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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/19/2009 B A K E R S F I E L D CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM June 19, 2009 TO: Honorable gor and City Council FROM: Alan Tand y Manager SUBJECT: General Information GOOD NEWSHH The annexation election for Kimberly Avenue was held this week. This election only required a simple majority vote. Out of eighty ballots mailed out, fifty-six were returned — of those there were forty-two votes, or 75%, for and fourteen votes, or 25%, against the annexation. A resolution confirming the election results are on the agenda for Wednesday's meeting. Rabobank Arena was voted the number four minor league sports venue in North America! A press release is attached. We are very pleased to inform you that the Allen Road bridge will open on Friday, June 26th. Mark your calendars to join Mayor Hall and Councilmember Couch at the official ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. just south of the intersection of Stockdale and Allen Road. Completion of the bridge opens up a new north-south route between northwest and southwest Bakersfield. A press release will follow early next week. Please see the attached marketing piece published in the July/August issue of Sports Destination Management Magazine highlighting Bakersfield sports facilities as potential event venues. The magazine is distributed nationally to over 16,000 sports events planners. Note the mention of the Bakersfield Sports Village in anticipation of Phase I completion. CVB staff proactively sought out this opportunity to gain positive exposure for Bakersfield. In addition, CVB staff has been notified Sports Travel Magazine, a nationally distributed events publication, plans to highlight Bakersfield in its August issue focusing on Pacific Region states. Bakersfield is one of two cities in California that will be featured. These editorial type pieces are a great marketing and sales tool for CVB staff to use in attracting new events to the city. MISCELLANEOUS CITY NEWS At the last Council meeting several residents that live along Stockdale Highway expressed concerns about the road widening project and the safety of their driveway access. I am pleased to report that staff met with them and designed changes to preserve the width of the bike lane the residents now use, as well as adding alert signs about the driveways. The residents' representative thanked us for our response at this week's Planning and Development Committee. We will be recognizing the top ranked high school graduates at Wednesday's meeting. As a reminder, there will be a reception for the students and parents in the Multi-Purpose/Caucus Room beginning at 4:30 p.m. prior to the meeting. Honorable Mayor and City Council June 19, 2009 Page 2 Save the date of Wednesday, June 24" at 10:30 a.m. for the Saunders Spray Park Grand Opening. A press release is attached. The Streets Division work schedule for the week of June 22nd is enclosed. MORE ON THE BUDGET AND THE ECONOMY The CalPERS board approved a proposal to spread an increase in contributions over three years that we as the employer will have to pay. Under the current smoothing method, we were expecting a $5 to 6 million rate increase in FY 2011-12. The impacts will clearly be significant and long term, although we won't have specific details about our rates until we receive our actuarial report toward the end of October. —> The League of California Cities has distributed a summary of major budget items affecting cities. We are most concerned with the following issues and are following all actions (in bold) taken by the Budget Conference Committee. We will not know what the specific impacts will be until the budget is signed by the Governor. • Borrowing Property Taxes under Prop 1A (2004): Rejected with a unanimous vote. We are concerned about the rumors circulating that this proposal may return. • Highway Users Taxes (a.k.a. Gas Tax): Adopted a proposal to take $986.3 million of city and county shares of Highway User's Tax Account (HUTA) revenues in FY 2009-10, and $750 million per year ongoing to pay for transportation debt services. The League believes this proposal is unconstitutional. Update: The Legislature issued a report which states this shift will be in place for two years instead of the Governor's permanent proposal. • Prop 42 — Sales Tax on Gas Revenues: Rejected borrowing of 80 percent of Prop 42 funds for FY 2009-10. The Department of Finance's proposal to defer payments to local governments for cash flow purposes during FY 2009-10 is still open. • Redevelopment: Adopted trailer bill language that attempts to work around the recent California Redevelopment Agency's lawsuit mentioned below. The language also includes a proposal to take an additional $350 million from redevelopment agencies for both FY 2009-10 and FY 2010- 11, for a three-year total of$1.05 billion. • Local Public Safety Funding — COPS/Booking Fees: COPS, Booking Fees and other local public safety programs are currently funded by the new 0.15 percent increase in the Vehicle License Fee (VLF). The Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) has