How Much Will They Be Paid?

How much do you think the new city council members will get paid if Rossmoor becomes a city?

I received an email recently stating that currently RCSD (Rossmoor Community Services District) members are paid $300 per meeting.

If Rossmoor becomes a city, the new city council members would also be paid $300 per meeting & most have agreed to accept $100 per meeting.  They also would be receiving NO annual salary.

Sincerely,

Emily S. Knell

Main Street Realtors

562-430-3053 – emilyknell1@yahoo.com

Becoming a City is Most Financially Risky Option We Could Consider

*Con-Side Article*

Cities assume ultimate liability for services provided to the community, whether offered directly or through an independednt contractor.  These are liabilities and risks for which our community currently does not have financial exposure.  Incorporation would completely change that situation.  Residnts of Rossmoor would assume full financial responsibility for everything that occurs in the community.  There is no safety net other than additional taxes on residents.  Furthermore, Incorporation would require the creation of a new five-member city council and a new, larger and more costly city staff to run the government.  In these difficult financial times, the last thing we need is more politicians and more cost for government.

Information Source:  www.rossmoorpreservation.com – mailer

Sincerely,

Emily S. Knell

Main Street Realtors

562-430-3053 – emilyknell1@yahoo.com

County Must Continue to Provide Services To Our Community

*Con-Side Article*

The County cannot abandon Rossmoor or refuse to provide services.  They must and will continue to provide vital services to the community.  Proponents of incorporation have attempted to characterize county services as unsatisfactory.  In truth, most residents are well satisfied with the services provided by the County.  It is a far greater risk to place governance of these vital services in the hands of those with limited experience managing such responsiblity.

Information Source:  www.rossmoorpreservation.com – mailer

Sincerely,

Emily S. Knell

Main Street Realtors

562-430-3053 – emilyknell1@yahoo.com

Rossmoor May Remain Unincorporated

*Con-Side Article*

We are under no obligation to become a city.  A No vote on Measure U means that Rossmoor will remain an inincorporated area operating in the same manner that we currently do.  Statements that we must incorporate or become part of a neighboring city are untrue.  If the community wishes to make changes to service areas, we have the ability to do so by expanding the powers of the Rossmoor Community Services District.  Incorporation is not necessary!!

Information Source:  www.rossmoorpreservation.com – mailer

Sincerely,

Emily S. Knell

Main Street Realtors

562-430-3053 – emilyknell1@yahoo.com

Just The Facts Ma’am, Just The Facts

I don’t know where the “No on U” group is getting the “it will cost residents up to $800″ figure.  I can’t figure that out.  At my home, which is right in between the smallest sized home in Rossmoor and the largest sized home in Rossmoor, I figured that my UUT tax would be $17 per month or $204 per year.  We gas heating &  a pool with a pump that’s running all the time.

Even on the largest homes in Rossmoor (4,800sqft – 5,400sqft), a lot of these newer homes run on gas & have a lot of new Green features.  I can’t believe 7% of their utility bills would cost them $800 per year.  For that to happen they would have to be paying, right now, $950 per month ($11,400 per year) just in utility bills.

The utility tax is figured not on all utilities.  It’s just on your Water, Electric and Gas Bills.

Sincerely,

Emily S. Knell – Main Street Realtors

562-430-3053 – emilyknell1@yahoo.com

Higher Taxes, More Red Tape

*Con-Side Article*

Incorporation means higher taxes for the exact same services.

Taxes, taxes, and more taxes:

Incorporating Rossmoor is an unnecessary, bureaucratic nightmare for residents and taxpayers.  Although many questions about the plan remain unanswered, one thing is clear — incorporation for Rossmoor means higher taxes — as much as $800 per resident.

Learn the facts about the plan to incorporate Rossmoor:

• Incorporation includes a new 7% utility tax, costing residents up to $800
• Since Rossmoor residents will still have to pay county taxes we will be paying twice for services that are already provided.
• The county cannot refuse to provide services to Rossmoor — even if we vote against incorporation.
• The worst possible time to incorporate is during a recession when utility costs are increasing.
• Rossmoor has always paid its way — we purchased two parks, paid for our signature wall, and plated parkway trees without raising taxes.
• Not accounted for in the plan?  Affordable housing, schools, flood control and facility upgrades to support a city.

Information source:  www.rossmoorpreservation.com – mailer

Sincerely,

Emily S. Knell

Main Street Realtors

562-430-3053 – emilyknell1@yahoo.com

Rossmoor / How To Vote Yes On U

To Vote Yes on U for Rossmoor to become a city, check your sample ballots that you received in the mail.

