Community Priorities for Fiscal Year 2016/2017 Budget Cycle

Please provide your input on the Town's operating (admin, police, public works, community development) and capital (streets, Park, lights, bicycle/pedestrian, facilities) budgets. Where do you think the Town should focus its limited funds to provide the greatest benefit to the community?

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5 registered budgets

Name not shown inside Atherton

April 8, 2016, 7:50 PM

$500 Click to see how I would allocate

$80 Fiscal Responsibility

$40

Programs and policies in support of a balanced budget

Programs and policies in support of an appropriate level of fiscal reserves (currently 35%)

$40

Programs and policies to reduce and/or eliminate any long-term debt

Developing a savings plan for future capital infrastructure needs

Programs and projects in support of Identification of alternative revenue sources for consideration

$0 Preservation of the Town’s “small town” Character and Quality of Life

Programs and polices to address the impact(s) of high-speed rail, electrification and Caltrain

Projects in support of the Park Use and Development Master Plan

Programs in support of identifying and addressing code enforcement issues in Town (construction hours, parking, illegal activity, etc.)

Projects in support of the Drainage Master Plan (small and large drainage projects)

$175 Creating a Town Center and Library

$75

Completion of the new Civic Center Project

Projects and policies in support of expenditure priorities for the Library

$100

Projects to support the implementation of a Town-wide Gigabit Fiber Network

$200 Managing Circulation and Improving Safety

Projects in support of the maintenance of existing capital infrastructure (streets, drains, street lights, etc.)

Programs in support of traffic safety programs and enforcement (safe routes to school, traffic enforcement, etc.)

Projects in support of the Town’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan

Projects in support of safety along El Camino Real (signals, crosswalks, HAWK Beacons, etc.)

Projects in support of safety along Middlefield (crosswalks, etc.)

$200

Projects in support of improving the safety of Caltrain Rail Crossings

$25 Maintaining a Forward-Thinking, Well-Managed and Well-Planned Town

$25

Programs in support of recruiting and retaining quality personnel

Programs in support of collaboration and partnerships with regional agencies (regional partnerships, etc.)

Programs and policies in support of goal-setting and strategic planning

$20 Strengthening Community Engagement and Transparency

$10

Programs and policies in support of increasing fiscal transparency

$10

Programs and policies in support of enhancing Town communications and transparency efforts

Programs and policies in support of Town-sponsored community events

Overall, the town council and staff are doing a great job in fiscal management. In terms of priorities, my preferences are to install quad gates at Watkins for a rail quiet zone and create the town-wide fiber network. I'm also looking forward to a rebuilt civic center.

Name not shown inside Atherton

April 7, 2016, 12:58 PM

$500 Click to see how I would allocate

$105 Fiscal Responsibility

Programs and policies in support of a balanced budget

$25

Programs and policies in support of an appropriate level of fiscal reserves (currently 35%)

$50

Programs and policies to reduce and/or eliminate any long-term debt

$30

Developing a savings plan for future capital infrastructure needs

Programs and projects in support of Identification of alternative revenue sources for consideration

$40 Preservation of the Town’s “small town” Character and Quality of Life

Programs and polices to address the impact(s) of high-speed rail, electrification and Caltrain

Projects in support of the Park Use and Development Master Plan

$30

Programs in support of identifying and addressing code enforcement issues in Town (construction hours, parking, illegal activity, etc.)

$10

Projects in support of the Drainage Master Plan (small and large drainage projects)

$100 Creating a Town Center and Library

$50

Completion of the new Civic Center Project

Projects and policies in support of expenditure priorities for the Library

$50

Projects to support the implementation of a Town-wide Gigabit Fiber Network

$230 Managing Circulation and Improving Safety

$200

Projects in support of the maintenance of existing capital infrastructure (streets, drains, street lights, etc.)

Programs in support of traffic safety programs and enforcement (safe routes to school, traffic enforcement, etc.)