proposed taking half of these revenues for the General Fund and cutting funding for local law enforcement grants. > As you may recall, the State was considering a proposal to take redevelopment funds in the amount of $350 million to close its budget gap. That was stopped when the California Redevelopment Agency (CRA) filed and won a lawsuit. The Legislature is once again considering a revamped proposal to take a similar amount from redevelopment agencies through an ERAF shift that Department of Finance and legislative staff claim gets around the Court's decision in that lawsuit. This proposal would distribute redevelopment funds to K-12 schools with attendance areas that are located partially or entirely within the project area boundaries of the redevelopment agency that remitted the funds. CRA's legal team believes this latest proposal also violates the State Constitution. For the last four months, this section of General Information has included a multitude of articles from around the state that highlight how other agencies are dealing with these unprecedented times and the impacts to their budgets. This week, I am including an interesting article that contains quotes taken from news articles that are alarmingly similar and could apply to us in these difficult times. Honorable Mayor and City Council June 19, 2009 Page 3 Enclosed are more articles from various newspapers that highlight the difficult times public agencies are facing and how they are adjusting their budgets. FRESNO, CA — The Fresno Police Officers Association's rank-and-file members voted overwhelmingly to give up a 2% salary increase scheduled for the next fiscal year. They also agreed to accrue more than twice as many holiday hours —from 96 to 230 — before they can cash them in for pay. The contract— due to expire June 30, 2010 —will be extended two additional years to 2012. This agreement saved the department from having to eliminate ten police manager positions and two sergeant positions — a move that would have resulted in twenty-five demotions as job holders bump other employees out of their jobs. GLENDALE, CA — Glendale has a $9.7 million budget deficit. In May, the City Council gave direction for cuts as high as 7.5 percent for the majority of the City's departments but held off on the Police Department hoping that pay concessions could avoid layoffs of sworn officers. The Glendale Police Officers Association has declined to reopen its contract for possible concessions on a planned 6 percent raise. The City Manager will likely be recommending 5 percent in cuts to the Police Department, an option that includes potential layoffs of six sworn officers and two civilian positions. KERN COUNTY, CA — On Thursday, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to draft a budget that will cost an estimated 203 workers their jobs, but close a $72 million gap in their spending plan. Earlier this week, the Board approved more than two dozen layoffs in the District Attorney's office and six layoffs in the Personnel Department. Department Heads were directed to try and save money in other areas of their budgets, and present the ideas by the end of June. MODESTO, CA — The City has reached tentative agreements to prevent layoffs with unions that represent firefighters, midlevel managers, blue-collar employees, and low-level administrative employees. The Modesto City Firefighters Association saved $745,000 by restructuring its contract to delay its raises. Other unions are being asked to take ninety-six hours of furlough time, reducing their wages by nearly 5 percent. The City is still deadlocked with the Modesto Police Officers Association (MPOA). The City wants the MPOA to defer raises of 3 percent this month and 2 percent in February, which would save the City $820,000. The MPOA has not agreed to open its contract unless it gets a no-layoff guarantee. The Council will not provide this guarantee due to concerns about efforts the state might take to borrow cash from the City. There may be as many as fourteen law enforcement layoffs if the MPOA does not agree to labor concessions. Update: As of Wednesday, layoff notices were sent to ten police officers after city and union officials did not reach a deal in a bargaining session held that day. SACRAMENTO, CA — The City has reached a tentative agreement on wage concessions with its firefighters union. The deal includes forgoing a 5 percent raise due next month, a salary freeze this year, and yearly raises through 2014. If the agreement is ratified, the City will rescind layoff notices sent earlier this month to fifty Fire Department employees. RESPONSES TO COUNCIL REQUESTS Councilmember Benham • Various Neighborhood Problems. Councilmember Sullivan • Pothole on Ming Avenue. cc: Department Heads AT:rs:rk Pamela McCarthy, City Clerk Roberta Gafford, Assistant City Clerk I] F11127=I q *16 Today's Date: June 18, 2009 ARENA Contact: Shawn Brandon sbrandon @ rabobankarena.com 661 .852.7307 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RABOBANK ARENA NAMED TOP 10 VENUE IN NORTH AMERICA Bakersfield, CA- Minor League Sports News announced today that Rabobank