energy surcharge. The State has also occupied the area of tax law surrounding energy resource surcharges by enacting Cal . R&T. Code § 40001 et. seq. The Energy Resources Surcharge Law imposes a tax "on the consumption of electrical energy purchased from an electrical utility on and after January 1, 1975, at the rate of one-tenth mill ($0.0001) per kilowatt-hour.' Similar to the CHB ordinance, the tax is imposed on the . consumer, collected and paid over to the State by the utility. Similar to the CHB -ordinance, the statute requires a purchase, i .e. , the taxable event, in order to levy the tax. Section 40010 defines "Electric Utility" to mean any person engaged in producing, generating, transmitting etc. electrical energy for sale. However, § 40010 specifically states that "Electric Utility" does not include a person who "generates electrical energy or redistributes electrical energy solely for his own use or .for the use of his tenants and not for sale to others.' As such a party which produces electrical energy for his own use is exempt form the application of any electrical energy surcharge. As such CBAT88O8SO3 _- 0005.0.0 the CHB is prohibited from enacting an electrical energy surcharge tax, and even if enacted self-generated electricity not held for sale would be exempt. See Century Plaza Hotel Co. v. Los Angeles, 282 P. 2d 36 (Cal . Sup. Ct. , 1955) . 4. Privilege Tax 'The CHB may argue that the cogeneration utility is a tax on the privilege of operating in the City. As a general rule, a city may not require a taxpayer to pay tax on the privilege of using its plant or facilities operated on private property located in the city. Pacific Tel . 3 Tel . Co. v. City. of Los Angeles, 282 P.2d 36 (Sup. Ct. 1955). n this case the court, sitting n Bank, was concerned with a tax on the privilege of operating its equipment on its own property. The court stated that a city has no power to extract a fee or a tax from taxpayers for the use of the taxpayer's own equipment which is not located on public property. a In the present case, it may be argued that the CHB's attempt to tax cogeneration, as a privilege, would be an attempt to tax the use of private equipment on private-property. A tax on any privilege of this nature is prohibited and as such could not be maintained by the City. A privilege tax is more commonly known as a franchise tax. Local governments may impose a franchise tax on public utilities, however, as discussed, cogeneration is not considered a public utility. Further, a local franchise tax is inapplicable to the construction and use of private facilities on private property, where the facility is not generating electricity for sale. People v. Monstad, 289 P. 84 (Sup. Ct. 1930), as contrasted by Ocean Park Pier Amusement Corporation v. Cit of Santa Monica, 104 P. 2d 698 (Cal . App. 1940) (facilities on both private and public property erected for profit) . 5. Sales and Use Tax Because the City's attempt to levy a utility tax on the electricity from the cogeneration plant may fail , the City may attempt to recharacterize the tax as a use tax on electricity. Cal . RAT. Code § 6353 provides an exemption for "exhaust steam, waste steam, heat, or resultant energy, produced in connection with cogeneration technology, as defined in § 25134 of the Public Resources Code", from sales and use taxes in the State of California. Section 25134 of the Public Resources Code defines cogeneration as "the sequential use of energy for the production of electrical and useful thermal energy". At the time Cal . R&T. Code § 6353 was enacted, PRC § 25134 defined cogeneration technology as "the use for the generation of electricity of exhaust steam, waste steam, heat, or resultant energy from an industrial , commercial , or manufacturing process, or the use of exhaust steam, waste steam, or heat from a thermal power plant for an industrial , commercial , CBAT8808503 - 0006.0.0 or manufacturing plant or process. .. Cogeneration technology shall not include steam or heat developed solely for electrical power generation." (emphasis added) . PRC section 25134 prior to Amendment, Stats. 1981 Ch. 952 Sec. 5. In State Board of Equalization (SBE) Ruling 275.0500 (12/29/83) , -the SBE ruled that the revised definition of cogeneration in PRC § 25134 has no impact on Cal . RAT. Code § 6353 Stating as follows: The rule of statutory construction applicable here is that a statute (Sec. 6353) , which adopts by reference another statute (Sec. 25134) , is unaffected by amendment or repeal of the latter statute (Sec. 25134) in the absence of express or implied legislative intent -to the contrary in the 1981 amendment (Stats. 1981 Ch. 952 Sec.5). As such the SBE would review the CHB ordinance in light of the prior definition of, cogeneration technology. However, regardless of which definition is applied electricity produced from SWEPI Huntington Beach cogeneration plant would be exempt from both state and local sales and use taxes. Cal .- RAT. Code § 6353 exempts from tax "resultant energy" from a cogeneration plant. Resultant energy is not specifically defined either through statutory, administrative, or judicial authority. However, the prior definition defines cogeneration technology as the use of steam etc. to produce electricity. Additionally PRC § 25109 defines energy as any "work or heat" produced from any fuel or source. In this case the cogeneration plant is a gas fired turbine that produces both "work and "heat". The "heat" is transferred into steam for steam drives in oil field production (the steam also drive a second turbine which produces "work"). The "work" (i .e. a mechanical shaft from the turbine to a generator) results in electricity from the generator. As such, electricity can be considered a resultant energy from the cogeneration plant. Under the later definition the generation of electricity and steam are clearly the resultant energies. It may be argued that although the prior definition is controlling the later definition is merely a clarification of legislative intent. With respect to the �"so�lel for electrical power generation" exception, SWEPI turbines are installed-primarily for steam drives in the oil field. Further under the "PUPRA" 16 U.S.C. § 2601 et. seq. "qualified congeneration facilities", which SWEPI faciT ties are permitted as, must be for the purposes of producing both steam and electricity. The conclusion that the electricity production from the cogeneration plant in exempt from sales and use taxes is supported by the legislative history to PRC § 25000 et. seq. , which includes the same section that defines cogeneration. stated previously, the legislative history states as follows: The Legislature finds that it is necessary and essential that the state. . . use all, practical and commercially feasible means to promote the prompt and efficient development of energy CHAT88085003 - 0007.0.0 sources which are 'renewable or which more efficiently utilize and conserve scarce energy resources. Furthermore, the Legislature finds that the promotion of energy sources which reduce the degradation of the environment and which protects the health, welfare, and safety of the people of this state is in the public interest and serves a public purpose." See Sonoma City v. St. Bd of Equalization, 241 Cal . Rptr. 215 (Cal . App. 1987) . In Sonoffia SLtj, the city sought to levy a sales tax on the sale of geothermaT steam. The court cited Cal . R&T. Code 5 6353 as prohibiting such a tax, also citing the above legislative history as the public policy in supporting that holding. See also, Rivera v. City of Fresno, 98 Cal . Rptr. 281 at 284 (Sup. Ct. 9 I . or O�'9 OFFICES OF AD Y THE COUNTY COUNSEL COUNT COUNSEL u M CHIEF COUNTY OF ORANGE MJ. McCOURT C� Q• 10 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA CHIEF ASSISTANT ti ARTHUR C.WAHLSTEDT, JR. 1po MAILING e�1iS:P.O.BOX 1379 LAURENCE M. WATSON SANT*�P CAL"RNIA 92702-1379 C Writer's Direct Dial Number f .r''t ' ASSISTANTS . . C\'S7aate�ay-s3p15:«. NV *^1 VICTOR T.BELLERUE DAVID BEALES 7141 8 3 4-.4 3 7 9 JOHN R.GRISET TERRY C.ANDRUS 11988 EDWARD N.DURAN CLAUDIA L.COWAN IRYNE C.BLACK JAMES L.TURNER J RICHARD D.OVIEDO PETER L.COHON BENJAMIN P.DE MAYO NICHOLAS S.CHRISOS HOWARD SERBIN DAVID G.EPSTEIN DANIEL J.DIDIER THOMAS F.MORSE GENE AXELROD WANDA S.FLORENCE ROBERT L.AUSTIN HOPE E.SNYDER DONALD H.RUBIN THOMAS C.AGIN City Council DAVID R.CHAFFEE SHERIE A.CHRISTENSEN City of Huntington Beach CAROL D.BROWN SUSAN M.NILSEN Y g BARBARA L.STOCKER SARA L.PARKER JAMES F.MEADE ADRIENNE K.SAURO STEFEN H.WEISS KARYN J.DRIESSEN SUSAN STROM Re: Southern Pacific Transportation Co. , et al. DEPUTIES v. Board of Equalization, et al. ; No. 281434 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railways Co. , et al. v. Board of Equalization, et al. ; No. 778986 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railways Co. , et al. v. Board of Equalization, et al. ; No. 855589 Southern Pacific Transportation Co.; et al. v. -Board of Equalization, et al. ; 810433 Southern Pacific Transportation Co. , et al. v. Board of Equalization, et al. ; 877359 Dear Council Members: Pursuant to your designation and request for representation (under the provisions of former Revenue and Taxation Code Section 5149 ) , this office has represented your City, as well as the County of Orange, as parties defendant in one or more of the above- en- titled actions . As these cases represent similar and/or identical legal and factual issues, they are commonly referred to as the "Railroad Cases. " For convenience of communication, we have listed all of the cases generically called Railroad Cases without indicat- ing if your City is a party thereto. Your City Attorney should confirm which cases are applicable to your City. By this letter we wish to update you on the status of these cases, and to apprise you of impending actions and stipulations which we anticipate entering shortly. The Railroad Cases currently include seven separate state court cases (six of which are pending in San Francisco County Supe- rior Court;- three of which have been consolidated; and the seventh is pending in Sacramento County. Superior Court) and four federal court cases (all of which have been consolidated for hearing in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco) . Plaintiffs in these cases chaffee/037 �. ail Iota CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH 2000 MAIN STREET CALIFORNIA 92648 April 9, 1985 J. J. Alilovich, Division Manager SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY P. O. Box 3334 Anaheim, California 92803 Dear Mr. Alilovich: In response to your letter of April 3, 1985 the City of Huntington Beach has decided not to allow Southern California Gas Company to make certain credits against utility taxes for refunds received by the Gas Company from its interstate suppliers. This is consistent with our position in the past as we are unaware of the refund amount, which would reduce future revenues, and the refunds would not necessarily be distributed equitably. Should you need any additional information, please contact Mr. Dan T. Villella or Mr. Wayne Lee at (714) 536-5228. Sincerely, OB J./MANZLJOhief Administra ive Services RJF:skd 0955j To Charles Thaimson, City AdIdn- Date I IV �1 f At rom tacha� is a comounicatian & letter- agmt So Calif- "-G V)any raqardinq refunding of Utililty User's Tax correspond inq to the So. Calif. Gas Com?any's refund. 1r. Bonnic-k, District Mam4jer, said that if the City wishles to refund they must A'-.e advised by 12/2(,)/83. Pla-mse infom us if you plan to schedule this for the- 12/19(/33 agenda. GIT-',' GLERK'S 9FFIGF- Connie Brockway, Deputy " cc: Jeri Chanelle RETURN TO Signed "A Date Signed Redifrm 45 465 SEND PARTS I AND 3 WITH CARBONS INTACT. Poly Pak 150 sets)4P465 PART 3 WILL BE RETURNED WITH REPLY. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA gas COf�PAIv; ORANGE COUNTY DIVISION P. O. BOX 3334, ANAHEIM, CA 1. 