Projects in support of the Town’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan

Projects in support of safety along El Camino Real (signals, crosswalks, HAWK Beacons, etc.)

Projects in support of safety along Middlefield (crosswalks, etc.)

$30

Projects in support of improving the safety of Caltrain Rail Crossings

$25 Maintaining a Forward-Thinking, Well-Managed and Well-Planned Town

$25

Programs in support of recruiting and retaining quality personnel

Programs in support of collaboration and partnerships with regional agencies (regional partnerships, etc.)

Programs and policies in support of goal-setting and strategic planning

$0 Strengthening Community Engagement and Transparency

Programs and policies in support of increasing fiscal transparency

Programs and policies in support of enhancing Town communications and transparency efforts

Programs and policies in support of Town-sponsored community events

Name not shown inside Atherton

March 28, 2016, 6:18 PM

$500 Click to see how I would allocate

$30 Fiscal Responsibility

Programs and policies in support of a balanced budget

$10

Programs and policies in support of an appropriate level of fiscal reserves (currently 35%)

$10

Programs and policies to reduce and/or eliminate any long-term debt

Developing a savings plan for future capital infrastructure needs

$10

Programs and projects in support of Identification of alternative revenue sources for consideration

$400 Preservation of the Town’s “small town” Character and Quality of Life

$50

Programs and polices to address the impact(s) of high-speed rail, electrification and Caltrain

$50

Projects in support of the Park Use and Development Master Plan

Programs in support of identifying and addressing code enforcement issues in Town (construction hours, parking, illegal activity, etc.)

$50

Projects in support of the Drainage Master Plan (small and large drainage projects)

$250

Robust traffic volume mitigation plan (road closures, no turn signs, residents only, no through traffic)

$10 Creating a Town Center and Library

Completion of the new Civic Center Project

$10

Projects and policies in support of expenditure priorities for the Library

Projects to support the implementation of a Town-wide Gigabit Fiber Network

$50 Managing Circulation and Improving Safety

$50

Projects in support of the maintenance of existing capital infrastructure (streets, drains, street lights, etc.)

Programs in support of traffic safety programs and enforcement (safe routes to school, traffic enforcement, etc.)

Projects in support of the Town’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan

Projects in support of safety along El Camino Real (signals, crosswalks, HAWK Beacons, etc.)

Projects in support of safety along Middlefield (crosswalks, etc.)

Projects in support of improving the safety of Caltrain Rail Crossings

$5 Maintaining a Forward-Thinking, Well-Managed and Well-Planned Town

Programs in support of recruiting and retaining quality personnel

Programs in support of collaboration and partnerships with regional agencies (regional partnerships, etc.)

Programs and policies in support of goal-setting and strategic planning

$5 Strengthening Community Engagement and Transparency

Programs and policies in support of increasing fiscal transparency

Programs and policies in support of enhancing Town communications and transparency efforts

Programs and policies in support of Town-sponsored community events

The biggest threat to the towns character is the massive amount of traffic coming through town during the morning and evening commute. The proposed traffic plan avoids traffic volume and this is just not acceptable.

Valerie Gardner inside Atherton

March 17, 2016, 4:36 PM

$500 Click to see how I would allocate

$0 Fiscal Responsibility

Programs and policies in support of a balanced budget

Programs and policies in support of an appropriate level of fiscal reserves (currently 35%)

Programs and policies to reduce and/or eliminate any long-term debt

Developing a savings plan for future capital infrastructure needs

Programs and projects in support of Identification of alternative revenue sources for consideration

$250 Preservation of the Town’s “small town” Character and Quality of Life

Programs and polices to address the impact(s) of high-speed rail, electrification and Caltrain

Projects in support of the Park Use and Development Master Plan

Programs in support of identifying and addressing code enforcement issues in Town (construction hours, parking, illegal activity, etc.)

