From ballistic vests to the aging Grape Bowl

First, let me tell you that I understand your frustration about last week's column. That swap thing is very complicated and difficult to grasp.

My main points with the column were :

• The actions in 2002 by our city council are probably going to cost us more money.

• You should not blame our current council or city staff because, except for Susan Hitchcock, they were not around.

With that, I want to move to something where you can put most the city council, except for Mr. Katzakian, right out in front — Lodi's deferred maintenance.

At the Budget and Finance Committee meeting on April 14, the city manager presented a list of "immediate maintenance and/or replacement needs" for Lodi.

He gave a similar presentation to the city council on April 22nd. All of the items on the list are unbudgeted. In other words, our city council and city management have not planned for these expenses and they have no idea how pay for them.

The list ranges from heating and air conditioning at the animal shelter to ballistic vests for our SWAT team — how can that be unbudgeted — to the Grape Bowl. The total, without the Grape Bowl, for everything on the list is $7,366,500 to $10,572,500. With the Grape Bowl fixed only to keep it open, which is not really fixed, the numbers increase to $8,866,500 to $12,072,500. The bill for our parks alone, not including the Grape Bowl and Pigs Lake, is over $3.6 million.

None of this is new stuff! This is stuff that Lodi owns and has either not cared for or is forced to change because of a law. This is stuff like bathrooms that don't work, a roof where people work that leaks and parks that if not repaired will need to be closed, not by choice but by law.

I give Mr. King credit for putting this out in front but our city council should not be surprised. (Again, I am leaving Mr. Katzakian out of this because he was not involved prior to 2006.)

Three of our city council members — Mounce, Hitchcock and Johnson — have business experience. Why didn't they see this coming? Didn't they pay attention when the Budget and Finance Committee told them last year to at least set money aside for new accounting software?

Mr. Hansen was quoted in this paper as saying "This is something that should have been going on for years." I assume by something he means spending money to fix stuff or setting money aside to do so. Well my question to Mr. Hansen is why didn't you do something for years?

You have, after all, been on the city council since 2002.

I am sure that part of Mr. King's reason for bring this costly list forward is to help sell the redevelopment agency or as he likes to put it — the tax increment — and that is fine because this list is real and it is costly. There also is no way that Lodi can pay for it without some system and plan. Here are some of my ideas.

• At a minimum, 1 percent of the general fund budget goes into a replacement and repair fund. Based upon last year's budget, this should be about $450,000 per year. This is like paying yourself first. To make sure this money doesn't get used for other things, the City Council should pass a resolution that before money can come from this fund it must be placed on the agendas of the Budget and Finance Committee and the City Council so the public gets proper notice. How can this happen with a tight budget?

• Some tough love. The parks that need repair need to be closed so there is a public display of just how bad this problem is. This includes closing several park playgrounds and the pool at Hutchins Street Square.

• Reductions either in people or pay. Lodi's employees, union and non-union, need to know that Lodi needs this stuff, that we don't have the money and that we will all be better in the future if the stuff gets fixed.

• Get this redevelopment thing moving. I will spend a column on this in the future but this is something Lodi needs and we need it now. Mr. King has this one right.

• We have to find a way to fund increases in our public safety budget because it is consuming over half of the general fund and it is only getting bigger. Like it or not, we need to pass a sales tax increase to do this.

John Johnson, CFA is a Lodi-based business appraiser and chairman of the Lodi Budget and Finance Committee. You can reach Mr. Johnson at john@johnejohnson.com or at (209) 369-1451.

Reader Feedback

rwayne wrote on May 2, 2008 11:07 AM:

" Park maintenance is a major issue. I live near Legion Park. I recently walked the park and found it in appalling condition. Weeds instead of grass. Bare spots with no grass. General poor maintenance of the turf. In tough budget conditions what are the chances this will be addressed? My guess: somewhere between little and none. "

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Whoa Nellie! wrote on Apr 28, 2008 5:25 PM:

" Yes, John sounds like he is getting ready to throw his hat back into the ring. From my view I dont see how he can benefit professionally from a seat on the CC, so that's one point for him.

That being said, and that I did not vote for him last time, JJ brings up some VERY GOOD POINTS. The public safety budgets takes up over half of our budget who knew? All the cops & fireman who retire with the incredibly high pensions, thats who. Let them take a portion of their competitive salary and invest it like we do.
"

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commonsense1 wrote on Apr 28, 2008 4:32 PM:

" "oldguy"....Very funny and right on. Nothing more than a shameless run for office. Now I know why he lost. "

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T & C wrote on Apr 28, 2008 1:14 PM:

" Bleed us dry until we are all homeless, tax, tax, tax, fee, fee, fee! "

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ZZ wrote on Apr 28, 2008 12:34 PM:

" For the real truth about Redevelopment go to www.seelodi.com and read SMART LODI about the real facts on redevelopment "

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papercut wrote on Apr 28, 2008 11:38 AM:

" All right, time for the real owners of Lodi to get out their $99 checks and money orders. I wonder how many of those contributors will be from Milpitas or maybe even Half Moon Bay? "

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Scrutiny wrote on Apr 28, 2008 9:51 AM:

" I herebye proclaim the 2008 Lodi city council race season... OPEN!! "

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papercut wrote on Apr 28, 2008 8:39 AM:

" Don't you mean another raise for electric, water, sewer and garbage? That's all the council has left. There's not a sales tax in the world that'd be approved by Lodi voters as long as it only goes to cover the wealthy and well connected families and their associates further profits and power grab. "

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oldguy wrote on Apr 28, 2008 8:36 AM:

" Sounds to me like someone running for City Council. I hope Rich Hanner does not give John a free forum for his views for the next year. At least put at the bottom of the column a notation that this is a political announcement. John does have at least one thing right, but it will doom his candidacy and that is to raise taxes. He did that in the last election and you see what it got him. "

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