92003', November 29, 1983 }o`� 9 -Z Ms. Alicia Wentworth City Clerk 2000 Main Street Huntington Beach, California 92648 Dear Ms. Wentworth: The Southern California Gas Company is requesting authorization from the California Public Utilities Commission to refund certain amounts to its customers relating, primarily, to refunds received by the Gas Company from its interstate suppliers. The refund plan is similar to that used for the refund made in April 1982. The Gas Company expects to make the refund by credit to bills during January 1984. Should your City wish to consider refunding the Utility Users' Tax corresponding to this refund amount, the Gas Company is willing to assist your City by passing that tax refund on to eligible city residents, including it with the Gas Company refund during our regular billing operation in January 1984. However, we are prepared to assist in making utility users' tax refunds only if the amount of the tax refund is calculated and distributed uniformly and the Gas Company is expressly authorized by your City to offset the tax refunds through a credit against current utility users' tax collections. The refund calculations would be based upon the amount of the utility refund and your City's February 1982 Utility Users' tax rate. If your City agrees to the above approach, please indicate agreement by having the appropriate City official sign the enclosed copy of this letter in the space provided, attaching a Resolution of your City Council formally authorizing this agreement and returned to me by December 20. Sincerely, J. J. Alilovich Division Manager JJA/lg Enc. Southern California Gas Company is authorized to proceed with the tax refunds as outlined above and shall be allowed credits against current tax collections of all tax amounts so refunded. It is agreed that the City shall defend and indemnify the.-Gas Company as to any loss or liability arising from any act or omission by Gas Company in implementing tax refunds on behalf of the City. City of By Position Date r NEWS RELEASE :WS BUREAU 24-Hour Hotline (213) 689-2171 SAM 13ONNICK DISTRICT MANAGER J ' / (�'7 ,{{A gac CrJr���ar�sY 355 THIRD,LAGUNA BEACH,CALIFORNIA 92651 (714) 494-4622,834-J206,661-2Bt2 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - - - _ Nov. 3 , 1983 GAS COMPANY PROPOSES $35 MILLION REFUND TO ITS CUSTOMERS Southern California Gas Co. today announced it has sent to the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) a proposal to refund about $35 million to its customers in January. Assuming the plan is approved by the commission , the gas company' s average residential customer will receive a refund of $3 . 15 by way of credit on his or her January gas bill. The refund reflects the rebates the gas company has received from its out-of-state suppliers , primarily E1 Paso Natural Gas Co, and Transwestern Pipeline Co. Under the federal regulatory process , these suppliers implement proposed rate increases subject to final approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) . During this approval process , adjustments were made to the suppliers ' rates , resulting in refunds to the gas company and now to its customers. MORE Add 1 x x x to its customers . Included in the total refund is the interest that has accrued on the refunds from suppliers and for the time monies were held by the gas company. "We are very pleased to announce this refund plan to our customers , " said Robert M. McIntyre, gas company president. "The refund is the result of efforts, including ours and those of the PUC, to intervene in our suppliers ' rate cases before the FERC. " The PUC is the agency responsible for assuring that consumers receive quality service from public utilities -- at rates that are fair to both customers and utilities. In addition, the commission participates in federal proceedings to protect the interests of California consumers. "We will continue to work at the federal level, both in rate cases and other natural gas related proceedings , to assure that natural gas costs are kept as low as possible, " said McIntyre. Although the average refund to residential customers is $3 . 15, the actual amount will depend on the amount of natural gas used by the customer during the 12 months ending this month, gas company officials stated. Refunds will be calculated in the same way for small commercial customers. Refunds to large commercial and industrial customers will be based on their usage during the period covered by the suppliers ' refunds. LKG: cjb 83-436 REQUEST FOR CITY COU ACTION Submitted by Vincent G . Moorhouse Department Community Services Date Prepared December 12 , 19 80 Backup Material Attached 0 Yes No Subject Ordinance Amending Municipal Code .Section 3 .36 . 310 Relating to Billings by utility Service Suppliers City Administrator's Comments Approve as Recommended 'Statement of Issue, Recommendation, Analysis, Funding Source, Alternative Actions: / STATEMENT OF ISSUE U It is. necessary. to revise Section 3 . 36.. 310 of the Huntington .Beach Municipal Code in order to make. it more workable for the utility service providers . RECOMMENDATION .Adopt Ordinance attached which amends HBMC Section 3 . 36 . 310 by deleting the second . paragraph thereof. ANALYSIS The utility tax exemption. for senior citizens meeting certain requirements has been .in .effect since October 15 , 1980 . However, a portion. of Section 3 . 36 . 310 makes certain demands upon the service provide.r . which cannot be accomplished. The removal of the second paragraph of that . section does .not. alter the intent of the exemption. FUNDING SOURCE None required. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Do not adopt the Ordinance . VGM:VB : cs rj POO 3n8 1977 - 1978 LESSEE Rent Gross Paid Income Christensen, Ella - Smith, Joy (dba Neptunes Locker $ 12,280 $ 81 ,872 Christensen, Ella (dba Captains Gallery) 8,763 58,419 Gustafson, John (dba Fisherman Grotto) 9,507 63,374 Guzzardo, Guy P. 5,400 Unknown. - monthly rent only Huntington Lmtd 96,000 Minimum rent @ $8,000 - gross unknown E1 Don Liquor No charge None LRC Corporation (Maxwell 's) 86,211 560,146 Irvine, .Joseph A. & Evala Rue 7,598 70,505 Wheat, Cecil (2 concession's) 23,560 198,398 Clapp, Jack K. (2 concessions) 29,672 2419986 Nitzkowski , Kenneth M. & La Rue 11 ,766 99,918 Huntington Central Park 11 ,146 40,360 Sully Miller Contracting Co. 12,000 Flat Rate Golf of Southern Cal . Lmtd. 150,000 Gross Unknown Minimum .@ 12,500 per month Harold Butler Enterprises #130 1 ,200 Flat Rate Curzio, Frederick H. Unknown to Finance Unknown to Harbor & Beaches 1 ,500 Flat Rate Christensen, Ella (Tackle Shop) 9,064 60,421 `3 City of Huntington Beach A P.O. BOX 190 CALIFORNIA 92646 OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ,.,1 April 16, 1979 Mr. Bradley L. Jacobs County Assessor P. 0. Box 10 Santa Ana, CA 92702 Attention: Mr. D. James Bell Supervising Appraiser Re: Possessory Interest Dear Sir: Attached please find a list of rent and gross revenues of lessees of the City per your request. If we can be of further service, please feel free to contact my office. Sincerely, Alicia M. Wentworth City Clerk AMW:es Enclosure Yr e CITV OF HUNTINGTO CH CA 77-68 • COUNCIL-ADMINISTRATOR COMMUNICATION /-d »" HUNTINGTON BEACH To Honorable Mayor and From Floyd G. Belsito City Council Members City Administrator Subject UTILITY TAX DELINQUENCY Date July 13., 1977 1 h� As presently worded, the ordinance pertaining to the payment Sf utility taxes requires that taxes collected by the utility companies are to be remitted to the City by the 20th of each month. Attached is an ordinance which would change the wording to specify their returns must be postmarked on or before the 19th of each month. This change to the ordinance should have no practical effect on the utilities as far as their timing in remitting the utility taxes which they collect for the City. The City Attorney' s Office has indicated that the word "remittance" is insufficiently clear to allow the City to impose a delinquency penalty in a case where the utility tax is not received by the 20th of the month. The utility companies have been notified that this ordinance change is being recommended. - RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the attached ordinance . Respectfully submitted, Floyd G Belsito City A ministrator FGB :DLC:bb Drx Attachments l rI AL MAR 2 3 1977 CITY OF HUNTINGTON ADMINISTRATIVE OFFBEECFI' OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY OPINION'-NO.- 77-5 17 March 1977 SUBJECT: Utility Taxes - When Delinquent REQUESTED BY: Arnold Ross, Internal Auditor PREPARED BY Don P. Bonfa, City Attorney James Georges, Deputy City Attorney QUESTION 1: If a due date for payment of taxes falls on a week- end or a holiday, would the due date then be deemed to be the day before or after the weekend or holiday? ANSWER 1 : The taxes would be due the next business day after a weekend or a holiday. QUESTION 2: Is the due date for payment of taxes met when the payment is postmarked on the due date, or when the payment is received at city hall? ANSWER 2 : The payment of taxes must be received at city hall on or before the due date. Payments received after the due date are delinquent and are subject to a penalty of 15 percent of the total tax imposed. QUESTION 3: Municipal code section 3.36. 160 provides that the full amount of the tax collected shall be remitted to the tax administrator. Does "remitted to the tax administrator" mean the same thing as "remit- tance received by the tax administrator?" ANSWER 3 : Yes, because the return must be filed at city hall, and the tax must be .paid at the same time as the return is filed. DISCUSSION: { Huntington Beach Municipal Code Section -3.36.160 states in full: 113. 36.160 Reporting and remitting. Each service Office of the City Attorney 17 March 1977 Opinion No. 77-5 Page 2 supplier shall, on or before the twentieth of each month, make a return to .,th-e ,tax administrator, on forms provided by him, stating the amount of taxes billed by the service supplier during the preceding month. At the time the return is filed, the full amount of the tax collected shall be remitted to the tax administrator. The tax administrator is author- ized to require such further information as he deems necessary to determine properly if the tax here imposed is being levied and collected in accordance with this chapter. Returns and re- mittances are due immediately upon cessation of business for any reason." Note that the section uses the words "At the time the return is filed, the. full amount of the tax collected shall be remitted to the tax administrator. " The return can only be filed when it is re- ceived by the tax administrator. Even ,when a return is mailed, it cannot be filed until it is received. Therefore, the tax remitted to the tax administrator must mean that it is paid at the time the return is filed, and the return can. only be filed when it is re- ceived If a specified time of performance falls on a holiday, the law ex- tends such time to the next business day (California Civil Code Section 11, CheneZ v. Canfield (1910) 111 P 92, Restatement Con- tracts Section 53 Holidays are Sundays and days specified as holidays in the California Government Code (California Civil Code Section 7) . Since Saturday is not a business day at city hall, then the next business day would be the following Monday. It is suggested that municipal code section 3. 36 .160 be amended to read as follows : "3. 36. 160 Reporting and remitting. Each service supplier shall, on or before the twentieth of each month, make a return to the tax administrator, on forms provided by him, stating the amount of taxes billed by the service supplier during the preceding month. At the time the return is filed, the full amount of the tax collected shall be remitted to the tax administrator. The tax administrator is author- ized to require such further information as he deems necessary to determine properly if the tax here im- posed is being levied and collected in accordance with this chapter. Returns and remittances are due w immediately upon cessation of business for any reason. Office of the City Attorney 17 March 1977 Opinion No. 77-5 Page 3 Returns and remittances -not received by the tax administrator at the finance department of the City of Huntington Beach on or before the due date shall be delinquent and subject to penalties . " JAMES GEORG5 and DON P. BONFA Deputy City Attorney City Attorney DPB:JG:ahb cc: Finance Director CITY OF HdlNTINGTON BEACH CA 7 7-76 T COUNCIL-ADMINISTRATOR COMMUNICATION' HUNTINGTON BEACH To Honorable Mayor and From Floyd G. Belsito City-Council Members City Administrator Subject CIVIC IMPROVEMENT FUND/ Date June 1 , 1977 UTILITY TAX REVENUES Councilman Shenkman has requested my office to investigate the possi- bility of reducing the City' s utility tax to an amount needed to cover only lease payments eliminating transfers to the General Fund. At the present time , our lease payments total $1 ,253,900 annually. This is broken down to $854 ,900 for the Civic Center complex and $399,000 for our Central Library. Mr. Shenkman has specifically requested information as to what per- centage utility tax rate would cover our lease obligations and what procedure would need to be followed if we were to eliminate Civic Improvement Fund transfers to the General Fund. For your information, I have attached the original study done on this matter from Erich Matthews of my staff. This report outlines a general history of the utility tax, the amounts we have collected, and basic alternatives to our present allocation of Civic Improvement Fund revenues . In response to further inquiry on this subject by Councilman Shenkman, the following information is being provided to the full Council . For FY 1978 our lease obligations will total 42 . 