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October 25, 2012

For Immediate Release From the Office of the MayorA hard copy of this release will be mailed to all Atherton residents

early next week

Dear Neighbor:

Recently, the Atherton Police Officers Association (APOA) distributed a mailer calling

attention to several issues related to the possibility of outsourcing public safety services

in Atherton. The mailer made several assertions that misrepresent the facts. The CityCouncil voted on October 17, 2012 to provide our residents with a response to the mailer

in an effort to correct any misinformation or misconceptions.

Your City Council, in serving the community has safety as the No. 1 priority. The City

Council recently hired a top safety professional as your new Police Chief and his solefocus is to provide superior quality and responsive support for all residents. The City

Council has and continues to provide our police department with all the requestedresources necessary to provide that service while remaining fiscally responsible. We are

dismayed that the information to the contrary has been communicated.

The information below is provided in an effort to correct any misrepresentations or

misconceptions:

The Atherton Police Department has and will continue to provide for the safety ofall residents without regard to political affiliations.

The City Council has not, held any discussions at any Council meeting regardingplans or potential plans to outsource our police department services.

Staffing levels for the Atherton Police Department are at the same levels asspecified in the 2009/2010 Town Budget and the approved budget levels for our

Police Department are at the exact levels requested by our Chief.

Police response rates are at better levels than those recorded in 2005/2006. Police officers have not been laid off from the Atherton Police Department. The

City does have a management and policy prerogative, based on operations and

financial considerations, to re-deploy or re-assign officers. The School Resource

Officer and Task Force Officer positions referred to in the mailer were positionsthat had to be re-deployed due to the School Districts withdrawal of funding

support. These resources were reassigned to patrol activities within the Town vs

serving in roles not focused solely on your safety.

The APOA is organized through the Teamsters Union. The current 5-year contractexpires on September 30, 2013. Formal negotiations on that contract have not yet

begun. These negotiations will occur in compliance with all applicable Meyers-

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Milias-Brown Act requirements ensuring both parties come to the table in good-

faith. While the negotiations themselves are not public, the final negotiated

contract must be approved by the City Council at a public meeting.

Over the years, the Town has incurred legal fees across a wide variety ofmunicipal functions, which include costs incurred defending or addressing issues

related to law enforcement.

Measures S & T, approved by the voters in 2009, did not specify a specificallocation formula for the revenues collected. The funds were, however specified

for police, emergency response services, street repair and maintenance, and

drainage facility repair and maintenance deemed necessary for the public good.

The 2011 City Council formally established a 60/40 allocation setting a priority

that 60% of the funds collected be directed toward public safety services.

As a Council we thank you for your attention to this issue and believe that facts need

to be communicated so that the community and Council can make informed decisions

with respect to policy and public safety services.

Should you have any questions on the Towns service levels, budget, or priorities

please feel free to attend one of the Town Council Meetings or contact me, our CityManager, or our Police Chief.

Thank you for your continued interest in YOUR Town.

Sincerely,

/s/William R. Widmer

William R. Widmer

Mayor

Town of Atherton

For further information please contact Mayor Bill Widmer at 650-387-9578 or City

Manager George Rodericks at 650-752-0504.