Around Town Around Town (December 15, 2004)

APPLES AND ORANGES AND GENERAL FUNDS . . . Despite efforts by the City of Palo Alto's financial experts, there is still a notion among some critics, like attorney Richard Alexander , that the budget is bloated with administrative and overpaid bureaucrats and that the city unwisely spends more per resident than other nearby cities. To address that analysis, which city officials feel is flawed, the city's budget writers included a guide in its recently released "long range financial report" to help residents compare -- apples to apples -- Palo Alto's expenditures with other local communities. The city's general fund budget in 2002-2003 was $112.8 million, leading some to argue the city spent around $1,900 per resident. But the authors noted that much of that spending was for other agencies and for the city's unique utilities department, such as fire service the city sells to Stanford University, which is reimbursed. By removing those services, the city reportedly spent $87.8 million in Palo Alto, or $1,452 per capita, last year, the report noted.

DANGEROUS SIDEWALKS? . . . The old saying goes: "Step on a crack, break your mother's back." But what if you trip and fall? It turns out you can get thousands of dollars from the City of Palo Alto. During the past eight months, the city settled three personal injury claims, from Philip Gibson, Diane Buzzell and Rita Kalmin . For tripping on sidewalks, Gibson got $65,000 (including $35,000 from other defendants), Buzzell received $32,500 and Kalmin obtained $10,000.

BAD GOLF GAME? . . . A recent financial audit of Palo Alto's municipal golf course found various business practices that go against the city's written procedures. For instance, auditors who rented a golf cart for a nine-hole round but then continued playing the back nine without paying for the extra use of the cart were not questioned. Auditors also noticed that other golfers paying the Palo Alto senior-residence rate were not questioned whether they were, in fact, Palo Alto residents. The manager of the golf shop, Brad Lozares, responded that 92 percent of golf cart rentals were for the full 18-holes and thus "the risk of abuse is minimal." As for the seniors, Lozares responded that golfers verify residency when purchasing monthly or yearly discount cards, and staff is familiar with those golfers. The audit was conducted by the city's financial auditor, Maze and Associates.

TIDBITS . . . Both sides of Palo Alto's recycling center debate have petitions that they are sending to the City Council. One side suggests the city should build a recycling center in the Baylands for when the current dump closes; the other insists the area should be turned into open space, as has been planned for decades. The debate will go to the City Council on Jan. 18. ... On Thursday, new Fire Chief Nick Marinaro will be officially sworn in. A childhood friend, California Superior Court Judge Dale Ikeda , will administer the oath of office. The public event begins at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave.

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