4% of our projected revenues of $2 , 965, 000. Based on this data, a utility tax of 2 . 12% would cover our lease payments , but at the same time would eliminate a transfer to the General Fund of $1 , 711 ,100 . Since the utility tax was levied, there have been new programs added and others expanded which are dependent upon these transfers for funding. Among such programs the private collection of refuse which was added without a fee upon adoption of the utility tax, maintenance of the Civic Center (FY 78 cost : $406 ,145) has been substantially increased since the new facility was built . The Paramedic program (FY cost : $473 ,253) while never specifically intended for funding under the utility tax transfer, was nonetheless added, taking these increased revenues into account .. These three programs , totalling nearly two million dollars must therefore be considered at least partially dependent on utility tax transfers . The refuse collection service clearly necessitates such revenue or else a refuse collection fee. If the Council chooses to eliminate this transfer of funds , the following items should be considered: 1) The utility tax would have to be readjusted annually based on projected utility tax receipts . It would probably decline slightly each year based on increased usage. This assumes that transfers to the General Fund would be eliminated on a permanent basis . CA 77-76 -2- June 1, 1977 2) If General Fund transfers are eliminated during FY 1978 , our pre- sent cut-off line at program priority #220 would be moved up to #160 . This would have a drastic effect on the provision of City services as they presently exist. 3) If we eliminate all Civic Improvement Fund transfers to the General Fund and reinstate a trash fee to cover our Rainbow Disposal contract ($1 , 092 ,083) , we still would be forced to move our cut-off line back to program #192 . 4) If we eliminate transfers to the General Fund, reinstate a trash collection fee, and assessed valuation comes in at a 20% increase , we would maintain our present cut-off point at program #220. This assumes that the property tax rate would be left unchanged at $1 . 62 per hundred. 5) Finally, if we leave Civic Improvement Fund transfers to the General Fund as is , and assessed valuation comes in at 20% , the Council could reduce the present property tax rate of $1 . 62 per hundred by about 7� to $1 . 55 per hundred. Recommendation: Based upon the five alternatives available to the City Council, I recommend that Alternative #5 be followed. Respectfully submitted, Floyd Belsito, City Administrator FGB/GH:p Attachment • CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION 11UN I INf.10N-81 ACIf To Floyd G. Belsito From Erich Matthews � City Administrator Administrative Assistant Subject UTILITY TAX Date March 18 , 1977 Councilman Shenkman requested a report on the City ' s Utility Tax. 1. llTTLITY TAX HISTORY The City ' s Utility Tax was adopted on 9/8/70 , Ordinance 159 . Prior to the adoption of the Utility Tax the City was charging $1 . 50 trash fee per residence per month. Historical records and conversations with present personnel indicate that the City was seeking additional sources of revenue to fund a major Capital Improvements Program , i . e . ; Civic Center , Central Library , Fire Stations , etc . To meet the demands of this program the City Council adopted the 5% Utility Tax and dropped the $1 . 50 Trash Collection Fee. I assume the rational was that the Utility Tax would generate money to cover both the Capital Improvements Program and the trash collection contract . To (late , the Civic Improvement Fund has been used to finance the con- struction of. the Civic Center , Central Library, Corporate Yard, and Edison , e"44urdy, and Gothard Fire Stations . The fund was also used in the early 70 ' s to meet principal and interest payments on our 1970 Park Bonds . This ceased when the property tax rate was increased to cover 1970 Park Bond expenses as approved by the voters of the City. Since its inception, the Utility Tax has gone into a fund category called the Civic Improvement Fund. Ideally, the Civic Improvement Fund should .have been used to meet the lease payments on the Civic Center and Central Library and finance a continuing Capital Improvement Program. However , economic conditions have forced the City to reconsider its capital Improvement Program and use the excess revenue (that amount over and above the funds required for lease payments) for General Fund operations . Presently , staff is working on a preliminary Capital Improvements Program for future City Council consideration. Such a program would be heavily dependent upon the continuation of the City' s present utility tax. AMOUNTS COLLECTED- The Civic Improvement Fund has generated the following revenues since FY 1972 : Amount Trans- $ Increase % Increase ferred to Fiscal Year Amount Received Over Prior Yr. Over Prior Yr. General Fund 1972 1 , 321 , 910 - - - - 460 , 752 1973 1 , 606 , 096 284 , 186 21 . 4 % 460 , 752 1974 1 ,993 , 241 387 , 145 24 . 1% 460 , 752 975 2 , 255 , 509 262 , 268 13 . 1% 645., 75-1 r 1976 2 , 684 , S41 429 ,032 19 . 00, 1 ,u�S , lli - 1977 2 , 839 , 000 (est) 154 ,459 5 . 70 1 , 585 , 000 (cst. 1978 2 ,965 , 000 (proj ) 126 ,000 4 . 4% 1 , 711 ,000 (fro. 3 UVI1,ITY TAX -2- March 18 , 1977 r Some question has arisen as to the percentage breakdown of residential tc commercial/industrial contributions to the Civic Improvement Fund. Our best information (the most recent annual report of Southern California Edison submitted to the Public Utilities Commission for calendar year .197S) indicates the following : Commercial/Industria.l Residential Properties Properties 1975 Revenues $12 , 252 , 297 $1.3 , 632 , 808 o I' Tot,alRevenue 47 . 33 0 52 . 67 0 Ncjmher of Accounts 49 , 349 3 , 040 of' Total Accounts 94 . 200 5 . 800 Ilased upon this data , the average household payed $12 . 41 to the City annually for usage of electrical energy in 1975. Commercial/Industrial accounts paid $224 . 22 for 1975 . Percentage usage and tax payments for other utilities should be roughly consistent with those for electrical usage with the possible exception of telephones . ALTERNATIVE FUTURES - Several courses of action are open to the City Council with respect to the Civic Improvement Fund. The following alternatives arc offered for your review and comment : 1 . Ctit buck Civic Improvement Fund receipts to an amount equal only to the sum needed to cover lease payments ($1 , 253 , 900) : This could be dpne. by reducing the 5 percent tax on all utilities , or by eliminating the tax on selected utilities . This would require an in-depth study of utility tax receipts to determine the rate at which tax funds would equal the amount needed for our lease obligations . It will require r1ie close cooperation of the various utilities involved (i . e . , changing billing forms , etc. ) . 2 . 1,eavc the utility tax unchanged and reduce the property tax by the amount the Civic Improvement Fund exceeds the sum needed for our lease payments . This would 'require an adjustment to the property tax rate on an annual basis . 2 . Usc the- funds over and above that needed for lease payments for early retirement of PFC bonds . This would require further study to determine the correct procedure for early retirement of the bonds . 4 . Leave the Civic Improvement Fund and the utility tax rate unchanged. RFCOMMUNDED ACTTON - I estimate that the "average" Huntington Beach resident pays anywhere from $SO to $7S in combined utility taxes yearl.v . By many standards the utility tax is .a fair and equitably: tax. first , is a regularly increasing source of revenue to the City. Second , because. consumption rates of utilities is under the consumers control , the taxes paid by users are also subject to their control . Third , the utility tax is on excellent source of income because the City incurs little , if any , cost in administering the tax . Fourth , the tax is borne by nearly all ll'I'll,ITY TAX -3- March 18 , 1977 . r 1 tit i I it.y users , whether they he homeowners., renters , commercial ists , or manulacturers . Finally , the utility tax is an cyuitable tax in that there is a direct. relationship between charges levied and benel'its received . II' the City Council decides to reduce the Utility Tax several impacts , both direct and indirect , should be considered. Specifically, how will the City replace. the 5o to 60 of General Fund revenues the Civic Tmprovemelt Funds provides? Would such a move necessitate the reinstitution of a trash collection fee? Ilow will the City finance capital improvements in I-uture years ? Where will we get funds for maintenance of our present civic facilities? It is difficult to tie the monies transfered to the General Fund from the Civic Improvement Fund to a single program or City service . The Council needs to be made aware , however , that if they were to cut back the present Utility Tax one of two choices has to then be made . Either the City finds some new or increased source of revenue to replace lost utility tax receipts or the service level now provided must be reduced to balance expenditures to revenues . I recommend that the City Council continue with the present S% utility tax rate . �1 I:IIM/GLII/dc ion �- CiTy of "upairipaGirom iamacH CA 77 76 COUNCIL-ADMINISTRATOR COMMUNICATION HUNTINGTON 5WH n To Honorable Mayor and From Floyd G. Belsito City Council Members City Administrator Subject . CIVIC IMPROVEMENT FUND/ Date June 1 , 1977 UTILITY TAX REVENUES Councilman Shenkman has requested my office to investigate the possi- bility of reducing the City' s utility tax to an amount needed to cover only lease payments eliminating transfers to the General Fund. At the present time , our lease payments total $1 ;253, 900 annually. This is broken down to $854 ,900 for the Civic Center complex and $399,000 for our Central Library. Mr., Shenkman has specifically requested information as to what per- centage utility tax rate would cover o,ur lease obligations and what . procedure would need to be followed if we were to eliminate Civic Improvement Fund transfers to the General Fund. For your information, I have attached the original study done ' on this matter from Erich Matthews of my staff. This report outlines a general history of the utility tax , the amounts we have collected, and basic alternatives to our present allocation of Civic Improvement Fund revenues . In response to further inquiry on this subject by Councilman Shenkman , the following information is being provided to the full Council. For FY 1978 our lease obligations will total 42 . 40 of our projected revenues of $2, 965, 000. Based on this data, a utility tax of 2 . 120 would cover our lease payments , but at the same time would eliminate a transfer to the General. Fund of $1 , 711 ,100 . Since the utility tax was levied, there have been new programs added and others expanded which are dependent upon these transfers for funding. Among such programs the private collection of refuse which was added without a fee upon adoption of the utility tax, maintenance of the Civic Center (FY 78 cost : $406 ,145) has been substantially increased since the new facility was built . The .Paramedic program (FY cost : $473 , 253) while never specifically intended for funding under the utility tax transfer, was nonetheless added, taking these- increased revenues into account . These three programs , totalling nearly two million dollars must therefore be considered at least partially dependent on utility tax transfers . - The refuse collection service clearly necessitates such revenue or else a refuse collection fee . If the Council chooses to- eliminate this transfer of funds , .the following items should be considered: 1) The utility tax would have to .-be readjusted annually based on projected utility tax receipts . It would probably decline slightly �. each year based on increased usage. This assumes that transfers to the General Fund would be eliminated on a permanent basis . 03 • 1 CA 77 - 76 - 2 - June 1 , 1977 2) If General Fund transfers are eliminated during FY 1978 , our' pre- sent cut -off line at program priority #220 would be moved up to # 160 . This would have a drastic effect on the provision of City services as they presently exist . 3) If we eliminate all Civic Improvement Fund transfers to the . General Fund and reinstate a trash fee to cover our Rainbow Disposal contract ($1 , 092 ,083) , we still would be forced to move our cut-off line back to program #192 . 4) If we eliminate transfers to the General Fund, reinstate a trash collection fee, and assessed valuation comes in at a 20% increase , we would maintain our present cut-off point at program #220 . This assumes that the property tax rate would be left unchanged at $1 . 