Are City Council Members Right to Want to Hold Onto School Crossing Guards, the Downtown Trolley?

And should the city start charging non-residents more for arts and recreation programs?

These were among the issues discussed Tuesday, as the City Council continue to consider the $20 million in cuts it needs to make to balance its 2010-12 budget. The city's staff has also recommended that the council bring in about $1.9 million revenues by adding new fees or increase fees for services it provides to residents and businesses.

The council has three weeks to decide what programs to ax and what new fees to charge. 

The programs near to council members' hearts include school crossing guards, the free downtown trolley, the Walnut Creek Concert Band.

With time running out, they asked city staff to come up with alternative sources of funding, because they believe these programs are important for the city.

Maintaining the $74,000 annual contract that pays for crossing guards at the intersections near six schools is a "big concern of mine," said Council Member Kish Rajan,

"Talking about getting rid of crossing guards is like talking about getting rid of mom and apple pie," agreed Councilman Gary Skrel."

Rajan added that schools, which are facing budget cuts of their own, probably wouldn't be in a position to pick up the cost.

Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Silva pointed out that the council has faced this sudden decision about the crossing guards three years in a row. She wonders why the city hasn't been working throughout the year to find alternatives. She also expressed frustration at the contractor's unwillingness to reduce its service--to provide guards at, say, just two major crossings at Ygnacio Valley Road and Treat Boulevard. "We understand and hear the dialogue about safety and students," she said. Her suggestion was to see if the kid share a contract with other cities.

Resident Mary Garfein had another suggestion: The city should stop looking at the crossing guard program as being related to school safety, given that the locations where the guards are needed are some distance from the schools. "It's not a school problem," she said. "It's inherently a traffic problem." Rather than pay for crossing guards, the city's transportation department could make these streets safe by painting a cross walk or by putting up a stop sign or blinking lights, she said.

As for the downtown trolley, preserving the city's $200,000 subsidy to the County Connection--to essentially make the route free between Walnut Creek BART and downtown--is important to the city's image and downtown economy, said Councilman Bob Simmons.

 "The free shuttle is something people talk about. They may not use it, they may not look for the signs to use it, but they like it," he said. "It is one of those things that make the downtown area unique." He doesn't believe the city has sufficiently looked at the economic benefits of this free service and how much it eases  traffic and parking congestion downtown.

One way to preserve this program, City Manager Gary Pokorny said, would be to ask downtown businesses, including Broadway Plaza, to pitch in. 

This discussion about programs to save came after the council looked at adding new fees or raising fees on services.  An analysis of Walnut Creek's fee structure shows that it undercharges for many services, such as for permits to install residential solar units, home remodels, and processing development applications.

Skrel was not thrilled about the idea of adding or raising fees on developers because he feared it would discourage them from doing business in the city.

Simmons said it's important to keeping permit fees for solar installations low. Walnut Creek is known for having one of the lowest fees around, and the city should do what it can to encourage homeowners to invest in alternative energy. The proposed fee could rise from $65 to $262.50. (This new fee would put Walnut Creek in line with what other cities and is still far below the $800 to $1000 that some East Bay cities charge.)

One fee increase not on the table is charging non-residents more for arts and recreation classes. Pokorny and council members said Walnut Creek has not done that as long as they have been involved with the city. Pokorny said the thinking has been that non-residents contribute to the local economy and city revenues by shopping and dining here. 

The City Council will deal with the budget again next week. If you think crossing guards are worth saving or that the city should charge non-residents more for arts and recreation classes, share what you think.

A meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday at 7 p.m. For more information, go to www.walnut-creek.org after 2 p.m. Friday.