Council told:
Rates go up, or lights go out
By Anne Gilman

The City Council reviewed the draft of the public arts guidelines and two-year public arts plan for the city at Tuesday night's meeting.
The Arts Commission and the city have been working toward a public arts program and policy for the past 10 years. Over the past year and a half, they have overseen the installation of public art at Cluff Vista Park, the Arcade Plaza and City Hall.
The art ordinance policy and law will require that developers contribute 2 percent of their total project development costs up to the first $1 million, and 1 percent of any excess over that first million to fund public art on their property. The developer may also choose to make a contribution to the Public Art Fund. The certificate of occupancy wouldn't be issued until the artwork or funds were in place. Developers of low-income properties are exempt from these fees.
City Analyst Kathy McCann said, "The purpose of the guidelines is to simplify the process for selecting and installing public art on new developments. This is common practice in many cities." The guidelines outline the procedure for obtaining certification as well as how the art is selected. These guidelines will be reviewed every two years. Stan Hakes, formerly Ojai's public works director, who is now responsible for special projects within the city, presented the street lighting district engineer's report and assessment for fiscal year 2003-2004, which indicated a need to increase fees. The Street Lighting District currently has an annual revenue of $50,000, and about $96,000 per year is needed to provide funding to pay for essential safety services: street lighting; energy costs; street tree conservation and safety maintenance costs; and curb, gutter and sidewalk repair costs. Property owners within the city limits today pay an average of $26 per year (equivalent to $2.17 per month) for street lights.
The report recommends raising the typical annual assessment to $50 per year ($4.16 per month) in order to meet the city's needs.
The Ojai Street Lighting District was established in the late 1970s to pay for street lighting energy and maintenance costs under provisions of the state of California (Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972.) Until 1999, revenues from the district were used to pay for energy and maintenance costs only. Reserves were built up for contingency and emergency purposes, as well as setting aside funds for capital projects. Since 1999, the city has used district reserve funds to partially pay for a number of capital projects, including a portion of Cluff Vista Park sidewalk improvements; construction of handicap ramps, curb and gutter and drainage improvements; and street tree conservation and maintenance costs. Most significantly, in spring 2001, the California Public Utilities Commission allowed for a sizable increase in electricity rates, especially street lighting rates, which increased by almost 50 percent. Over the past two years, reserve money have been used to offset the increased costs for energy and maintenance. According to the report, Ojai recently paid $70,000 for Edison maintenance and lighting costs alone.
Hakes said, "Without an increase we will have to turn off some of the lights for specific periods."
In order for an increase to go through, voters will be sent protest ballots where they can either agree to the increase by doing nothing, or oppose the increase by returning the ballot with a "No." If 50 percent of the property owners in the assessed area protest, then the increase is denied. There will be a voluntary public hearing at the City Council meeting on Feb. 25 to explain the increase before the ballots are sent.
Singer announced that the state legislature had overwhelming denied Gov. Gray Davis' budget proposal to reduce the vehicle fee payments to cities and counties. This would have cost Ojai $167,000 in 2002-2003, and more than $360,000 the following years. The legislature also opposed the governor's plan to reduce county spending on libraries, which would have limited hours of service and staff.
For the time being, local governments have escaped significant cuts to local revenues and library services.
Mayor Joe DeVito announced there would be a meeting of the County Transportation Committee on Monday at Camarillo City Hall to discuss unmet transit needs of citizens.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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