|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
March 6, 2003
Dear SMNA Members;
In only two weeks, we have collected a total of $12,050 in pledges and contributions to fund the Financial Feasibility Study of forming a Township in San Martin. This is a great start towards our goal of raising $23,500. Great Job Everyone!!! Keep Up the Good Work!!!
These contributions have come from 56 members of the San Martin Neighborhood Alliance. Contributions have ranged from $25 to $2000 and the average contribution to date has been $215. All contributions - big and small, are very greatly appreciated.
I never thought I would be soliciting donations from anyone, for any cause. It’s such a foreign undertaking for most of us. But I’ve come to realize that the only way San Martin residents will have a say in land use planning is if we step forward and become involved. If we don’t assert ourselves, developers and County will continue to have their way with our community.
If you believe that San Martin residents should decide how our town develops, then I urge you to send your check right away. If your budget allows a $5 contribution or a $100 contribution, or whatever – all contributions are needed and appreciated. It is important that we not only raise the necessary funds, but we also show there is broad support for this effort. It makes a more powerful statement raising $23,500 from 400 members than raising the same amount from a few members. I will provide you with an update later next week. Let me repeat the information on how to make a contribution:
Please address your contributions to the ‘SMNA Inc. Township Fund’ and mail them to the attention of Roy Froom, SMNA Treasurer, at P.O. Box 886, San Martin, Ca. 95046. The SMNA is a 501(C4) non-profit corporation. A CPA has advised us that these contributions are tax deductible. Accordingly we will provide receipts to all contributors for tax purposes.
Sincerely,
Barry Shiller
SMNA Vice-President
|
|
|
|
February 19, 2003
SMNA Members,
This is my first time to write to all of you directly and the first time the San Martin Neighborhood Alliance (SMNA) has approached the membership for funds. As you may know the SMNA has tried over the last few years to gain a stronger voice with County Planning and has tried to modify industrial-commercial land use requirements to be more rural or agricultural in nature. None of these efforts have been successful.
The SMNA Board of Directors would like to determine if it is financially feasible to form a Township to gain authority over land use planning in San Martin. The key question is: “Are the monies, currently being collected by the County from San Martin businesses and residents, sufficient to fund existing services (sheriff, fire, etc.) for a San Martin Township without increasing taxes or fees?” If a Township is not financially feasible, that is the end of this path. If a Township is feasible, we would follow through with block discussions and town hall meetings to discuss the merits of incorporating and to gather community input. If the community supports this endeavor, we would work with the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to fulfill State requirements to form a Township. Experts tell us it would take two to three years to do so and it would cost between $125,000 and $225,000. The total cost would be approximately $100 or less per family to form a Township, based on about 2,500 families in San Martin.
The Board of Directors of SMNA is in discussions with Economic and Planning Systems (EPS) based in Sacramento and Berkeley to prepare the financial feasibility study. They have the necessary experience to prepare a realistic and credible analysis for presentation to our community, LAFCO and Santa Clara County. It would take EPS about twelve weeks to complete the study and finalize the report. We have tried to prepare the analysis on our own and have been unable to do so. We need to pay EPS $12,000 up front and the total cost of the study is not to exceed $23,500.
We need the seed money to fund this study. Armed with a credible financial analysis we would then be able to extend the discussion of forming a Township and fund raising to the community at large. We need however to fund this study, at this time, from our membership. And in fairness to all of you, the Board of Directors wants you to know we may need to raise additional money over the coming year to fund legal activity relating to the expansion of South County Airport.
Although not everyone can afford to contribute to the financial feasibility study of forming a Township, I believe most of us must do so. The consequences of inaction are considerable - we will continue to lose our rural environment and land values will suffer. Three contributors have started the ball rolling with contributions of $1000 each. Still, in order to afford this feasibility study, we need contributions of $60 or more from most of you. We would like to raise the first $12,000 within two weeks and the balance by the end of April. If we lack sufficient funds we will not be able to proceed, so we need to hear from each of you by March 6th. We either need a check from you or a pledge to provide funds when called upon. I urge you to step forward to help fund this study.
We will provide the SMNA membership a full accounting of money raised and spent. If we are fortunate enough to raise more money than needed for this initial study, we will maintain those funds to be used later on as we form a Township, should we progress in that direction. Otherwise, any excess contributions will be channeled towards future legal activity. If we fail to bring in sufficient money to fund this study, we will return all contributions.
If you have any questions you may contact any member of the SMNA Executive Board or member of the subgroup working on gaining ‘Local Decision Making’. These contacts are provided at the end of this letter. You are also always invited to join the monthly SMNA meetings. Our meetings are on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Lions Club Hall on Murphy Avenue in San Martin.
Please address your contributions to the ‘SMNA Inc. Township Fund’ and mail them to the attention of Roy Froom, SMNA Treasurer, at P.O. Box 886, San Martin, Ca. 95046. Also, please advise us if you wish to instead pledge a donation to be collected in April. SMNA is a 501(C4) non-profit corporation. A CPA has advised us that your contributions are tax deductible. Accordingly we will provide receipts to all contributors for tax purposes.
Most sincerely,
Barry Shiller
SMNA Vice-President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© Copyright 2007, Emilio Littel (emilio at littel dot com) / San Martin Neighborhood Alliance, All Rights Reserved
|
|