Arena was selected by fans as the fourth best minor league professional sports venue in North America in the MLN Vote4TheBest 2009 awards. Rabobank Arena, an SMG managed facility, is home to the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors and the Division I CSUB Men's Basketball team. "We are honored by this recognition..." says Steve Womack, SMG Bakersfield General Manager. "It means a lot to be recognized as a top venue in North America and speaks volumes about the City of Bakersfield and all the fans in Bakersfield who support not only us but our teams." Six of the top ten venues in North America are members of the ECHL, a Double-A minor hockey league. The large number of ECHL buildings is a testament to both an aggressive building campaign and the League's exceptional fan base. Most of these venues were out of season when the balloting began. For the complete story visit MLN Sports Zone (SZ) www.minsportszone.com, the oldest digital sports magazine on the Internet and the longest-publishing minor league and alternative pro sports publication in the world. About SMG Since 1977, SMG has provided management services to more than 220 public assembly facilities including arenas, stadiums, theatres and performing arts centers, equestrian facilities and convention, congress and exhibition centers. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 11 million square feet (1.1 million square meters) of exhibition space. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides construction and design consulting, pre-opening services, venue management, sales, marketing, event booking, and programming. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through an in house catering company, Savor, currently servicing more than 100 accounts worldwide. For more information visit www.smgworld.com. Worldwide EnterWMMEnt and Convention Venue Management [DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT > BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA The Sun ShinesAlten been home to numerous successful large By Jennifer tournaments such as the CalSouth State Cup Soccer tournaments,as well as local club league matches. The complex also features telephone,internet and overnight on Bakersfield parking services available onsite, along with conveniently located restroom and concession facilities placed throughout Sporting Community the facility. CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY BAKERSFIELD MAIN SOCCER FIELD For soccer events drawing larger Nestled in the southern central San Joaquin Valley of crowds,California State University Bak- California, Bakersfield boasts of being a sports-friendly city for good ersfield's main soccer field is the go-to choice. The field features seating for reason. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, more-than-ample 2,500 fans including a 1,500-seat grand- sporting facilities, affordability and welcoming attitude, it's no stand and lawn seating. The field is wonder athletes and event planners alike give Bakersfield a hearty lighted and is known for its pristine con- ditions.Because of the setting and the lo- 'thumbs p cal passion for soccer, the university's men's and women's soccer teams regu- Outdoor Sports Shine in lighted), four modified fields and park- larly lead the NCAA-D-II for attendance. this Sunny Climate ing for over 1,500 vehicles.This 78-acre In addition to the main soccer field,the facility also features separate tournament campus is home to 12 regulation tourna- With so many rain-free days a year, headquarters and referee buildings that ment fields and space for tournament Bakersfield is an outdoor sports enthusi- are located near the center of the com- headquarters; it is also close to many ast's dream.While the city hosts sporting plex. restaurants and hotels. events as varied as BMX racing, wake- "What's great about the Kern County boarding and paintball, soccer is espe- Soccer Park is that everything here is in BAKERSFIELD SPORTS VILLAGE cially big in Bakersfield. one location including all of the fields In the near future, the area will also and space for tournament headquarters," boast of a Sports Village,which is being KERN COUNTY SOCCER PARK said Dana Hamilton, director of Public- built by the City of Bakersfield. The One reason behind soccer's popularity ity for the Kern County Soccer Park. Sports Village will be home to 16 soccer in this area is the Kern County Soccer "Not only are we one of the largest soccer fields, 12 baseball fields, six football Park, one of the largest soccer facilities venues in California,but we designed our fields and a community center. Sur- in California.Set in the foothills of north- facility with event planners in mind— rounding areas will feature a park with east Bakersfield,the venue has 25 fields, everything is in one spot" lake for family outings and two restau- including 21 regulation-size fields (four The Kern County Soccer Park has rant-shopping plazas. The soccer fields, CalPal Youth Soccer Tournament at the Kern County Soccer Park in Bakersfield,California. 