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1991/12/10 City Council Resolution (4)RESOLUTION NO. 91 -241 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK CALLING FOR RESTORATION OF ADEQUATE FUNDING IN FISCAL YEAR 1991 -92 AND THEREAFTER FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CONTROL AND URGING THE GOVERNOR AND STATE LEGISLATURE TO APPROVE FUNDING FOR THE ABC IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ABC ENFORCEMENT AT PRESENT LEVELS WHEREAS, the California State Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) has aggressively enforced the laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors and preventing illicit activities such as prostitution operations and the sale of narcotics at liquor outlets in our community; and WHEREAS, the City of Rohnert Park has an urgent need to be assured that the ABC has the resources to discharge its duty to enforce these laws for the protection of the health and safety of our community; and WHEREAS, the anonymity of ABC investigators and the specialized expertise of ABC enforcement officers greatly facilitates the successful investigation and prosecution of certain alcoholic beverage - related criminal offenses, including unlawful sales to minors, prostitution related alcohol sales violations, and illegal narcotic sales at business premises licensed by the ABC; and WHEREAS, it is well known that in the last several years the State has fully occupied the field of issuing licenses for the retail sales of alcohol under California State Constitution Article 20, Section 22 and the State has limited the ability of municipalities to collect certain alcohol - related business operational regulations and criminal law enforcement; and WHEREAS, in view of the preemption by the State of many aspects affecting the regulation and control of the retail sale of alcoholic beverages, the State has also accepted an obligation to local agencies and the people of this state to use the revenues generated by the ABC from the regulation of retail sales of alcoholic beverages and proceeds from criminal fines or forfeitures relating to violations of ABC regulations for the enforcement of State laws pertaining to alcohol sales; and WHEREAS, a reduction by the State of the funding level available to the ABC during State fiscal year 1991 -92 violates the covenant of the State to local agencies and the people to enforce the laws and regulations applicable to the retail sales of alcoholic beverages; and WHEREAS, a reduction by the State of the funding level to the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control could result in severe and adverse effects upon the public health, safety and welfare, resulting in costs far in excess of any alleged savings from the proposed ABC reduction. 1 Resolution No. 91- 241 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Rohnert Park that it does hereby call upon the Governor of the State of California and the Legislature of the State of California to take immediate steps to continue funding the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control at a level necessary so that no personnel positions are removed because of State budgetary compromises during the State's fiscal year 1991 -92 and thereafter. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Rohnert Park hereby urges all local agencies to take appropriate action to notify their State legislative representatives and the Governor that a reduction in the funding of the budget of the ABC will have severe and adverse impacts upon the public health, safety and welfare. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk is authorized and directed to transmit a copy of this resolution to local members of the California Legislature, the Governor of California, the President of the League of California Cities, the Mayor of each Sonoma County city, and to the Clerk of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED this 10th day of December, 1991. AYES: (5) Councilmembers Eck, NOES: (0) None ABSENT: (0) None ABSTAIN: (0) None 2 CITY OF ROHNERT PARK Mayor Hollingsworth, Hopkins, Reilly, Spiro