62 per hundred. 5) Finally , if we leave Civic Improvement Fund transfers to the General Fund as is , and assessed valuation comes in at 20% , the Council could reduce the present property tax rate of $1 . 62 per hundred by about 7� to $1 . 5S per hundred. Recommendation: Based upon the five alternatives available to the City Council , I recommend that Alternative #5 be followed. Respectfully submitted, _Floyd Belsito , City Administrator FGB/GH:p Attachment :t JE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEAC INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION HUNTINGTON BEACH To PAUL E. COOK From ROBERT J. FRANZ IV�i���� City Administrator Deputy City Administrator Subject UTILITY TAX FUNDING Date OCTOBER 21, 1988 OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS When the Council adopted the refuse collection fee of $5 per month, they indicated a desire to allocate 100% of the City's Utility Tax revenues to Capital Improvements, to be phased in over the next three years. Attached is'an analysis of this approach, which also assumes increasing the refuse fee gradually over the next three years to fully cover the refuse collection costs. This approach would result in significant deficits in the General Fund since the utility tax being transferred ($10 million in 1991/92) is much greater than the new revenue from the refuse collection fee ($5.4 million in 1991/92). As indicated, a deficit of $8.1 million in 1991/92 would have to be addressed by reducing the General Fund budget by that amount. Please let me know if any further information is needed. R ERT . FRANZ Deputy City Administrator RJF:sd Attachment 4106j ANALYSIS OF USE OF UTILITY TAX REVENUES FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ASSUMPTIONS: 1 . BY FISCAL YEAR 1991 /92 100% OF UTILITY TAX REVENUES WILL BE USED FO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WITH PHASE IN TO OCCUR OVER 3 YEARS 2 _ REFUSE: COLLECTION FEE WILL BE GRADUALLY INCREASED OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS TO FULLY COVER THE CITY ' S REFUSE COLLECTION COSTS 3. GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES WILL GROW AT A 5% ANNUAL RATE 4 . GENERAL FUND REVENUES WILL GROW AT A 4% ANNUAL RATE PLUS NEW . REVENUE FROM REFUSE COLLECTION FEES CURRENT 1988/89 1989/90 1990/91 1991 /92 ESTIMATED UTILITY TAX REVENUE 9 , 400 , 000 9 , 600 , 000 9 , 800 , 000 10 , 000, 000 ESTIMATED REFUSE FEE REVENUE* 1 , 675 ,000 31500, 000 4 , 300 , 000 5 , 400, 000 XMONTHLY RESIDENTIAL RATE 5 . 00 6 . 50 8 . 00 10 . 00 CURRENT J988/89 1989/90 1990/91 1991 /92 GENERAL FUND REVENUE 78, 615 , 000 81 , 750 , 000 85 , 000 , 000 88 , 500 , 000 PLUS REFUSE FEE REVENUE 1 , 675 ,000 3 , 500, 000 4 , 300 , 000 5 , 400 , 000 LESS UTILITY TAX TRANSFER 1 , 000 , 000 -3 , 200 , 000 -6 . 500 , 000 - 10 . 000 , 000 (TO CI FUND) NET GENERAL FUND REVENUE 79 , 290 , 000 82 ,050,000 82 , 800 , 000 83 , 900 , 000 GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES 79 , 291 , 000 83 , 250, 000 87 , 500 , 000 92 , 000 , 000 SURPLUS/DEFICIT -1 , 000 -1 , 200, 000 -4 , 700 , 000 -8 , 100, 000 -ce: City t rat or'• .'ff"tie CIVIC IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Date: 5-1-7G PROJECT STATUS REPORT SITE LOC.TA A/E FIRM b I COMPL. PRESENT EST.CONSTR. EST.CONSTR. 'ECT .TITLE $ SIZE . CQ DATE SITC COST AWARD DATE 1 DATE PHASE NEXT PHASE DATE COST 'REMARXS _c Center Main 6 1't - 9-70 3S, 0 urt Meyer f ;4- I-�I ,Schematic Des- MainDev. 7-1-71' 55,995,040 A/E F'ee Est, ?ce Bldg. (13 Acres) j Associates ! j ,o 7���10 90 / $419,000 (711 I . 9-3-69 , - :)oration Gothard b 3- 5-70 $215,779 'Done �4- 1-71 � - 7-1-71 $ 880,000 rd� Slater i (Select A/E (14.4 Ac. ) 10-1-7011 j tral Goldenwest 1- 3-69 5225,000 Neutra 6 4 1-?1 ` Schematic i Schematic 1 7-1-71 $2,119,350 !A/E Fee Est. a5r. 6 Talbert ! I Associates $115,000(8 1/2', �- (18.6 Ac. ) I 1 5-4-7-3 f I i ' itorium Atlanta 6 � Not - - - Unknown - Economic l :ference" Lake i Acquired Feasibility :ter 1 (10 Acres) I ` �• : Required -a Stations: I �' ir Indust. Gothard 6 2-15-67 S 57,000 •,Anthony 6 6-30-70 Design Constr. 8-1-70 1 $ 250,000 'A/E Fee Est. station Murdy Cir. Langford Dev. Documents ! $lS,S00 (7t) j (1 Acre) + ! 12-9-69 I 1 :)thard Sta. Gothard 6 ' 1-16-69 $128 765 Anthony '& 3-19-70 ': Design Constr. 8-1-70 S 2S0 000 . A/E Fee Est. Frain. Ctr. ! Ellis i Langford 3-19-70 Dev. Documents 8-1-70 � S .300,000 $15,500)�oamun.Fac. (.47 Ac.) ( i 12-9-69 6t + I 521,000) _r Sta. Warner $ 7- 1-70 Exchange - - - - - ( - Execute Agree. Sunset Under ` t otia- w/Huntary our Sanit.Plat Ne 8 � i � � $ Sanitary Dis• (2.3 Ac.) tion agnolia Magnolia f, 7- 1-70 - i - _ - _ _ - -Property to be Station Hamilton ( Acquired from (.8 Acres) ' -County pringdale Springdale j - Dependent on Station on Peck Pr. Development of ' y Ind. Park hFA,�1H r .EFUSE COLLECTION & DISPO!zj%, S . 3250 ARTICLE 325 FEES S . 3250 Liability of occupants for fees ; billing landlord. S . 3250.1 The City Council finds that the periodic collection of refuse from all places and premises in the City benefits all occupants of places and premises in the City and, therefore, all occupants receiving the benefit of the basic level of refuse service are made liable for refuse collection fees prescribed by this article . S . 3250.2 The case of premises in which the occupant does not receive the billing for refuse collection but the landlord does , such landlord shall collect such fees levied against the occupant_ of the dwelling unit or place or places of business located on such premises , and shall transmit the amount. to be collected . to the City. S . 3250.3 In the event the landlord fails to collect such fees from any such occupant and remit the same to the City, the landlord shall be liable to the city for payment of such fees . S . 3251 Refuse Collection Charges . The charge for the basic level of service is hereby established as $1.50 per month. S . 3252 Fee. Debt. S . 3252.1 A fee or charge imposed by this Chapter shall be a civil debt owing the city from the occupant of the property to which the basic level of service is made available whether such ser- vice is used or not. S . 3252. 2 Discontinuation of refuse service by forms and procedures prescribed by the Director of Finance due to vacancy or pursuant to Section 3242.1 shall not excuse payment of all sums that have accrued under this article prior to such discontinuation. S .. 3253 Payment and Billing. The charges provided for in this , chapter shall be combined with the charges presently included in the water billing and hereafter shall be called the Utility Billing of the City of Huntington Beach. Whether the water charges alone, or the water and refuse charges together, or the refuse charge alone constitute the total of said utility bill. Said Utility Bill shall be for the same period as the present water bill and shall be payable in the same manner. Failure to pay the full utility bill shall result in discontinuation of all services included in such bill . S . 3254 Accounting System. S . 3254.1 The Finance Department as collection agency for the City shall institute and maintain a system of accounting adequate and sufficient to provide complete records of refuse operations for which charges are imposed by this chapter. ORDINANCE NO . 1618 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AMENDING THE HUNTINGTON BEACH ORDINANCE CODE BY REPEALING ARTICLE 325 THEREOF The Ci.ty Council of the City of Huntington Beach does ordain as follows : SECTION 1. The Huntington Beach Ordinance Code is hereby amended by repealing Article 325 thereof, entitled "Fees ," effective January 1 , 1971 . SECTION 2 . No fees shall be collected under said Article 325 on or after January 1 , 1971 . SECTION 3 . The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this ordinance and cause same to be published within fif- teen days after its adoption in the Huntington Beach News , a weekly newspaper of general circulation, printed and published in Huntington Beach , California. PASSED AND ADOPTED by thUgotyrn��uncil of the City of Huntington Beach at .a regular/meeting thereof held on the 23rd day of November, 1970 . Mayor ATTEST : it G rk APPROVED AS TO FORM: City to '' 4/�t F/L�t,✓z REQUES i FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION Date November 6, 1986 Submitted to: Honorable Mayor and City Council Member t c Submitted by: Charles W. Thompson, City Administra o Prepared by: Robert J. Franz, Chief of Administrative Services Subject: Senior Citizen Utility Tax Exemption Consistent with Council Policy? [x] Yes [ ] New Policy or Exception2 S Sv an Statement of Issue, Recommendation,Analysis, Funding Source,Alternative Actions,Attachments: vg,1— Statement of Issue: The City of Huntington Beach currently exempts qualifying senior citizens from utility tax. The qualifications have not been changed in six years. Recommendation: Increase the maximum income requirement from $8,000 to $10,000. Analysis: The City adopted a senior citizen utility tax exemption ordinance (2452) in 1980. The ordinance contains the provision that the combined household adjusted gross income as determined for Federal income tax purposes must be less than $8,000. This amount has not been adjusted for changes in cost of living. The recommended increase of $2,000 would represent a 25% increase in the maximum income allowable. At present, we have 93 households which currently have senior citizen utility tax exemptions. This is approximately .2% (1/5 of 1 %) of the total utility accounts within the City of Huntington Beach. Funding Source: Utility tax Revenue (decrease). Alternatives: 1. Set other maximum income amount. 2. Direct staff to study and prepare further analysis. Attachments: 1. Fiscal Impact Statement 2. Amended Ordinance Section 3.26.280 2832j Plo 5/85 CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION HUNTINGTON BEACH To CHARLES W. THOMPSON From ROBERT J. FRANZ City Administrator Deputy City Administrator Subject FINANCIAL IMPACT OF Date NOVEMBER 7. 1986 SENIOR CITIZENS EXEMPTION REQUIREMENT, FIS 86-43 As directed under authority of Resolution 4832, a fiscal impact report has been prepared and submitted relative to the proposed modification to the maximum income requirement base for senior citizens claiming the Utility Tax Exemption. Anticipations by the requesting entity are that an annual reduction of approximately $3,887 in revenues would result over the course of a complete fiscal year, were the modification to be enacted. An affirmative response by the City Council would reduce the balance of the City's unappropriated general fund to $1,685,234. OBERT ANZ Deputy City Administrator RJF:AR:skd 2833j � y ORDINANCE NO. 2886 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AMENDING THE HUNTINGTON BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE '• BY AMENDING SECTION 3. 36. 280 ENTITLED "SENIOR CITIZENS-EXEMPTION" The City Council of the City of Huntington Beach does ordain as follows : SECTION 1 . The Huntington Beach Municipal Code is hereby amendea by amending section 3/36/260 to read as follows : 3 . 36 . 