74 sports DESTINATION MANAGEMENT • my/August 2009 part of first phase of the project, are scheduled to open in the fall of 2010. Indoor Sports Also Flourish Here t`y e While outdoor sports are a given in - Bakersfield, indoor sports also thrive, thanks to the Rabobank Arena. From wrestling to hockey to basketball,the spa- cious,smartly configured venue is proof that there's more than outdoor sports in Bakersfield. This state-of-the-art facility gives the athletes the big-arena atmosphere feel, OF State High School Wrestling Tournament at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield,California. but is designed to let the crowds stay Rabobank Arena was designed with ath- find in a larger city." said Rabobank close to the action. The arena features letes, spectators and event planners in Arena's Womack. 10,000 permanent seats, a four-sided mind.Furthermore,concession and mer- Lower Prices Make video board, a 360-degree ribbon board chandise areas are strategically placed and 20,000 square feet of floor space. around the concourse area for conven- Bakersfield a Smart Choice Also attached are a convention center and ience and efficiency. Bakersfield is also known for being an theater. Location,Value and Local economical destination—an important con- The venue can be configured for most sideration for sports planners on a budget. indoor sports events.Plus,event directors Support Make Bakersfield The city's hotel room rates average 40 to can utilize the adjacent convention cen- a Great Package 50 percent less than the state average. ter exhibit hall space with 30,000 square A highly centralized location, fast ac- "The savings continue to add up feet as a warm-up area. Both venues are cess to all points within Bakersfield,and when you talk about venue rental costs," connected via an indoor walkway,which a supportive community are other reasons said Huot. "From the Rabobank Arena provides seamless access from the warm- numerous sporting events have held to one of our many sports venues,you'll up area to the competition floor without events here. be challenged to find more value for the need to enter or exit multiple build- Chris Huot,marketing and events spe- your attendees." ings.This reduces the number of security cialist at the Bakersfield Convention & With 5,400 rooms available, Bakers- staff normally needed to monitor creden- Visitors Bureau explains."We're the pop- field has the infrastructure to host events tialed participants and media and ulation center point of California.Ninety of all sizes.To make hotel planning and smoothes logistics, a feature frequently percent of the state's population is within room management even easier,the CVB cited by events planners as a huge draw. a four-hour drive of Bakersfield." now offers online housing services so at- "Rabobank Arena really does have Easy accessibility by air,train,car and tendees can easily compare hotels,rates unique configuration—and is the only bus lure teams and events from the region and amenities. one like it in the state,"said Steve Wom- and across the country. Bakersfield is To further increase the location's value, ack, general manager of Rabobank only 15 miles east of Interstate 5, Cali- attendees of local sporting events receive Arena. "For example, you can have a fomia's major north-south interstate and a wristband that provides discounted ad- practice facility,have weigh-ins going on sits on State Highway 99, a major Cen- mission at any of the four local museums, and have 10,000 people watching simul- tral Valley thoroughfare. The local air- including the zoo located next to the Kern taneously.This is the reason event plan- port, Meadows Field, also recently County Soccer Park. ners have fallen in love with the expanded, offering direct and non-stop "We really cater to groups, especially building" flights to Bakersfield from destinations for youth sports," said Huot. "We're al- The arena recently hosted to Califor- across the globe. ways looking for ways to make our guests nia Interscholastic Federation(CIF)State And with Bakersfield's smaller size, feel welcome." High School Wrestling Tournament, visitors can drive from one side of the In their downtime,many visitors also which is slated to return to Bakersfield city to the other in 15 minutes,a fact that hit the links at the area's highly regarded through 2012. Plus,it will host the 2010 guests from larger,more congested cities golf courses with some of the lowest CIF State Basketball Tournament and is appreciate. green fees around. home of the Bakersfield Condors, a Plus, the local community rallies be- Don Cohen, executive director of the ECHL AA hockey team, as well as the hind the sporting events held there. Bakersfield Convention & Visitors California State University Bakersfield "The community's support is invalu- Bureau sums it up best by stating,"When men's basketball team able. For example, the local paper cov- someone asks `Why Bakersfield?'I ask, With eight locker rooms,a club suite, ers our sporting events extensively. If `Why not Bakersfield?'We're not only 26 luxury suites, media area and hospi- you hold a tournament or game here, the population center point of one of tality areas, along with great sightlines you'll likely see it on the front page of