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Countdown
to Daly City’s Centennial
... Doelger’s Little Boxes Defended
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 Daly
City’s Westlake neighborhood
once drew sneers from haughty
outsiders who dubbed the development
“an instant suburb.” Malvina
Reynold’s song “Little Boxes”
is alleged to have been inspired
by a drive through Daly City.
The song’s lyrics painted
an unflattering picture: “Little
boxes made of ticky tacky,
little boxes on a hillside,
little boxes all the same.”
Westlake’s
critics have long since been
silenced and Henry Doelger’s
unique houses are attracting
a new generation of admirers,
including resident and author,
Rob Keil. His new book, Little
Boxes: The Architecture of
a Classic Midcentury Suburb,
is an homage to the Westlake
subdivision, complete with
stunning color photos of some
of its distinctive homes.
Doelger,
a larger-than-life figure,
purchased 1,350 acres from
the Spring Valley Water Company
in 1945. He transformed sand
dunes, pig farms, and cabbage
patches into a carefully planned
suburban community. He ultimately
built some 6,000 homes and
3,000 apartment units in Daly
City. His affordable houses
were close to schools,restaurants,
and the Westlake Shopping
Center – one of the first
retail centers of its kind.
 Keil’s
book includes photos of Doelger’s
own Westlake house at 112
Northgate Avenue. His house
deviated from the standard
Westlake floor plan – it had
an indoor pool and outdoor
cages for his pet monkeys!
It also has the distinction
of being the first house in
Daly City to sell for more
than a million dollars.
Keil’s
book is available at Daly
City’s Westlake 650.991.8071
and Serramonte 650.991.8023
libraries. Proceeds from books
sold at either location will
benefit Daly City’s libraries.
Information about the book
and author Rob Keil can be
found online at www.littleboxesbook.com.
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A
New Drop-off
Program Disposing
of Old Medicine
... Safe and
Environmentally
Responsible
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 Daly
City residents
have a new
opportunity
to dispose
of prescription
and over-the-counter
drugs in a
safe and environmentally
responsible
manner. A
new program
introduced
by Supervisor
Adrienne Tissier
and the County
of San Mateo
allows anyone
to drop-off
expired or
unwanted medications
at three participating
Peninsula
police departments
including
Daly City,
Pacifica,
and San Bruno.
A sturdyand
secure drop-off
box at City
Hall, 333
90th St. is
available
for residents
to use Monday
through Friday
from 8:00
a.m. to 10:00
p.m. and Saturdays
from 8:00
a.m. to 4:00
p.m.
The
three main
goals of the
pharmaceutical
drop-off program
are to help
seniors avoid
dangerous
medication
errors, help
reduce or
prevent recreational
drug use,
and to help
stop environmental
damage caused
by medicines
flushed down
ocean-bound
drains.
“Many
people don’t
realize that
sewage treatment
plants are
not designed
to filter
out potentially
toxic chemicals
in medicines,”
Supervisor
Tissier said.
“So everything
from antibiotics
to the hormones
found in birth
control pills
is showing
up in fish
and amphibians
in our waterways.”
All
medicines
should remain
in their original
containers,
with any private,
identifiable
information
removed. San
Mateo County’s
pharmaceutical
disposal program
does not accept
illegal substances,
such as marijuana,
ecstasy, or
methamphetamines.
The
disposal receptacles
were placed
with law enforcement
agencies because
that was the
only way to
lawfully accept
all pharmaceuticals,
including
those defined
as controlled
substances.
Under
the current
program, the
Daly City,
Pacifica,
and San Bruno
police departments
have agreed
to accept
the discarded
drugs and
transport
them on a
regular basis
to a secured
county law
enforcement
facility where
a licensed
hazardous
waste collector
will remove
them for incineration.
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Daly
City Ballot Measure G
Why is the Utility User’s
Tax (UUT) on the ballot now? |
As
a result of recent changes
in State law and a subsequent
California Supreme Court
ruling, many local taxes
may now be subject to voter
approval. Although Daly
City’s Utility User’s Tax
pre-dates the change in
law, the City Council chose
to place a measure on the
November 7 ballot for voter
approval of the tax to ensure
conformance with current
interpretations of State
law. Many cities across
California have placed similar
measures on their local
ballots in recent years.
More than 140 other California
cities currently collect
some form of Utility User’s
Tax. The factual information
about Measure G and the
City Budget presented in
this newsletter is provided
by the City of Daly City
for voter education purposes
only.
Facts
about Measure G
On November 7, 2006, Daly
City voters will decide
whether to continue
the City’s Utility
User’s Tax. If
Measure G passes, there
will be no change
to the existing tax.
If Measure G fails, the
Utility User’s Tax will
be eliminated.
What
is the Utility User’s Tax?
Instituted in 1989, the
Utility User’s Tax is a
general-purpose tax assessed
on telephone, cable, electricity,
and gas to pay for community
services and programs.
What
if the UUT is eliminated?
If Daly City’s Utility User’s
Tax is not continued, the
City Council must act immediately
to cut the City’s budget
by
$6 million and City services
and programs will have to
be reduced by that amount.
A budget reduction of this
amount will require deep
cuts in all City services
and programs and a likely
reduction in personnel.
Who
pays the UUT?