280 Senior Citizens--Exeription. The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any individual service user sixty-two years .of age or older who uses telephone, electric , water or gas services, in or upon any premises occupied by such individual , provided the combined adjusted .gross income as used for Federal income tax reporting purposes of all members of the household in which such service user resides was less than ten thousand ( 10, 0(10 ) aollars for the calendar year prior to the fiscal year ( July 1 through June 30 ) for which the exemption provided by this chapter is applied . SECTION 2 . This ordinance shall take thirty days after its passage . PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at a regular meeting thereof held on the 1st day of December 1986 . � A • r or ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Clerk ;emu -r y 1c City Attorney REVIE AND APPROVED: IN AND, AP 'RO D City minist ator ief ol--" in strative ' Services 1711L 11-7-86 { Oro_ No. STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss: CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH ) I, ALICIA M. WENTWORTH, the duly elected, qualified City Clerk of the City of Huntington Beach and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the said City, do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach is seven; that the foregoing ordinance was read to said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the day of 19 and was again read to said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the day of 19 and was passed and adopted by the affirmative vote of more than a majority of all the members of said City Council. AYES: Councilmen: NOES: Councilmen: ABSENT: Councilmen: - City Clerk aA:ex-offi�ioler of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach, California V REQUES i" FOR CITY COUNCIL 'AC ION 7/8 Date February 10, 1988 Submitted to: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members Paul E. Cook City Administrator Submitted by: Y Prepared by: Robert J. Franz, Chief of Administrative Services Subject: Amendment to Utility Tax Ordinance iS T ee�,47 y 3��� Consistent with Council Policy? [ ] Yes [X] New Policy or Exception Statement of Issue, Recommendation,Analysis, Funding Source,Alternative Actions,Attachments: r2 Statement of Issue: At present, the City's Utility Tax Ordinance does not specifically address cogeneration of electricity. Recommendation: Approve the attached amendment to the City's Utility Tax Ordinance. Analysis: It has been brought to our attention that some large companies in the City may consider the development of cogeneration plants for producing electricity rather than purchasing it from the Southern California Edison Company. Since this is not specifically addressed in our present ordinance, we believe we should have the language of the ordinance clarified. This change will prevent any potential loss of revenue from an inappropriate interpretation of the present ordinance. Funding Source: Not applicable. Alternative Action: Allow for exclusion of cogenerated energy. Attachments: Ordinance COLDCII, CIT LZRI 3640j PIO 5/85 e ORDINANCE NO. 2933 # AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AMENDING THE HUNTINGTON BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE BY AMENDING SECTIONS 3 .36 .010 , 3 .36 .050 AND 3 .36 .130 RELATING TO UTILITIES TAX The City Council of the City of Huntington Beach does ordain as follows: SECTION 1 . The Huntington Beach Municipal Code is hereby amended by amending sections 3 .36 .010, 3 .36 .050 and 3 .36 . 130 to read as follows: 3 .36 .010 Definitions . Except where the context otherwise requires , the definitions given in this section ggvern the construction of this chapter : (a ) "City" means the city of Huntington Beach . (b) "Month" means a calendar month. (c ) "Person" means any domestic or foreign corporation, firm, association, syndicate, joint stock company, partnership of any kind, joint venture, club, Massachusetts business or common law trust, society, individual or municipal corporation. (d ) "Service supplier" means any entity which receives taxes paid and remits same as imposed by this chapter . (e ) "Service user" means a person required to pay a tax imposed by this chapter . ( f ) "Tax administrator" means the finance director of the city. (g ) "Telephone corporation, electrical corporation, gas corporation, and water corporation" shall have the same meanings as defined in sections 234 , 218 , 222, and 241 respectively, of the Public Utilities Code of the state of California, as said sections existed on January 1, 1970 . "Electrical corporation" and "water corporation" shall be construed to include any organization, municipality or agency engaged in the selling or supplying of electrical power or water to a service user; however , as specified by Public Utilities Code section 218 , does not include a corporation or person employing cogeneration technology or producing power from other than a conventional power source for the generation of electricity. _1_ 2933 3 .36 .050 Electricity tax . There is imposed a tax upon every person in the city using electrical energy in the city. ` The tax imposed b this section shall be at the rate of 5 P Y + =� percent of the charges made for such energy and shall be paid by the person paying for such . energy. "Charges" as used in this section shall include charges made for : (a ) Metered energy; and (b) Minimum charges for service, including customer charges, service charges, demand charges , standby charges and annual and monthly charges . In the case of a service user employing cogeneration technology, the tax imposed by this section shall be based upon the legal rate per kilowatt cogenerated, as charged by the applicable public utility. 3 .36 . 130 Collection of tax . The amount of tax imposed by this chapter shall be collected from the service user by the service supplier . SECTION 2 . This ordinance shall take effect thirty days after its adoption. j PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at a regular meeting thereof held on the 5th day of July 1988 . AT ST: City Clerk Mayot Fro Tem RE E D A RO E APPROVED AS TO FORM: ,&-.A� �4= , City Administrator o2-��e8 City Attorney A Chief, d ni trative Ser ices rf -2- 2933 01 No. 2933 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss: CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH ) Y- I, ALICIA M. WENTWORTH, the duly elected, qualified City Clerk of the City of Huntington Beach and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the said City, do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach is seven; that the foregoing ordinance was read to said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the 7th day of March 19 88 , and was again read to said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the 5th day of July 1988 and was passed and adopted by the affirmative vote of more than a majority of all the members of said City Council. AYES: Councilmen: Kelly, Green, Finley, Mays, Winchell NOES: Councilmen: Bannister ABSENT: Councilmen: Erskine ity Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach, California 2933 ;I wo 6 6' I October 26, 1972 I Michael D. Goyer Assistant City Manager City of Cerritos 19400 Pioneer Blvd. Cerritos, CA 90701 Dear Sir: DEnclosed is a copy of Article 176 of the Huntington Beach 1. Municipal Code covering Utilities Tax as requested by you. I j We are happy to supply .this material. If you wish any further information, please feel free to contact us. I� Sincerely, 4 f Paul C. Jones CMC City Clerk I PCJ:p Encls. �� l9 Y El F 1 ;J� I S% 19400 PIONEER BOULEVARD, eegRlr8s, QAUF19C1,NIA, 90701•P.O.BOX 7 PHONE: (213)860-0311 October 241, 1972 City Clerk City of Huntington Beach 417 Fifth Street Huntington Beach, California 92648 Dear City Clerk: Would you please send us a .copy of your ordinance on utility users tax. We are considering the imposition of such a tax in our City and would like to have a copy of your ordinance for reference. Thank you. Very truly yours ,. (Mrs. ) Jackie Stetson Secretary .to- Michael D. Goyer Assistant City Manager jss BARRY A. RABBITT FRANK D. LEE DENNIS G. BRADSHAW JAMES S. REDDICK ROBERT J. WITT MAYOR MAYOR PROTEM COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN FNI OF T 10 p 70 x OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY 4t789 WASHINGTON. D.C. 20220 S EP 10 1971 Dear Mr. Jones: Thank you for your letter to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue enclosing a copy of a resolution adopted by the City Council of Huntington Beach, California, urging that utility users taxes be deductible from adjusted gross income for Federal individual income tax purposes. Your correspondence was sent to the Treasury Department for reply. The deduction of state and local telephone taxes, and a num- ber of other state and local excises, by individuals was denied by the action of the Congress in the Revenue Act of 1964. This change was supported by the Treasury Department as is indicated by the enclosed excerpt from the comments on the bill (as passed by the House of Representatives) by former Secretary Dillon be- fore the Senate Finance Committee on October 13, 1963. In view of the fact that the Congress specifically decided to narrow the scope of the deductibility of state and local taxes in 1964, and the Treasury supported the action, I feel that a reversal of the position is doubtful. We appreciate your interest in sending the resolution, how- ever, and will give it consideration in our continuing work toward the general improvement of the tax structure. *Gerar/dM. Sincerely yours, Brannonssociate Director Office of Tax Analysis Mr. Paul C. Jones City Clerk . City of Huntington Beach, California 9264 OR Enclosure .It N1ATI ' pN 0NC y..'., ' flR�ES Tp CoIj /37> ••. �`....-.�.............».. ...... ...... _ �... ._ ._.._�.....� .._ .r.•...r.s•.l:w•va:Y�tiG...w...:L+.-sa .:-.s'a.drJ..�.a...... ....._.._La:;id3_�fv...a.. 110 Itl•wENUI: ACT Oh IOG3 Income are permitted for contributions to churches, educational institution9,and shareholders. inedic'al and re.:earch facilities. : 2 million tilers S The bill would 'also make the p'1'esent limitation snore uniform and more (ire dividends literal, extending: the 10 percent adcliliun:rl deelnc:Lion to donations to tconprofit would have tc r organizations which are pttblicl.% Supported and controlled. Such (jr;, ions ) f, r (•, 0) Mould Nvolild irlOwle. cmlwairlily chest-. health ur;;:uciz;ttinns such as the Career So- 1 yield of 3.9 lie - ; ciety, the lied Crops, 1nuseuuts, symphony Orchestras, etc. It Would not include represents a si: i coilLribut.ions to prival.e fonudations:uul Lrust funds. In addition t Although Very important to many philanthropic organizations, the revenue # tax free under cast of this provision is expected to be nominal. FttF tax relief front 3. L'asc broadening and equity t they do from The remaining provisions affecting the individual income tax are ones _Which � ex:lrnple, divid i _ 5 � would rare revenue. 'L'he rnc'asures are vital to the Lill, for without the $1 no longer bene 3 1 billion they would raise, rate reduction's of Lhe nla;uitude proposed would not Couple v ' be possible within the limits Of fiscal I-trttdence. hurlhernlorc, these provisions t couple firing jc iutprove tax ectuity, so vital Lo our system of Voluutnry Compliance, by reulovilig 1101dil:;s Valued ' uutt:u'r;ulre<l special provisions:end nnnecCssary coniplexities and inequities. 3 Even for tag i (a.) Restriction of the dMuctin,t for Siaie and local foxes paid.—Under the ` dividend credit single largest.base-broadeniu.. Measure contained in ILR. ;;ti:; the deduction for = income tax rate } nonbusiness taxe. Ipaid would. be limited to State, local, and foreign income and rlitidcnd payn:e 1 real property tales, and `rate and local ipersou:rl property and general sates � insure nn lucre trues, includin ciun pens:it.ing use taxes. The provision would not nfl'ect taxes betterotTundcr Incurred in carryiw; on a business Or producing income, which would remain The 4-perc at fully dedueribly, double t:ix:iti n 1 1 '1 he hit,in effect, ..rnhiLits the deduction of State av:d local. taxes on cigarettes, thus promote zr I dividend credit 1 } liquor. and gasoline. iiconse fees on im-tor vehicles and operators' permits, and R 1 t ntiseellaneollS taxes ::uc•h is adulissinns or occupancy taxes. although elfin- E of equity to long 1 : iuntiu^ the deduction for these items Will produce a relatively Inr;;e amount of in IWO. Since 3 revenue+.it will have aminor impact on the average taxpayer because the burden As for the dt i is widely dispersed. accrue to taxpa, 1 ' Millitilig the deduction for taxcg as provided would be an important step for- c table 3 of the a ! , ward in tag equity. Under present law fire deductibility of special tales often { alleg:et obtains depends on the form rather than the substance of the tax. Cigarette taxes, for ) allegectly iwpOse example, are only deductible if they are levied directly on the consumer, or sep- ing dividend era l acutely stated anti passed o;t to him at the retail level. As a result, cigarette Victuals. The. =1= + taxes are currently deductible for relict^ 7.7 percent of Illnts of _n States and are not deductible It is a much mo # in°L States. Three States have no cigarette taxes. c i This pros isima would sinap measure of tax rc lifc preparation of returns because the tales in The rev euue,a i question are typically estimated nu the basis of incomplete records or no records at all. IL would eliminate present coufusiutl over the relation between the legal (c) The side ): 1, form of fire lax and its dcdueliLilih•. The imprecise ❑altar of tile deductions i of illness or hJur - claimed for these taxes not auly mikes it dithertilt for taxpayers to derive fair financed Rage or l benefits from the dednctiel, it also ❑takes it difficult for the Internal Revenue Present late u:ay c Service to audit elaints. ! so received. `.'he Certain excise taxes not%- deductible are, in effect, payments for special ben- are excluded trot, expense dedun—op ' efits provided the users of special facilities. For example, fn 10G1, OG percent the first day _?u: f1 of the$`.5 bilk():l collected frcrll Mate motor fuel taxes was allocated to highway tiday t.