the largest states, we're a sports center from every seat in the venue, the our sports section, unlike what you'd point too." Sono sportsdestinations.com x 75. B A K E R S F I E L D DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION & PARKS DIANNE HOOVER, DIRECTOR PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Terry McCormick Friday, June 19, 2009 (661) 326-3866 Grand Opening - Saunders Spray Park Please join Mayor Hall and Councilmember Carson for the grand opening of the City's latest and seventh spray park! In celebration of its opening, there will be a brief presentation and a ribbon cutting ceremony. This facility is located in Saunders Park on a 2,160 square feet splash pad. The Saunders Spray Park was installed by city forces from the Departments of Public Works, and Recreation and Parks, along with City annual contractors. All seven of the spray parks are free to the public from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week until October. Just walk up, push the button and the water will flow. Water shoes are recommended. New features: Spray Park Features: 10 Above Ground, 7 Ground Maximum Occupancy: 144 Children & Adults Special Toddler Area Shade Structure Adjacent to Toddler Area: 648 square feet Enlarged and Refurbished ADA Restrooms Expanded and Refurbished Parking Lot New Lighting for Security and Evening Use When: Wednesday, June 24 at 10:30 a.m. Location: Saunders Park 3300 Palm Street The park is located just east of Highway 99, between Oak Street and Real Road - north of Stockdale Highway and south of California Avenue. City of Bakersfield- Department of Recreation&Parks• 1600 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield•California•93301 (661)326-3866•Fax(661)852-2140 Page 1 of 2 STREETS DIVISION —WORK SCHEDULE WEEK OF JUNE 22, 2009 — JUNE 26, 2009 Resurfacing/Reconstructing streets in the following areas: Continue sealing streets in the area between Allen Road & Calloway Drive, south of Snow Road. Preparing streets for reconstruction in the area between Valley View Drive & Highland Knolls Drive, west of Fairfax Road. Miscellaneous Streets Division protects: Installing sidewalk on Kingsley Lane from Castro Lane to the west end. THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Week of June 222009 Work Schedule Page 2 of 2 STREETS SWEEPING SCHEDULE Monday, June 22, 2009 Between Coffee Rd. & Verdugo Ln. — Brimhall Rd., south to the Kern River boundary. Cul-de-sacs, west of Windsong St., between Brimhall Rd. & Thistlewood Ct. City areas between Rosedale Hwy. & Stockdale Hwy. — Verdugo Ln. to the west City Limit. Between Jenkins Rd. & Allen Rd. — Stockdale Hwy. & Birkenfeld Ave. Between Hosking Rd. & Astro Ave. — So. "H" St. & Union Ave. Tuesday, June 23, 2009 City areas between Olive Dr. & Downing Ave. — Coffee Rd. & Knudsen Dr./Mohawk St., including Patton Way from Weldon Ave. to Meany Ave. Between W. Columbus St. & 34th St. — Chester Ave. & San Dimas St. Beween Union Ave. & Madison St. — Casa Loma Dr. & White Ln. Between Westwold Dr. & So. Laurelglen Blvd. — Gosford Rd. & Woodglen Dr. Wednesday, June 24, 2009 City areas between Snow Rd. & Rosedale Hwy. — Jewetta Ave., west to the City limit. Between Ming Ave. & So. Laurelglen Blvd. — Coffee Rd. & El Portal / Laurelglen Blvd. Thursday, June 25, 2009 Between Snow Rd. & Olive Dr. — Jewetta Ave., east to the canal boundary. Between Olive Dr. & Hageman Rd. — Jewetta Ave. & Calloway Dr. Between Niles St. & Sumner St. — Union Avenue & Beale Ave. Between Sumner St. & E. Truxtun Ave. — Beale Ave. & Brown St. Between Brundage Ln. & E. Belle Terrace St. — Union Ave. & Kincaid St. Between Camino Media & Kroll Way— Coffee Rd., west to the PG&E easement. Friday, June 26, 2009 Between Etchart Rd. & Pavilion Dr. - Calloway Dr., west to the canal boundary. Between Norris Rd. & Olive Dr. — Calloway Dr. & Coffee Rd. Between Olive Dr. & Noriega Rd. — Calloway Dr. & Verdugo Ln. City areas between Coffee Rd./Riverlakes ext. & Allen Rd. — Hageman Rd. & Rosedale Hwy. City areas between Pacheco Rd. & Harris Rd. — Stine Rd. & Wible Rd. Week of June 22_2009_Work Schedule CaIPERS to spread out contribution hikes - Print Format- Pensions & Investments Page 1 of 1 Pensions P&I REPRINTS CaIPERS to spread out contribution This copy is for your hikespersonal,non-commercial L� use only.To order presentation-ready copies for By Pia Sarkar distribution to your colleagues, Source: Pensions&Investments clients or customers,use the Date:June 17,2009 Reprints tool or the Reprints& Permissions link at the top or The CalPERS board today approved a proposal to spread out over three years an bottom of any article,respectively. increase in contributions from schools and local agencies, according to spokesman Edward Fong. ■ View reprint options ■ Order a reprint article now The board deferred a vote on applying the proposal to state agencies pending further discussion. Despite objections by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger,the board will limit contribution increases for the next three years that public schools and local public agencies—which include cities, counties and special districts—must pay as a percentage