Fiscal Year 2013-2015 Special Budget Meeting

POLICY TRADEOFFS & SERVICE BUYBACKS 2) Graffiti Enforcement and Abatement In January 2013, the City Council adopted an ordinance amending the City’s graffiti enforcement and abatement policies. The proposed FY 2103-15 budget contains two new FTE painters to respond more quickly to graffiti on public property, bringing the total number of painters to abate graffiti on public right-of- ways to 6 FTEs. This will provide adequate abatement for public property. However, graffiti on private property continues to be a significant quality of life issue. Public Works estimates that to fully support the private property enforcement and mitigation policies contained in the recent ordinance, the City would need additional code enforcement and police intervention at an annual cost ranging from a minimum of approximately $165,000 to full funding at $1.0M. (Although the staff report that accompanied the ordinance briefly discussed the potential revenues that may be generated from this program, Public Works believes that the revenues will not cover the full program cost.) Minimum staffing would entail adding a Specialty Combination Inspector to administer code enforcement. Full funding would entail an additional Graffiti Program lead; two police officers to do special operations to identify suspects in violation of the ordinance (which could also be piloted through an Overtime funding allocation); support from the City Attorney’s Office to pursue civil penalties as outlined in the ordinance; two FTEs to administer code enforcement; and public education, murals; and rewards. TOTAL COST Y1: $1,000,000 3) Street Patching The City of Oakland has 806 miles of City-maintained streets varying from two-lane to six-lane arterial streets. Due to stagnant gas tax revenues and increased usage, the City’s streets continue to deteriorate and are now on an 85 year repaving cycle. In FY 2013-14 there is only $4.1M available to pave City streets. Without reconstruction of streets, motorist will experience more potholes. A new four-person patch crew could increase the number of block rehabilitated to improve the riding surface, and repair minor and medium defects before major repairs are needed. Patching areas where potholes recur frequently could reduce recurring potholes by several hundred per year. Paving would occur May through November, when hot asphalt mix is available, and base repair, crack sealing, and training would be performed the remaining months. The annual cost for one crew would be approximately $800,000 for one street maintenance leader, three maintenance workers, and asphalt and related supplies. There would also be one-time costs of approximately $725,000 for an asphalt patch truck and a grinder. TOTAL COST OT: $725,000/OG $800,000 Y1: $1,525,000/Y2: $1,525,000 4) Rainbow Teen Center/Digital Arts and Culinary Academy (DACA) and West Oakland Teen Center Staffing The capital funds to renovate the Rainbow Teen Center/Digital Arts and Culinary Academy (DACA) and the West Oakland Teen Center were not accompanied by operating funds for City staff to run the facilities. The City Council did approve one-time funding in spring 2012 to support DACA operating expenses, along with some absorbed expenditures. Parks and Recreation estimates that it will cost approximately $150,000 to staff the Rainbow Teen Center/Digital Arts and Culinary Academy (DACA) and $190,000 to staff the West Oakland Teen Center. The Department does not believe it can absorb these costs in its proposed budget, given the additional reductions/eliminations proposed. Alternatively, the City could explore partnerships. TOTAL COST $340,000 A - 5