Mark     Y   on Measure U

Mark    Y  for the 7% UUT (utility users tax)

Mark    Y  for the 9% UUT (utility users tax)

Sincerely,

Emily S. Knell

Main Street Realtors

562-430-3053 – emilyknell1@yahoo.com

Resident’s FAQs / Catastrophic Loss?

*Pro-Side Article*

Resident’s Q’s & A’s

The following are our answers to the questions raised at the OC LAFCO Townhall on March 12th:  add the attached LAFCO Incorporation Workshop.

LAFCO INCORPORATION WORKSHOP
RPC’s RESPONSES TO ISSUES RAISED
March 16, 2008

The following issues were raised by opponents of incorporation at LAFCO’s Incorporation Workshop on March 12, 2008.  Many of the issues and concerns we feel were based on incomplete or inaccurate information.  For the benefit of our neighbors, we have set forth below each issue our responses to each issue.

Ques:  If Rossmoor City suffers a catastrophic loss, how does it recover?  Won’t the homeowners simply be required to pay the bill?

Response: This question reflects misunderstanding of how cities work.  There are many similar cities in Southern California that are smaller than Rossmoor with less sales tax revenue.  Cities join under umbrella insurance policies spreading the risk of large liability lawsuits so no individual city suffers.  These insurance costs were built into the CFA.  For natural disasters, no small or even medium size cities build reserves for such disasters (earthquake, terrorist attack, etc.) which are largely covered by Federal and State aid.

Information Source:  www.rossmoorcity.org

Sincerely,

Emily S. Knell

Main Street Realtors

562-430-3053 – emilyknell1@yahoo.com

Resident’s FAQs / Law Enforcement

*Pro-Side Article*

Resident’s Q’s & A’s

The following are our answers to the questions raised at the OC LAFCO Townhall on March 12th:  add the attached LAFCO Incorporation Workshop.

LAFCO INCORPORATION WORKSHOP
RPC’s RESPONSES TO ISSUES RAISED
March 16, 2008

The following issues were raised by opponents of incorporation at LAFCO’s Incorporation Workshop on March 12, 2008.  Many of the issues and concerns we feel were based on incomplete or inaccurate information.  For the benefit of our neighbors, we have set forth below each issue our responses to each issue.

Ques: We are incorporating for a single issue, law enforcement, which is fine anyway.

Response: Several commentators mentioned that the only reason proponents wanted to incorporate was to improve law enforcement, which they felt was just fine the way it was.  There are many advantages to incorporation, including better code enforcement, planning, animal control and of course law enforcement.  And law enforcement and traffic enforcement in Rossmoor are still significantly worse than our neighboring cities.  That is because our sheriff patrol also must cover Sunset Beach and because the CHP, with limited resources, has the primary authority for traffic enforcement in Rossmoor.  The latest figures from the Sheriff show an average response time for Priority One calls in 2007 (a total of 18 Priority 1 calls) of 7 minutes, 32 seconds, including four burglaries in process that took 10 minutes, 18 seconds; twelve minutes, 58 seconds; 13 minutes, 20 seconds; and 18 minutes, 47 seconds to respond.

Information Source:  www.rossmoorcity.org

Sincerely,

Emily S. Knell

Main Street Realtors

562-430-3053 – emilyknell1@yahoo.com

Resident’s FAQs / If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix it?

*Pro-Side Article*

Resident’s Q’s & A’s

The following are our answers to the questions raised at the OC LAFCO Townhall on March 12th:  add the attached LAFCO Incorporation Workshop.

LAFCO INCORPORATION WORKSHOP
RPC’s RESPONSES TO ISSUES RAISED
March 16, 2008

The following issues were raised by opponents of incorporation at LAFCO’s Incorporation Workshop on March 12, 2008.  Many of the issues and concerns we feel were based on incomplete or inaccurate information.  For the benefit of our neighbors, we have set forth below each issue our responses to each issue.

Ques:  Why do we want more bureaucracy?

Response: This is often heard criticism of cityhood is completely misinformed.  A city brings government decisions closer to the resident.  It replaces an existing governmental entity (the RCSD) and eliminates the County bureaucracy (a much larger, more remote governmental agency as a municipal services provider), so the net is a significant reduction in bureaucracy.
Action(s): Education.  Address on the website and in news articles.

Ques: “If it aint broke, don’t fix it.”

Response: Another often heard criticism, based upon incomplete knowledge of the facts.  Rossmoor is a great place to live but is not perfect.  But, we currently are not getting the level or quality of services we are paying for.  We believe that Rossmoor is a great place to live and the best way to protect it is to make it a city and control our future.

Information Source:  www.rossmoorcity.org

Sincerely,

Emily S. Knell

Main Street Realtors

562-430-3053 – emilyknell1@yahoo.com