of their payrolls as part of their CalPERS contributions. The rates are set each year based on CaIPERS' investment gains and losses. Because the$184.6 billion California Public Employees' Retirement System, Sacramento, expects to post a significant loss for the fiscal year ended June 30, Mr. Fong said rates will rise accordingly. Under a worst-case scenario of a 30% loss, schools would have seen their rates increase to 14.2% of payroll next year from 9.7%, according to Mr. Fong. Under the proposal, schools would instead see an 11.3% increase. Rates for local public agencies vary but they too would see a smaller increase. Mr. Schwarzenegger voiced his opposition to the proposal. "By deferring pension contributions, CaIPERS would not only be gambling that its investment earnings in this economy would grow faster than its pension obligations, but it would also be using our kids' money to do so because they will be the ones stuck footing the bill," he said in a statement. Mr. Fong said the board will discuss the state agency increases with fund administrators in the next few months and expects to make a decision at its September meeting. Reproductions and distribution of the above news story are strictly prohibited.To order reprints and/or request permission to use the article in full or partial format please contact our Reprint sales Manager at(732)723-0569. ADVERTISEMENT Copyright,:'20;09 Crain Communications Inc.All rights reserved.Privacy policy (Terms&Conditions http://www.pionline.corn/apps/pbes.diUarticle?AID=/20090617/REG/906179973&NoCache=l&templat... 6/18/2009 SUMMARY OF MAJOR BUDGET ITEMS AFFECTING CITIES (Updated, June 16, 2009) Borrowing Property Taxes under Prop 1A: The Department of Finance (DOF) has proposed to borrow local property taxes under Proposition 1A through an 8 percent across-the-board approach. The Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) and others are suggesting alternate formulas that in which enterprise special districts would lose their remaining property tax shares and the exemptions would be made for hardship situations. The Legislature is free to come up with other means of distributing the impacts among cities, counties and special districts. The plan to borrow $1.9 billion in local property taxes remains in play, but DOF seems to be running into legal problems imposed by maintenance of effort requirements associated with the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009. On Monday, June 15, the Conference Committee Rejected this proposal with a unanimous vote. (Rumors, however, continue to circulate that this proposal may return.) Highway Users Taxes: On Thursday, June 11, the Conference Committee Adopted a DOF proposed to take $986.3 million of city and county shares of Highway User's Tax Account (HUTA) revenues in FY 2009-10, and $750 million per year ongoing to pay for transportation debt services. City attorneys believe this is unconstitutional. (See attached link to League requested legal opinion that has been distributed to legislators and the Governor: http://www.cacities.org/HUTAopinion. See city-by-city estimated impacts here: http://www.californiacitVfinance.com/HUTApro'FY10.pdf LAO had a counter-proposal to "borrow" 100 percent of these funds ($1.03 billion)from cities and counties, and repay them with interest within three years. Borrowing is permitted under Section 6, Article XIX of the California Constitution and League attorneys are reviewing potential legalities. Given the Conference Committee's decision to take these funds (above), this "borrowing" option is not currently on the table, but could re-emerge if the legal questions involving the HUTA-take gain traction. Prop. 1 B Transportation Funds: The Conference Committee Adopted LAO's proposal to offset local impacts via the release of the remaining $700 million in Prop. 1 B local street and road funds (about$258 million of this amount is available for cities). Only cities that have not yet received their full Prop 1 B local streets and roads allocation are eligible for these funds. Prop. 42—Sales Tax on Gas Revenues: The Conference Committee Rejected LAO's proposal to borrow 80 percent of Prop. 42 (sales tax on gas)funds for FY 2009-10. The state would repay these funds with interest within three years. Prop. 1A of 2006 added identical borrowing language for these funds as applies to local property taxes under Prop. 1A of 2004. DOF has not proposed to borrow these funds. DOF proposes to defer payments to local governments for cash flow purposes during FY 2009-10. (Open). Redevelopment: The Conference Committee Adopted trailer bill language from DOF that attempts to work around the recent successful lawsuit filed by the California Redevelopment Association against the state over the September 2008 budget proposal to take $350 million from redevelopment agencies. In addition to the language, the committee also approved a proposal to take an additional $350 million from redevelopment agencies for both FY 09-10 and FY 10-11, for a three-year total of $1.050 billion. This proposal will likely trigger additional litigation. Local Public Safety Funding —COPS/Booking Fees: