City to Consider Reducing Taxes and the 'Cessation of Hostilities'

Tonight’s Los Alamitos City Council meeting has a full agenda as city leaders tackle everything from emergency Civic Center roof repairs to reducing taxes and rebating permit fees for residents and declaring a tentative peace between the council’s warring political factions.

Three major issues the council is expected to vote upon include:

• A proposal by City Councilwoman Gerri Graham-Mejia to reduce the utility users tax as a means of cutting residents and businesses a break during challenging economic times. It’s a move that city staff is recommending against due to flat city revenue projections in 2012-13.

• A proposal to budget $165,000 to institute a business and residential improvement program by rebating city permit fees. Proposed by Mayor Troy Edgar, the program is designed to encourage residential and business improvements and to encourage contactors and property owners to shop locally for supplies.

• The Council will also consider withdrawing attempts to prosecute council members for Alleged Brown Act Violations.
  Aimed at the “Cessation of Hostilities”, the Council will discuss “setting aside disputes over the Brown Act and re-focusing on City business.” The move follows a series of city meetings mired in allegations of Brown Act Violations and accusations of political payback between two opposing political factions comprised of Edgar, Councilwoman Marilynn Poe and Councilman Kenneth Stephens versus Mejia and Councilman Warren Kusumoto.

The Council meeting is 7 p.m. tonight at , 3191 Katella Avenue.