(la � ?10 1 ! coustrmction and maintenance. Like the Federal gasoline tax, which is non- ' As the late:,oty 1 deductihlq tle_se State motor fuel taxes furni part of the price for the use of } truru incene beca i the hi�Lways. In the same naanncr that toll charges on highnays and Pecs i strays at home be ? paid-for the use of State parks are not now deductible, gasoline taxes paid for aryl still gets ilis `t the i)cn�onal use of highways should not be cieduetible. i Of his pay. His< ( + This provision of the bill would provide ,20 million in additional revenues, 1 l .t , i no such cxclu-foil. e �hfch hakes it the largest singlo base-broadeuin; provision in ILIt. SM. The Iexclufonse bill } (b) Repeal of dividend credit and increase of dicid and r.:rrlusion.—Present loaned and;hhree .• + t lair prevido -ill exchision from taxable i:rc•nnw of the lir�t $50 of dividends in- i Si 1 would cousin Collie (c1D0 fur a -riot! coalplc where each has$•-,0 or more of dividend income) work for .',0 caiem alit a credit a„aiast Lax liability of 4 percent of dividends which exceed $50. The revenue g, i The IIonsc hill would rednee the tax credit to 2 percent, effective in 1064, and (cl) .lfirvor Casa. elinifnnte it in 1t 65. The bill tyottld increase the :uu+nuat of exclusion to the ( ilrilrvtion is sivail: 1 first. "lot) of dividend ii,vowP ($200 for a married couple), effective in 106-1. al,ility to i The• l lnn.<c ;i:sir a is noressary to jn lify tile. rates adoi,(ed for middle and ir,se• pay for I i upper incorna Lraci:ets. The net ret•enue ;Hill front sire ITonsa action is esti- of :t type 1i mated at cl (t million in 7`.l:;l and ''00 million in SOG�i. The reseal of the credit 1i:trclship on the ta'. j to everyone's ex le wotttd ,^,aiu �a,0 tllillion hat would be offset somewhat by the higher exclusion r'xPctpce�. i !f Ile f::r. i whi,1t would conk c70 million. ; rninur IosseS is well The 150 CSCIURIoil was enacted it, 1954 primarily for the benefit of very small tnsur:uuc policies. t }' 01_532-0 —i rt - 4 August 30, 1971 Peggy Moore, City Clerk City 'of Long Beach 205 W. Broadway Long Beach, CA 90802 Dear Peggy: The City Council of Huntington Beach, at its regular adjourned meeting held August 23, 1971, adopted Res- olution No. 3354 urging that the Utility Users TPa.xes ❑ be made deductible from adjusted gross income fox° Fed- eral individual income tax purposes . Enclosed is a certified copy of said resolution which is being sent to you as a Director of The League of California Cities, with a request that this matter be presented to the League in resolution form for their consideration. Sincerely yours,, Paul C. Jones City Clerk PCJ: pj Encl. August 30, 1971 Robert Wilson, Mayor City of Costa Mesa c/o The Awning Man 2000 Aliso Costa Mesa, CA Dear Bob. The City Council of Huntington Beach, at its regular adjourned meeting held August .23, 1971, adopted Res- olution No. 3354 urging that the Utility Users Taxes be made deductible from.adjusted gross income for Federal individual income tax purposes . Enclosed is a certified copy of said resolution which is being sent to you as a Director of The League of California Cities, with a request- that this matter be presented to the League in resolution form for their consideration. Sincerely yours, Paul C. Jones :f City Clerk _ J PCJ: pj Encl. LEAGUE OF CALIFORnIR CITIES MEMBER NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES (Formerly—American Municipal Association) "WESTERN CITY" OFFICIAL PUBLICATION Sacramento 95814 . . 1108 "0" Street . . 444-5790 . . Area Code 916 Berkeley 94705 . . Hotel Claremont . 843-3083 Area Code 415 Los Angeles 90017 . . 702 Hilton Center . . 624-4934 . . Area Code 213 Sacramento, Ca.. 95814 September 10, 1971 Mrs. Margaret L. Moore City Clerk City of Long Beach City Mall Long Beach, Ca. 90802 Dear Peggy: Thanks for sending us a copy of the Huntington beach resolution on utility users taxes. This resolution has been included in those which will be considered at the Annual Conference. While your letter indicates that it should be placed on the Board agenda, it actually will he on the agenda for the General Resolutions Committee. We look forward to seeing you in San Francisco. Sincerely, -Richard Carpenter Executive Director and General Counsel SRC c mvb cc: Mayor Robert M. Wilson Paul C. Jones ;.� i CRAIG HOSMER COMMTT7EE8: V� MEMBER OF CONGRESS - - JOINT COMMITTEE ON CALIFORNIA ATOMIC ENERGY INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS �Co grey of the Eniteb Otato joouze of Repregentatibe.0 Wabington,O.C. 20515 August 31, 1971 Dear Mr. Jones: In the absence of Congressman Hosmer, who is out of the city during the summer recess of the Congress, I am acknowledging receipt of your recent letter. You may be assured as soon as Congressman Hosmer returns to Washington the resolution adopted by the Huntington Beach City Council with regard to the utility users tax will be brought to his attention. I am confident Mr. Hosmer will be happy to have the views of the Council on this matter. Very truly yours, %.1abeth Finlayson 7- Legislative Assistant to CRAIG HOSMER f Member of Congress Mr. Paul C. Jones, City Clerk City of Huntington Beach P. 0. Box 190 Huntington Beach, California 92648 R August 25, 1971 Winston Updegreff, Executive Secretary League .of Cities, orange County Division 635-A Ramona Laguna Beach, CA 92651 Dear Winston: The City Council of Huntington Beach, at its regular adjourn- ed meeting held August 23, 1971, adopted Resolution No. 3354 urging that the. Utility Users Taxes be made deductible from adjusted gross income for Federal individual income tax purposes* Enclosed in a certified copy of said resolution urging that administrative and legislative action, as necessary, ba taken to authorize such deduction. Sincerely yours,. Paul C. Jones City Clekk PCJ:aw Enc. r August 25, 1971 League of California Cities 110 '0 Street * Sacramento, GA 95814 Attention: Richard Carpenter Executive Director Gentlemen.- The City Council'of Huntington Beach, at its regular adjburne ed meeting held ;A st 23, 1971, adopted Resolution No. 3354 urging that the Uf- lity Users Taxes be made-deductible from adjusted gross income for Federal individual income tax purposes,. Enclosed is a certified cop of said resolution urging that administrative and legislative action, as necessary, be taken to authorize such deduction. Sincerely yours, Paul C: Jones City Clerk PCJ:aw Enc. I August 25, 1971 City of Fresno 2326 Fresno Street Fresno, CA 93721 Attention: Jacqueline L. Ryle City Clerk Bear Mrs. Ryle: The City Council of Huntington Beach, at its regular adjourn- ed meeting held August 23, 1971, adopted Resolution No. 3354E urging that the Utility Users Taxes be made deductible from adjusted gross income for Federal individual income tax purposes. Enclosed is a certified copy of said resolution urging that administrative and legislative action, as necessary, be taken to authorize such deduction, for your information. Sincerely yours, Paul C. Jones City Clerk PCJ:aw Enc. August 24, 1971 The Honorable Alan Cranston Senate Office Building Washington, D.C., 205 Dear Senator Cranston: The City Council of Huntington Beach, at its regular adjourn. ed meeting held August 23* 1971 adoppted Resolution No. 3354 ur i.ng that th6- Utility users Taxes be made deductible from adjusted gross income for Federal individual income tax ❑ purposes, , Enclosed is a certified copy of said resolution urging that administrative and legislative action. as necessary, be taken to authorize such deduction. Sincerely yours,, Paul C. Jones City Clerk PCJ.aw Enc August 240 1971 The Honorable John G. Schmitz House Office Building Washington, D:C� 20915 Dear Congressman. Schmitz: The City Council of Huntington Beach,, at its regular adjourni= ed meeting held A ust 23, 1971, ado p ted ?resolution No. 3354 urging that thw UC lity Users Taxes be made deductible from adjusted gross income for Federal individual income tax purpoeee; Enclosed is a certified copy of said regolution urging that administrative and legislative actIons, as necessary, be taken to authorize such deduction: Sincerely yours, Paul. C, ;Tones City Clerk PC3aw Enc. E R Ault 249 1971 The Honorable Richard T. Hanna U06 Office NA14 washingtou'v DX.. 15 Dear Congressman Ranow The Cit Council of Huntington Beach, at its regular adjourn- ed meet held A t 30 19710 adopted Resolution No. 3354 urging that theUt lity Users Taxes; be made deductible from ad, u sted g%*ss iuceme 'r Federal individual imome tax purposes. Enclosed is a certified copy of said resolution urging that administrative and, legislative action, as necessary, be tam to authorize such deduction, Sincerely yours, Paul C. Jones City Claris PCJ:aw Eno. August 24, 1971 The Honorable Jahn Vo Tunny Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Tunneys The City Council of Huntington Beach, at its regular adjourned meeting held AUt 23. 1971, adopted Resolution No. 3354 urging that Uti, ity Users Taxes be made deductible from adjusted gross ;income for Federal individual income tax ❑ purposes. Enclosed is a certified copy of said resolution urging that administrative and legislative action, as necessary, be- taken to authorize such deduction. Sincerely yours; Paul C. Jones City Clerk PCJzaw Enc.. r August 24, 1971 The Honorable Craig Hosmer House Office Building Washington, D.C. 205151 Dear Congressman Hosmer: The City Council of Huntington Beach, at its regular adjourned meeting held August 23, 1971, adopted Resolution No. 3354 ur ingg that Utility users Taxes be made deductible from adjusted gross income for Federal individual income tax purposes. Enclosed is a certified copy of said resolution urging that administrative and legislative action, as necessary, be taken to authorize such deduction. Sincerely yours, Paul C,. Janes City Clerk PCJ:aw Enc. r _ August 24, 1971 commissioner of Internal Revenue Washington,, D.C. Dear Sit: The City Cbuhcil of Huntington Beech, at its regular adjourn- ed meeting held 'Auguat 23 p ,1971 g adopted Resolution Wo p 3354 urging that utility Users Taxes be made deductiblb from ,adjusted Bross income for, Federal individual income tax purposes.: ncic ed is a certified copy of said resolution urging that administrative and legislative action,. as necessary be taken to authorize such deduction. Sincerely youts.q Paul C s Jones City Clerk PCJ-'."aw Enc August 24, 1971 The Honorable B. F. Sisk House Office Buildin Washington, D.C. 20115 Dear Congressman Sisk: The City Council of Huntington Beach, at its regular adjourn- ed meeting held August 23, 1971, adopted Resolution No. 3354 urging that Utility Users Taxes be made deductible from adjusted gross income for Federal individual intone fax purposed. Enclosed is a certified copy of said resolution urging that administrative and legislative action, as necessary, be taken to authorize such deduction. Sincerely yours, Paul C. Jones City Clerk PCJsaw Enc. .`) 4 RESOLUTION NO. 3354 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF. THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH URGING THAT UTILITY USERS TAXES BE MADE DEDUCTIBLE FROM ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME FOR FEDERAL INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH that: WHEREAS, the City of Huntington Beach and more than forty , other California cities levy a utility users tax upon users of intrastate telephone service, gas and electricity; and . The Internal Revenue Service has ruled that under the pro- visions of the Internal Revenue. Code taxes paid under said u® tility users tax levy are not deductible on the Federal income tax returns of individual taxpayers, although such taxes are deductible as a business expense when incurred in the carrying .. on of a trade or business; and The nondeduc slit tib y of the utility users tax on individual returns is a matter of substantial public interest in that tax- payers now numbering in the millions in Cali-fornia alone are now paying this tax; and a The Internal Revenue Code specifically permits the deduc- tion of general sales taxes and state and local taxes on gaso- line and other motor fuels, and it would appear that the utility users tax, being similarly imposed on necessities and having the same final incidence, should also be deductible, u, NOW, THEREFORE, this Council, on behalf of the individual income taxpayers of this city, hereby urges that administrative j or legislative action, as shall be necessary, be taken to author- i4e the deduction of utility users taxes on Federal individual ..ncome tax returns . * 4 t ,A IJESOLVEP. FURTHER that certified aopges of, this resolution be transmitted by the ..01ty " Clerk to the Commiaoioner of Internal Revenue, Washington, D. C. , to Congressman B: F. Sisk, 16th Congressional Distrivt;. ,and to California,'Senators Alan Cranston M and- John V. Tunney. . k • PASSED AND ADOPTFD by the City Council of the City of E. Huntington Beach at an adjourned regular meeting thereof held u, on the 23rd dray of August, 1971. 