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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3464 RESOLUTION NO. 3464 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, URGING THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DIVISION OF THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES TO WORK TOWARD AN EVENTUAL EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF HIGHwAY USERS TAX FUNDS AND FOR A PROMPT REVISION OF THE MAYO-BREED FORMULA MORE EQUITABLE TO THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WHEREAS, two cents of the total six cents of the State- levied highway' users taxes is subvented to counties and cities in the State, of which one and three-eighths of one cent is allocated by statute to counties, and five-eighths of one cent is allocated by statute to cities; and, WHEREAS, it was the intention of the State Legislature in setting the 1-3/8 - 5/8 cent distribution ratio to assist both cities and counties in meeting construction and maintenance needs for rural and urban streets and roads according to statewide needs; and, WHEREAS, though the 1-3/8 - 5/8 cent ratio may be equita- ble in the predominantly rural counties of the State in proportion to the street mileage, assessed valuation, and population of incor- porated and unincorporated areas within those counties, the ratio of distribution as it relates to street and road problems in urban counties such as Los Angeles is in the opinion of this City Council manifestly inequitable; and, WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County \ in the year 1939 recognized the greater needs of urban street sys- I tems in Los Angeles County as compared to other areas of the State, and at that time adopted a policy, and again in the years 1947 and 1952, of providing annual financial assistance to cities; and, -1- 3464, WHEREAS, such policy only partially recognizes the rela- tively greater need for the construction of streets within cities; and, WHEREAS, the urban-rural, incorporated-unincorporated character of the County of Los Angeles has changed substantially since the principles on which financial assistance for street con- struction was based in 1939, 1947 and 1952, so that the County has become more urban and the number of cities has increased from 46 to 70, so that the proportionate mileage of streets and roads, as- sessed valuation and popUlation in the unincorporated and incorporated areas of the County are as follows: Unincorporated Incorporated Streets and Roads Assessed Valuation ,population, 26% 15% 18% 7~ 85% 82% and, WHEREAS, cities within Los Angeles County receive only 53% of the total highway users taxes subvented to the County and cities within the County (including present financial assistance to cities from the County of Los Angeles) even though 74% of the lineal street and road mileage is in cities and a considerably greater per- centage of the total traffic lanes, street surface, and traffic flow is within cities; and, WHEREAS, this City Council agrees with the Los Angeles ; County Division of the League of California Cities that the present formula for distribution of highway users tax funds; is not equitable to the cities of this County; and, WHEREAS, this City Council recognizes that cities generally must find new sources of additional funds in order to stem the ris- ing deficiencies in city streets; and, WHEREAS, this City Council supports the efforts of the Southern California Regional Association of County Supervisors to -2- 3464 ~ amend the Mayo-Breed formula to make more State Highway Construction funds available to Southern California; and, WHEREAS, this City Council recognizes that there is no legal obligation on the part of the County to share its 1-3/8 cent gas tax funds with the cities; and, WHEREAS, this City Council realizes that the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County recognizes that inequities in the statutory distribution of highway users tax funds in view of said Board's previous action in making such funds available to cities through County Aid to Cities and the County Highways through Cities' Funds; and, WHEREAS, this City Council believes that if the proposal of the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities were to be adopted in full at this time it would be detri- mental to the Los Angeles County Road Department and to Los Angeles County generally by creating chaos in said Road Department, and that many projects now scheduled or planned would have to be abandoned to the detriment of the motoring public since said Road Department works on a continuing five-year program; and, WHEREAS, this City Council believes that many projects which affect more than one city can in many cases be more adequately carried out by the County; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, DOES DETERMINE AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. That the Los Angeles County Board of Super- visors be urged to work toward an eventual equitable distribution of highway users tax funds and that,the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities cooperate with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in such endeavor. That a reasonable solution of the problem at hand should be spread over a period of -3- 3464 y . years, no more than ten at the most, the period to be shortened in proportion to the amount of additional funds made available to the County as a result of any changes in the Mayo-Breed formula. SECTION 2. That a review of the matter be made at the mid-point of any such program period, which review should include, though not necessarily be limited to, the following items: a. Has the County spent its share of gas tax funds in fair distribution between incorporated and unincorpo- rated areas? b. Have funds spent by the County in incorporated areas been for projects beneficial to area motorists or of a local nature? c. Have the cities spent the increased revenues on projects of the type tha~ aids the motorists in getting into, through and from the city or has the money been spent on projects of strictly a local nature? d. What problems have been created by the diversion of additional 'funds for the County and the cities? SECTION 3. That the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors be urged to work toward a prompt revision of the Mayo- Breed formula more equitable to the southern portion of the State of California. SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and shall forward a certified copy hereof to the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County and to the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities. , , I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcadia held -4- 3464 ~. on the 6th day of February , 1962, by the affirmative vote of at least three Councilmen, to wit: AYES: Councilmen Butterworth, Phillips, Reibold and Balser NO;ES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAINING:Councilman C SIGNED AND APPRO~D this 6th day of February , 1962. ~,"d1a ATTEST: ~45?t~ y er (SEAL) -5- 3464