Pacifica city councilmembers will host a rare public study session on Sunday focusing on bringing some life to a static business environment, Mayor Pro Tem Len Stone told Patch.
The first such meeting in at least five years is being held at the urging of Stone, who wants the city to take a more aggressive stance in attracting businesses. Stone said economic development would generate revenues needed to maintain economic sustainability.
The meeting will be held at the Pacifica Police Department's EOC Room from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
One of Stone's priorities is hiring an economic development director that would spearhead such efforts.
Stone cited efforts in other Peninsula cities, such as San Mateo, San Carlos and Redwood City, where economic development has helped boost revenues.
"We've never as a city set aside money for proactive economic development," he said. "That's something that has to happen."
How the city would fund such efforts, however, isn't clear.
Pacifica erased a structural deficit that all but obliterated city's reserves through a combination of tax increases and job cuts, Stone said, noting the council recently approved an approximately $27 million budget with an estimated $200,000 surplus.
The city's reserves are down to $600,000 from well over $6 million as recently as five or six years ago. Stone said.
The city is exploring police outsourcing as a way to fund discretionary programs such as economic development, Stone said.
A consultant the city commissioned to crunch the numbers reported back to the council earlier this month, however councilmembers have been mum on what, if anything, they gleaned from the consultant's findings.
Patch cited a source with requesting anonymity in a report earlier this year estimating an annual savings to the city of $2 million.
"If we're going to make progress we're going to have to take capital and spend it on things that are going to increase our revenue in the long term, and that money's going to have to come from somewhere," Stone said. "Something's got to give."
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