$250

Projects in support of the Drainage Master Plan (small and large drainage projects)

$0 Creating a Town Center and Library

Completion of the new Civic Center Project

Projects and policies in support of expenditure priorities for the Library

Projects to support the implementation of a Town-wide Gigabit Fiber Network

$0 Managing Circulation and Improving Safety

Projects in support of the maintenance of existing capital infrastructure (streets, drains, street lights, etc.)

Programs in support of traffic safety programs and enforcement (safe routes to school, traffic enforcement, etc.)

Projects in support of the Town’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan

Projects in support of safety along El Camino Real (signals, crosswalks, HAWK Beacons, etc.)

Projects in support of safety along Middlefield (crosswalks, etc.)

Projects in support of improving the safety of Caltrain Rail Crossings

$250 Maintaining a Forward-Thinking, Well-Managed and Well-Planned Town

Programs in support of recruiting and retaining quality personnel

Programs in support of collaboration and partnerships with regional agencies (regional partnerships, etc.)

$250

Programs and policies in support of goal-setting and strategic planning

$0 Strengthening Community Engagement and Transparency

Programs and policies in support of increasing fiscal transparency

Programs and policies in support of enhancing Town communications and transparency efforts

Programs and policies in support of Town-sponsored community events

We care to preserve our community and have a "forward-thinking" town. It is time that the town recognized that climate change is one of the biggest threats to our future security and well-being and worthy of our focus to figure out how to eliminate our carbon emissions—not just slightly reduce them. Allocating $1 million to this purpose is hardly commiserate with the level of crisis that we are experiencing but would be a good start for a town that is spending nothing on such issues now. Such funds could go to re-design our drainage plans (now designed to send all of our fresh rain water out to sea), implement new net zero-carbon building standards and fund additional ways to help homeowners convert to 100% clean energy.

Name not shown inside Atherton

March 12, 2016, 7:41 PM

$500 Click to see how I would allocate

$0 Fiscal Responsibility

Programs and policies in support of a balanced budget

Programs and policies in support of an appropriate level of fiscal reserves (currently 35%)

Programs and policies to reduce and/or eliminate any long-term debt

Developing a savings plan for future capital infrastructure needs

Programs and projects in support of Identification of alternative revenue sources for consideration

$100 Preservation of the Town’s “small town” Character and Quality of Life

$25

Programs and polices to address the impact(s) of high-speed rail, electrification and Caltrain

$75

Projects in support of the Park Use and Development Master Plan

Programs in support of identifying and addressing code enforcement issues in Town (construction hours, parking, illegal activity, etc.)

Projects in support of the Drainage Master Plan (small and large drainage projects)

$225 Creating a Town Center and Library

$100

Completion of the new Civic Center Project

$25

Projects and policies in support of expenditure priorities for the Library

$100

Projects to support the implementation of a Town-wide Gigabit Fiber Network

$75 Managing Circulation and Improving Safety

Projects in support of the maintenance of existing capital infrastructure (streets, drains, street lights, etc.)

Programs in support of traffic safety programs and enforcement (safe routes to school, traffic enforcement, etc.)

Projects in support of the Town’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan

$75

Projects in support of safety along El Camino Real (signals, crosswalks, HAWK Beacons, etc.)

Projects in support of safety along Middlefield (crosswalks, etc.)

Projects in support of improving the safety of Caltrain Rail Crossings

$50 Maintaining a Forward-Thinking, Well-Managed and Well-Planned Town

Programs in support of recruiting and retaining quality personnel

Programs in support of collaboration and partnerships with regional agencies (regional partnerships, etc.)

$50

Programs and policies in support of goal-setting and strategic planning

$50 Strengthening Community Engagement and Transparency

Programs and policies in support of increasing fiscal transparency

$50

Programs and policies in support of enhancing Town communications and transparency efforts

Programs and policies in support of Town-sponsored community events

Atherton Open Town Hall is not a certified voting system or ballot box. As with any public comment process, participation in Atherton Open Town Hall is voluntary. The budgets in this record are not necessarily representative of the whole population, nor do they reflect the opinions of any government agency or elected officials.