4 day or ATTEST: 1'>4 I'G y4o2n rk APPROVED AS TO FORM r F My Attorp6y r 4 4 141. `Y ti y 2. , M Res. No® 33 STATE OF CALIFORNIA { COUNTY OF ORANGE ss: ' CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH ). I, FAUL C. JONES, the- duly .elected., qualified and acting City. Clerk of the City of Huntington Beach, and ex® .�$ officio- Clerk of the City Council of said City, do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of the City of Nptington Beach is `sieven; that the foregoing i ` resolution was passed- and adopted by the affirmative vote of mare than a majority of all the members of said City Council at a ,regutlar �urned_._ meeting thereof held on the ,2 day of Auk, _, 19 71 t by the .following vats AYES: councilmen: Sh3 le B&rtlett Green Coen McCracken NOES Councilmen: None ABSENT: Counoilmen: }; GMej MItney Ci y C1erk and -officio Clerk s of the Clay Council. of the City ' of Huntington Beach, Califernia. p , (O LE UE OF CALIFORRIA dRES MEMBER NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES "WESTERN CITY" OFFICIAL PUBLICATION Sacramento 95814 , , 1108 "O"Street . , 444-5790 , , Area Code 916 Berkeley 94705 Hotel Claremont 843-3083 Area Code 415 Los Angeles 90017. . 702 Hilton Center. . 6244934 . , Area Code 213 OFFICERS President: CLIFFORD F.LOADER Mayor,Delano First vice President Sacramento, Ca. -95814 RAY D.PRUETER Mayor,Port Hueneme August -27, 1971 Second Vice President-Treasurer THOMAS J.MELLON Chief Administrative Officer San Francisco Past President: EDWIN W.WADE Mayor,Long Beach Executive Director and General Counsel: R I CHARD CARPENTER Mr. Paul C. Jones DIRECTORS City Clerk ALFRED A.AFFINITO City of Huntington .Beach- City Councilman,Pittsburg P. 0. BOX 190 RICHARD COLEMAN Planning Director,Pomona Huntington Beach, Ca. 92648 FRANK CURRAN Mayor,San Diego Dear Paul: LEE H.DAVIES Mayor,Modesto This will acknowledge receipt of the City Council's ALLEN GRIMES City Attorney,Beverly Hills Resolution 3354 proposing personal income tax deduction HAROLD M.HAYES for the utility users tax. The resolution will be in- Mayor,Montclair cluded with those submitted at the Annual Conference JACK D.MALTESTER and will be referred to the Mayors' and Councilmen's Mayor,San Leandro Department for consideration. JAMES McCARTY Director of Public Works,Oakland - MARTIN C.MCDONNELL Sincerely, Chief of Police,San Mateo REGINALD E.MOORBY Fire Ghlef,Burlingame MARGARET MOORE A/(�/-�((/ City Clerk,Long Beach ERNEST J.PAAUWE William G. Holliman, Jr. City Councilman,Salinas Assistant Legal Counsel . FRANCIS P.PACELLI Mayor Pro Tem,Daly City HELEN PUTNAM Mayor,Petaluma EDWARD H.RADEMACHER Mayor,Calipatria JAMES SNAPP Mayor,El Cajon - ALBERT J.TALKIN City Councilman,Sacramento JAY M.VER LEE Director of Parks&Recreation - Oaklarld H.DOUGLAS WELLER WGH:mvb City Manager,Alameda HOWARD H.WIEFELS Mayor,Palm Springs ROBERT M.WILSON Mayor,Costa Mesa SAM YORTY Mayor,Los Angeles Cable Address— LEAGUECAL,Berkeley,U.S.A. 14 August 1970 TO : City Council FROM: City Attorney SUBJECT : Ordinance Imposing Utilities Tax Ordinance No. . 1598 The attached ordinance imposing a tax on certain utilities was prepared at Council direction, and is submitted herewith for Council approval. Respectfully submitted, DON P. BONFA City Attorney /ahb Attachment Huntington Center Merchants Association OyU/Itl/19t0/1 �ie/It®r 24 Huntington Center, 7777 Edinger Avenue Huntington Beach, California 92647 Phone (714) 897-2533 ,l September 2, 1970 The Mayor and City Councilmen, City of Huntington Beach, E•_ r. ,5; 1 Huntington Beach Calif. ----------------- ...:... Gentlemen, �, r r By unanimous vote of the Board of Directors- of the Huntington Center Merchants Association, the center office has been directed to inform city councilmen of the grave concern of the membership relative to the proposed 5% utilities tax. Application of the tax in its present form would result in an extreme hardship in additional business expense for most of the merchants of the Association, increasing taxes in some cases by 8 to 10 times the present business license tax. The council is advised that- passage of this legislation could have a very detrimental effect upon business in Huntington Center, resulting in commensurate cut backs in personnel employed, diminished utility usage and curtailment in promotional activities. Sincerely, Howard* N. Whittaker Center Manager. cc(: Paul Jones, City Clerk cc:Board Members: - Ben Arguello,Finance Director H.Matheny, Mont Wards Doyle Miller, City Administrator, G.West Penneys Don Bonfa, City Attorney A. Hanner. Broadway .Forsman Bonds Ralph Kiser, Chamber of Commerce E. Hindson Leeds E. Quick Trend OFashion C. Waterman,Deweys _ K.Appleman,Harris and Frank J.Schumacher,Center. HUNTINGTON BEACH CHAMBER of COMMERCE • 18582 BEACH BOULEVARD. SUITE 224 HUNTINGTON BEACH.CALIFORNIA 92646 September 3, 1970 1'EL tiONE1714Yes2 .---- HUNTINGTON BEACH TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council �' . b 7 ------ SUBJECT: Proposed City Tax The Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce on 1 September 1970 convened a meeting of representatives of the City's business community to consider pro- posed City Tax actions, dealing most specifically with a Utility Tax, the business license tax, and other tax matters. The consensus of the Chamber is summarized as follows: 1. In recognition of growing City needs, the business community would con- Sider the following tax increases as the maximum, reasonable and proper at this time: a. A 50% increase in business license fees which should provide the City about $100,000 per year in increased revenue. b. The application of a 2% Utility Tax which should provide the City about $500,000 per year in increased revenue of which the business community would provide about two thirds or about $330,000 per year. c. Application of an apartment tax of $5-per-unit which should produce about $50,000 per year intitially and average over $70,000 per year over the next five years. Under this plan the needs of the City, as understood by the Chamber, would be met for at least the next five years. In fact, the plan should accumulate a sur- plus a.-:Tfic,- total average annual revenue increase would amount to abaft $670,000. Of this the business community would provide about $430,000 or almost 65%. The Chamber believes it would be inappropriate to suspend the trash collection fee, which is essentially a fee for service rendered, and substitute a true tax. The Chamber also believes it would be unwise to levy an unnecessarily large tax in any form (such as a 5% Utility Tax) at this time. It is considered more prudent to allow for increases in tax levies in the future if expenditure require- ments so dictate. 2. The business community continues to be concerned about the rapidly grow- ing costs of City government. City expenditures have grown more than 40% in the past two years while City population and total assessed value have grown less than 20%. The high costs necessarily associated with the rapid growth of our City in the past decade are recognized. However, the City must protect it's long-term economic viability. It must establish a spending pattern nnmpatihle with it's ability to tax and this, in turn, will a � - 4 - 2 - depend upon the continued growth in assessed value and business activity. If tax rates in the near term become excessive, the rate of growth of business, industry and home ownership could suffer. It is particularly important at this juncture to very carefully evaluate the costs of the contemplated capital improvement program. The Cham- ber is in complete agreement with the desirability of providing a new City Hall and Library facility and with the need for adequate Police and Fire facilities. However, it is clear that good judgement must be exer- cised in planning these programs lest their cost become overly burden- some. The present economic environment is not conducive to unrestrained spending. Consideration should be given to a phased program of con- struction which would limit initial expenditures and yet permit subsequent expansion to meet the City's needs and ability to pay. 3. The Chamber reiterates its previous recommendation regarding the devel- opment of a five-year financial plan for the City. Such a plan would provide a basis for projecting needed expenditures and establishing an equitable plan of taxation to provide the needed revenue. The Chamber would remind the Council that it has endorsed the preparation of such a plan. The Chamber of Commerce requests an opportunity to present its views to the City Council prior to final action by the Council on any tax revisions. Pete Horton President PH/jw cc: City Administrator Doyle Miller City Clerk Paul Jones Page #4 -- Counci, .inutes - 9/8/70 RECESS Mayor Shipley called a recess of the Council at 5:55 P. M. The meet- ing was reconvened at 7:30 P. M. by the Mayor. REPORT'I'ItADOWLARK AIRPORT Mr. Robert Dingwall, Chairman of the Meadowlark Airport Committee addressed Council regarding their investigations of the safety situa- tion at.the airport. He informed Council of a telegram received from the State Department of Aeronautics stating that safety of operations had been improved at the airport, notably, the paving of runway overrun and the installation of lights for night operations. . Mr. Dingwall then presented film slides of the airport property includ- ing the approach and descent patterns and the position of the powerlines to the runway approach of. the airport. . He stated that more information must be obtained by the committee before a final report and recommenda- tion is presented to Council. Mr. Arnold Kessler-; State. Department of Aeronautics .Consultant; addressed Council and discussed night operations at the airport ind .plans to under- ground the utility poles lying in the airport's approach pattern. Discussion was held by Council regarding possible. methods that the City could use to insure the observance of safety regulations at the airport, and the City Administrator was requested to investigate .this matter. Mr. Lionel .Graves, Technical.Appraiser of Dahl Graves Realty, addressed Council regarding the necessity of strengthening the safety precautions at the airport. Mr. Dan Swartz, representing the members of "Residents Against Airport Hazards:', addressed Council regarding ,-the legality of the installation of lights to permit night operations at Meadowlark Airport. Mayor Shipley called a brief recess of the Council- at 9:15 P. M. Council was reconvened at 9:25 P. M. by the Mayor. . A motion was made by Councilman Green, to continue the nori-implementa- tion of the existing Cease and Desist Order until the meeting of September 21, 1970. When voted on, the motion was unanimously carried. CENTRAL PARKACQUISITION & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, The City Administrator informed Council that Mr. Thomas Severna., Develop- ment Coordinator was prepared to report on the Central City Park Acquisi- tion and Development Program. Mr. Severns stated .that Phases .I.and II of. the. Central Park acquisition program was. proceeding on. schedule and that 205 acres of property would be available for primary development by July 1, 1971. He also presented a report regarding the, funding of. the project and the total Federal grants received for the. project by the City. The City Administrator. presented recommendations to 'Council for the filing of acquisition. grants, .authori-zation for increase in the area designated for primary construction and authorization for.the supplemen- tal schematic design for Phase III grants, incorporating recommendations by Federal Grant Administrators. On motion by Matney, Council approved the, recommendations of the City Administrator and authorized the filing for acquisition grants .for the balance of Phases II and III of the central Park project and the supplemental schematic design for Phase III grants incorporating uses ecommended.by Federal Grant Administrators, together with an increase in area from 145 acres to 205 acres. for primary construction in 1571. Motion carried. ORDINANCE Ny. 1598 - ADOPTED - UTILITIES :TAX . The Clerk presented_ Ordinance No. 1598 for a. second reading.by title - "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON_BEACH AMENDINO. CHAPTER.177 OF THE HUNTINGTON BEACH ORDINANCE CODE BY ADDING THERETO ARTICLE 176 PER- TAINING TO A UTILITIES TAX." Page N5 - Councr- minutes - 9/8/70 The Clark read communications from the Huntington Center Merchants Association and the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce stating their opposition to the proposed Utilities Tax. Mr. Al Hanner, Manager of the Broadway Department Store, City, addressed Council and. stated that passage of a utilities tax.could have a.detri- mental effect upon the business community resulting in personnel cut-' backs, diminished. utility usage and curtailment in promotional actiVitles. Mr. George :West, manager. of .J. C. Penny Department Store, City, addressed Council and stated that he.was strongly opposed to the proposed utilities tax, based on the effect it would have on- the economy of local businesses in competing with. businesses in other communities. Mr. Dick Crowl, Newport Beach- City Councilman addressed Council regard- ing this matter and the proposed increase in the.business license fees for apartment dwellings. Considerable discussion on the matter was held by Council.. Following reading. by title, on motion,by Green, Council,waived further reading of Ordinance No. 1598 by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmen: Green, Bartlett, McCracken, Gibbs, Matney, Shipley NOES: Councilmen: None ABSENT: Councilmen: Coen ' On motion by Green, Council passed and adopted Ordinance No. 1598, by the following roll. call vote: AYES: Councilmen: Green, Gibbs, Matney, Shipley NOES: Councilmen: Bartlett, McCracken ABSENT: Councilmen: Coen ADDITIONAL ORDINANCES FOR ADOPTION The Clerk informed Council of a correction on Section 9242 (d) of Ordinance No. 1599 pertaining to the minimum site area. On motion by Green, Council directed the Clerk to read Ordinance Nos. 1599, 1600, 1601, and 1602 by title, waived further reading and passed and adopted same by the following roll 'call'vote: AYES: Councilmen: Green, Bartlett, McCracken, Gibbs, Matney, Shipley NOES: Councilmen: None ABSENT: Councilnieni Coen ORDINANCE N0. 