The average household pays
approximately $12 per month
or roughly 40 CENTS PER
DAY. All businesses in Daly
City also pay the tax. Exemptions
are available for low-income
seniors, blind and disabled
persons.
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Services
funded by the UUT
$6M in General Fund
revenues
The Daly City Utility Users
Tax generates approximately
$6 million dollars in General
Fund Revenue each year —
or roughly 10 percent of
the City’s annual operating
budget. This tax revenue
helps to pay for:
•
Twenty-four hour Police
and Fire protection.
• Recreational events
and activities for children.
• Libraries at Serramonte,
Westlake, Bayshore, and
on Mission Street.
• Senior services
and programs at the Doelger
Senior Center and neighborhood
parks.
• Maintaining parks
and landscaped areas.
• Graffiti abatement
and code enforcement.
• Youth and adult
athletic leagues at Westlake
and Gellert Parks.
Comparing
Daly City’s UUT
to neighboring cities
Many
cities in California depend
on Utility Users Tax to
pay for
essential government services.
The 5% currently collected
in
Daly City is comparable
to other cities in San Mateo
County.
Pacifica . . . . . . . .
. . . 6.5%
Portola Valley . . . . .
. .5.5%
Redwood City . . . . . .
. 5.0%
East Palo Alto . . . . .
. .5.0%
Daly City . . . . . . .
. . . 5.0%
For
more information on Measure
G, please see the
ballot arguments in your
voter pamphlet. You can
also call the City Manager’s
Office at 650.991.8127,
or log on to Daly City Online
at www.dalycity.org
or the San Mateo County
web site www.shapethefuture.com
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What
you get for your City tax dollar
How much money does it take to run the City? |
 General
Fund Expenditures
Daly
City’s operating budget for fiscal
year 2006-2007 includes $66,448,775 in
General Fund revenue. The 5% Utility User’s
Tax generates approximately $6M annually
— roughly 10% of the City’s total General
Fund. If Measure G does not pass, the City
will be forced to cut services by $6M to
balance the budget.
 General
Fund Revenue
Unlike
other taxes, such as property and
sales tax, the Utility User’s Tax is generated
100% in Daly City and spent entirely in Daly
City. By comparison, Daly City receives
only 20 cents of every property tax dollar
generated in Daly City and only 1 cent
from every taxable dollar spent in Daly City.
The Utility Users Tax is also different than
property and sales tax because it is collected
by the City, not the State of California.
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The
General Fund
How tax dollars are
allocated for City services
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The
Utility User’s tax paid by Daly City residents
and businesses stays in Daly City to pay for
local government services.
 Fifty-two
cents of every tax dollar collected is spent
on Public Safety — 33 cents for Police services
and 19 cents for fire protection.
 Eleven
cents of every tax dollar is spent on parks
and recreation programs — including parks
maintenance, youth and adult athletics, and
activities for seniors.
 Nine
cents of every tax dollar is used for public
works - including sidewalk and street maintenance,
traffic signals and street lights.
 Five
cents of every tax dollar is used to fund
library operations at Daly City’s four public
libraries — Serramonte, Westlake, Bayshore,
and John Daly (scheduled to relocate to the
new War Memorial Community Center next year).
All
remaining City functions represent twenty-three
cents of every taxpayer dollar. Examples of
other City services include financial management,
human resources, economic and community development,
public records retention, elections, community
information, and general administrative services.
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Make
a Difference Day
Set for Saturday, October 28 |
 Make
a Difference Day returns to Daly City on Saturday,
October 28. This year marks the eighth consecutive
year that Daly City has participated in the
“National Day of Doing Good.” This is the
single largest volunteer event in the nation.
Last year more than 3 million people participated,
including several hundred in Daly City.
If
you or your group are interested in pre-registering
for Make a Difference Day, call 650.991.8126
or visit www.dalycity.org
for registration instructions. Volunteers
will report directly to pre-assigned work
sites beginning at 9:00 a.m. the morning of
the event. A “thank you” barbecue lunch for
volunteers is scheduled for noon on the southwest
plaza at City Hall. And just as in years past,
Make a Difference Day happens rain or shine!
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Community Emergency
Preparedness Classes
Family and Individual Preparedness
(3-hour classes)
Saturday, October 28, 9:00 a.m. to
12:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 2, 7:00 to 10:00
p.m.
Wednesday, November 8, 7:00 to 10:00
p.m.
Saturday, November 11, 9:00 a.m. to
12:00 p.m.
Wednesday November 15, 7:00 to 10:00
p.m.
Community
Emergency Response Classes
(24-hour class)
October 25, 27, 28, and November 1,
3, and 4
Wednesdays/Fridays, 6:30 pm to 10:00
p.m.,
Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
November 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, and 18
Tuesdays/Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. to 10:00
p.m.,
Saturdays, 8:00 am to 5:00 p.m.
All
Classes Are Held at Fire Station 94
10 Wembley Drive (at Gellert Blvd.),
Daly City
Call 650.991.8138
to register for classes.
Make
a Difference Day
City wide (see story, this page)
Friday, October 28
Election
Day
Tues., November 7
Be sure to vote!
(Last day to register to vote, October
23)
Please
vist our web site, www.dalycity.org
for a complete community calendar
listing.
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