Colonna and Carroll's jointly agendized Aug. 21 item comes barely a week after the City Manager's budget message revealed City Hall has reaped a windfall from energy related revenues amounting to roughly $13 million. (The City Manager proposes returning part of this by lowering the utility tax on natural gas to 5% by April 2002; the Council will decide the issue next month.)

Last week, after members of the public (including Prop J leader and Mayoral candidate Norm Ryan) criticized City Hall's record on QW Bay, Councilman Carroll decried the potent political alliance of LB environmental and tax cut advocates, accusing them, in effect, of trying to have it "both ways" by demanding more park space while trying to reduce City Hall revenue to acquire and maintain parks.

In August, 2000, after Mr. Ryan's Prop J had qualified for the ballot, Councilmembers Colonna and Carroll (and Vice Mayor Baker) agendized a proposed competing 3.0% utility tax reduction measure, but under circumstances not publicly explained, Councilman Carroll opened the presentation by proposing only a 2.5% reduction, then proceeded to narrate graphic slides for a 2.5% (not 3.0%) cut apparently prepared by city staff.

After the Council put the 2.5% anti-Prop J alternative measure on the ballot as Prop I, Councilman Carroll mounted a cable television crusade for it, using his own money to buy ads featuring himself. Prop J beat Prop I in every Council district, including Mr. Carroll's 4th district.

During his campaign for Council office, Mr. Carroll used an endorsement letter from Mr. Ryan. (Despite invoking Mr. Ryan's name while seeking votes, Mr. Carroll never endorsed Mr. Ryan's ballot measure and the endorsement letter didn't say he did.)

Last month, during the City Council's Scherer Park hearing, Councilman Colonna raised the possibility of a smaller "footprint" for the police facility with underground parking (an idea panned by city staff, including the Chief of Police). Then Councilman Carroll proceeded to interrogate appellants Ann Cantrell, Gigi "Fast Elk" Porter and Don May, demanding "yes" or "no" answers on whether they'd forego suing City Hall on Scherer Park in exchange for plans (not yet developed) to reduce the size of the police station expansion in the park. The appellants stood their ground.