1599 ADOPTED - MOBILEHOME PARKS REGULATIONS . "AN .ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH. AMENDING THE HUNTINGTON BEACH ORDINANCE CODE BY ADDING THERETO ARTICLE 924 OF CHAPTER 92 ESTABLISHING REGULATIONS FOR MOBILEHOME PARKS." ju .uo ORDINANCE.NO. 1600 - ADOPTED -. MOBILEHOMES & MOBILEHOME PARKS PROVISIONS "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AMENDING THE HUNTINGTON BEACH ORDINANCE CODE BY AMENDING SECTIONS 9250 9251.1, 925.1•,2 -AND 9251.2.1 OF ARTICLE 925 AND SECTIONS 9471.. ., ;472, 9472.1 AND -9473, ARTICLE 947 TO DELETE PROVISIONS PERMITTING MOBILEHOMES AND MOBILE- HOME PARKS.t ORDINANCE NO. 1601 —ADOPTED - ERECTION OF SIGNS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY AN ORDINANCE -OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AMENDING THE HUNTINGTON BEACH ORDINANCE CODE -BY AMENDING SECTION.9762.6 PERTAINING TO ERECTION OF SIGNS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY OR PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY." ORDINANCE NO. 1602 - ADOPTED - PERMITTED USES - C2 AND C3 DISTRICTS "AN-.ORDINANCE OF T1IE CITY OF HUNTINGTON. BEACH AMENDING THE HUNTINGTON BEACH ORDINANCE CODE BY AMENDING CERTAIN:SECTIONS. PERTAINING TO PER- MITTED USES IN THE C2 AND. C3 .DISTRICTS, .AND. PROVIDING. FOR.THE HOLDING OF PUBLIC HEARINGS IN CONNECTION WITH COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS CONCERNING HOME OCCUPATIONS." a MINUTES Administrative Annex, Civic Center Huntington Beach, California Tuesday, August 18, 1970 Mayor Pro Tempore Matney called the regular adjourned meeting of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach to order at 7:00 P. M. The Pledge of Allegiance was given by all present in the Council Chamber. ROLL CALL Councilmen Present: Green, Bartlett, McCracken, Matney, Coen (arrived at 7:05 P. M.) Councilmen Absents Gibbs, Shipley MEADOWLARK/fIRPORT STUDY Mayor Pro Tempore Matney stated that at the Council meet of August 17, 1970, the Home Council had been requested to form a commie to explore and report on the situation at Meadowlark Airport, and that Mr. Robert Dingwall would give a preliminary report for Councills Information. Mi.. Robert Dingwall.stated that his committee had discussed .the problems at Meadowlark Airport with representatives of the Businses.and Trans- portation Department of the.State of California. He said that the State engineers had .conducted a survey..of Meadowlark Airport. to check their compliance with State and Federal requirements and that their report and recommendations regarding this matter would be transmitted to Council as soon as possible. Mayor Pro Tempore Matney stated that he would work with Councilman McCracken and .Mr. Dingwall, and continued the matter to the September 8, 1970 Council meeting. iob UTILITIES ORDINANCE NO. 1598 The City Administrator stated that the .Firuimce Director was prepared to discuss the proposed Utilities Tax Ordinance for Councill's information. Mr. Arguello, City Finance Director, addressed-Council arid. explained the various provisions of the Utility Tax and its relationship "to the funding of the Capital Improvement Program. Mr. Jack Feehan, District Manager. of Southern California Gas Company, addressed Council and stated that his company. was in general agreement with the provisions of the proposed Ordinance but suggested that charges for gas used in water'pumping by water corporations and .gas used in propelling motor vehicles be excluded from the base on which the tax is imposed. Following considerable d5.scussion, Council directed that S.1763 (b) be amended to exempt that gus used in water pumping by water corporations. The City Clerk was direc,ed to. give Ordinance..No, 1598"a first reading by title - "AN ORDINANCE OF.THE CITY. OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AMENDING CHAPTER 17 OF THE HUNTINGTON BEACH ORDINANCE CODE BY ADDING THERETO ARTICLE 176 PERTAINING TO A UTILITIES TAX." .On motion by Green, Council iraived further reading of Ordinance No. 1598, as amended, by the following unanimous roll call vote: AYES: Councilmen: Green, Bartlett, McCracken, Matney, Coen NOES: . Councilmen: None ABSENT: Councilmen: Gibbs, Shipley RESOLUTION NO. a209 - SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION - ADOPTED The Clerk presented Resolution No. 3209 for Council consideration .- "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY CODUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON.BEACH, ORDERING, CALLING PROVIDI.NG FOR AND GAPING NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE aLD_ IN SAID_CITY ON NOVEMBER 3, 1970, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMIT- TING TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF SAID CITY VARIOUS AMENDMENTS TO THE . CITY CHARTER AND CONSOLIDATING SAID ELECTION WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON SAID.DATE." ,C • Page #5 - Council Minutes - 8/17/70 ORDINANCE No: 595 - ADOPTED - GAS FRANCHISE - PACIFIC LIGHTING The Clerk gave Ordinance No. 1595 a second reading by title - "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY .OF HUNTINGTON BEACH GRANTING TO PACIFIC LIGHTING SERVICE COMPANY, A CORPORATION., THE RIGHT, PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE'TO LAY AND USE PIPES AND APPURTENANCES FOR TRANSMITTING AND DISTRIBUTING GAS FOR ANY AND ALL PURPOSES UNDER, ALONG, ACROSS OR UPON THE PUBLIC STREETS, WAYS, ALLEYS .AND PLACES AS THE SAME NOW OR MAY HEREAFTER EXIST, WITHIN SAID MUNICIPALITY ' On motion. by McCracken, Council waived further reading of -Ordinance No. 1595 by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmen: Green, Bartlett, McCracken, Matney, Coen NOES: Councilmen: None ABSENT: Councilmen: Gibbs, Shipley On motion by McCracken, Council passed and adopted Ordinance No. 1595, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmen: Bartlett, McCracken, Matney, Coen NOES: Councilmen: Green ABSENT: Councilmen: Gibbs, Shipley . ORD. N0. 14Jd� ADOPTED - AMENDS ARTICLE PARK & REC. FACILITIES The Clerk gave Ordinance No. 1596 a second reading by title - "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF'HUNTINGTON.BEACH A14ENDING -THE HUNTINGTON BEACH ORDINANCE CODE BY.AMBNDING ARTICLE 974 THEREOF PERTAINING TO PARK AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES." On motion by Green, Council waived further reading of Ordinance No. 1596 and passed and adopted same by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmen: Green, Bartlett, McCracken, Matney, Coen NOES Councilmen: None ABSENT: Councilmen: Gibbs, Shipley ORD. NO. . §T - ADOPTED - AMENDS. ARTICLE 998 - PARK & REC. FACILITIES The Clerk gave Ordinance No. 1597 a second, .reading by title. - "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON. BEACH AMENDING THE HUNTINGTON BEACH ORDINANCE CODE BY AMENDING ARTICLE 998 THEREOF PERTAINING TO PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES." On motion by Green, Council waived further reading of Ordinance No. 1597 and passed and adopted same by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmen: Green, Bartlett, McCracken, Matney, .Coen NOES: Councilmen: None A133ENT: Councilmen: Gibbs, Shipley ORD. NO. 15` 8 - UTILITIE:, TAX - DEFERRED Th•: Clerk pri!sented Ordinance No. 1598 fit a first. reading by title - "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CIT"..OF HUNTINGTON MACH,. AMENDING CHAPTER 17 OF Tlis HUNTINGM)N BEACH ORDINANCE CODE BY A)DING THERETO ARTICLE 176 PER- TAINING TO A UTILITIES TAX." Mayor Pro Te-apore Matney directed that c3nsideratior of Ordinance No. 11;98 be deferred to the adjourned meeting of August 18, 1970. REPORTS - COUNCIL COMMITTEES s9 L Route #59 Freeway Committee Ccuncilman Matney requested that the City Administrator send a letter to Mr.. Larry Soloman. o.f the Jr. Chamber of Commerce; informing him of his appointment to the Riute #57 Freeway Committee. Request For Report - Hom: .Council - Meadowlark Airport Councilman McCrac•ven stated that he believed the safety conditions at Meadowlark Airport should be investigated and stated that the Home Ccuncil might form a committee to study and report on this ma1:ter. ' Page '12 - Council Ites 8/3/70 REQUEST FOR INSECT CONTROL Mr. Flower, a resident of the area near the Central City Park Site addressed -Council and requested that steps be taken to abate the weed problem, as large numbers of rodents and insects are ente ring the homes in the area. Mayor Pro Tempore Natney referred this matter to the City Administrator. UPTILITY TAX Mayor Pro Tempore Matney informed Council that the Director of Finance was prepared to present a report pertaining to a five percent Utility Tax. The Finance Director addressed Council and'stated that he believed a utility tax .of five percent would be more equitable and preferable to the present refuse collection charge: On motion by Green, Council direated that the City Attorney prepare an ordinance establishing a 5% utility tax, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmen: Green, Bartlett, McCracken, Gibbs, Natney, Coen NOES: Councilmen: None ABSENT: Councilmen: Shipley y ADJOURNMENT .On motion by Coen; the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach adjourned to,Wednesday, August 5i 19TO, at 7:00 P.K., in the Council Che:mber. Motion carried. Paul r.Arones City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the city Council of the. .City of Huntington Beach, California 9- CN XY ATTEST: y r P �e gl- a ies City lerk ce: City i t: razor 'ff CIVIC IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM - Date: S-?-70 PROJECT STATUS REPORT RESENT p - EST.CONSTR. EST.CONSTR. - SITE LOC. A/E FIRM I 1hi 'L. 7ECT TITLE $ SIZE ACQ DATE SITE COST AWARD DATE C1,0DATE PHASE NEXT PHASE � DATE COST REMARKS -.-_.- _. Dev. 7- 1-71 �� $5 ,995 ,040 A/1 Fe, Esc. i ` Center Main '1't�, 1- 9-70 335 000 urt Meyer 6�4- I -71 # Schematic ! �esigr► ic.e Bldg . ( 13 :acres ) Associates 1 $419 ,000 (73) 9-3-69 ! , ,)oration Gothard y 3- 5-70 $215 , 779 j r None �4- 1-71 . ! - I - 1 7-1 -71 $ 880,000 rd Slater ► (Select A;E y - (14 . 4 Ac. t.r21 Goldenwest 1- 3-69 $225 ,000- iiNeutra r 4 - 1 -771 ' Schematic Schematic ' 7-1- 71 $2 , 119 , 350 A/E Fee Est . br I. 0 Talbert ; ) Associates f ! $175 ,000(8 1/21 �- (18. 6 Ac. ) 1 ► 5-4 - 70 iitorium'a Atlanta 6 j Not - - - Unknown - ( Economic ►.ference' Lake f Acquired I ` f Feasibility i iter I (10 Acres) i (, I Required -e Stations . f I ( II irdy Indust. ± Gothard & 2-lS-67 $ S79'000 ;Anthony >a 6-30 -70" Design Constr. 8-1-70 I $ 250 ,000 ' A/E Fee Est . Station Murdy Cir. Langford Dev. Documents i $15 ,500 (7%) (1 Acre) i j 12-9-69 i :)thard Sta. Gothard $ 1-16-69 $128,765 ;Anthony -$ 3-19-70 ' Design- Constr. 8-1-70 $ 250,000 : A/E Fee Est . Train.. Ctr. i Ellis Langford 3-19-70 Dev. Documents 8-1-70 300 ,000 $ 15 ,500) 6% ;,ommun.Fac. ' (. 47 Ac. ) j 12-9-69 1 $Z1 ,000) i I -_r Sta. Warner & 7- 1-70 Exchange - - ' - - - - Execute Agree . Sunset Under w/Hunt .Harbour Sanit. Plat Negotia- I i { F Sanitary Dis' (2. 3 Ac. ) tion j t agnolia Magnolia & 7- 1- 70 - - - - - - Property to be Station Hamilton f Acquired from ( A Acres) ► ' e - County ringdale Springdale Dependent on p Station on Peck Pr. Development of Ind. Park