COPS, Booking Fees and other local public safety programs are currently being funded by the new 0.15 percent increase in the Vehicle License Fee (VLF), producing approximately$500 million per year. This additional rate was adopted as part of the budget signed in February and is scheduled to end after FY 2010-11. LAO has proposed taking half of these revenues for the General Fund and cutting funding for local law enforcement grants. (Open) Transit: DOF proposes the transfer of$336 million in transit spillover revenue to General Fund relief. Another proposal redirects $315 million in Public Transportation Account funds to pay for debt service on transit bonds. The Conference Committee Adopted this item. State Funding Shifts through Fees: • DOF proposes requiring the Department of Industrial Relations Division of Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement to charge fees on employers. Adopted. • DOF also proposes requiring the Bureau of Forensic Services to charge fees to state and local agencies for services. This would have a statewide impact of$20 million and could mean significant costs for smaller communities that rely on these services. (Item 0820-001-0001) Adopted. Fee schedule to be deve loped. Report back in January. Other Public Safety DOF Proposals: (Still Open) • Corrections Policy Changes: 1) Change sentencing options to require various crimes that can currently be prosecuted as felonies to only be punished as misdemeanors; 2) Seek additional savings through various changes to corrections policies; 3)Allow for early release and house arrest; 4) Eliminate most inmate and parolee rehabilitation programs. (Open) • Narcotics Enforcement: Reducing funding for the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement by$20 million. Adopted. • Justice Action Grants:Authority for CalEMA to distribute an additional $66 million in federal stimulus (JAG) grants. (Open) • Emergency Response Funding: Discussions continue over the details of DOF's proposal to allocate $76 million from a new 4.8 percent surcharge on insurance policies to partially fund CAL Fire and local response agencies. Local agencies can receive reimbursement for costs incurred for responding to emergencies as part of the state's mutual aid system. Adopted in modified form, additional action regarding expenditure/allocation expected. State Mandates: DOF proposes an additional $15 million (above the $142 million that was included in the FY 2009-10 budget adopted in February) to pay mandate claims. The scheduled $91 million payment, on the $900 million in pre-2004 mandate claims, will again be deferred. DOF also proposes to suspend 32 local government mandates. The Conference Committee Adopted the suspension of numerous mandates listed in the attached document h_ttp://www.lao.ca.gov/handouts/state admin/2009/Non Education Mandates 06 11 09 Several mandates, however, were either not suspended, or modified: • Open Meeting Act, not suspended. • Elections mandates, not suspended. • Animal adoption, reduced to three days. • Redrafted sexually violent predator mandate to align with Jessica's Law. • Repealed crime victims mandate to conform to Marcy's Law. Small Airport Grants: LAO proposes suspending $4 million in grants to small airports. Adopted Williamson Act: DOF proposes deleting $34.7 million in reimbursements for Williamson Act. The Conference Committee Adopted this item. Housing: DOF proposes to provide authority to spend $129 million in federal ARRA funds for state CDBG, homeless prevention, and neighborhood stabilization programs. (Still Open) State Parks: To avoid the need to close state parks, the Conference Committee Adopted a proposal to charge a $15 fee for a state parks pass on all motor vehicle registrations. This is to fund state parks and will permit every motor vehicle registered in California to have free entry into state parks. Bottle Bill Program Deficit: The Department of Conservation, on Monday, June 1, 2009, announced that the state's beverage container program has a negative balance of $157 million. This bottle bill program funds city and county grant payments for recycling (at$10 million annually) as well as the state's bottle and can CRV recycling program. The administration's plan to address this massive deficit, submitted to the legislative budget committees this week, makes proportional cuts to the program. It also included a policy that states grants could only be given if the program had a surplus. More Information: See attached link to all budget committee documents http://sinet2.sen.ca..qov/budget/conf2OO9.html (6/15/2009) Rick Kirkwood - Fwd: Executive Director's Legislative Update -June 12, 2009 Page 1 From: Rick Kirkwood To: DEPARTMENT HEADS Date: 6/15/2009 8:28 AM Subject: Fwd: Executive Director's Legislative Update - June 12, 2009 Good morning, As you may recall,the State was considering a proposal to take redevelopment funds to close its budget gap. That was stopped when the California Redevelopment Agency(CPA)filed and won a lawsuit. When I was up in Sacramento two weeks ago, I heard a proposal about shifting redevelopment funds in an effort to get around the lawsuit. More detail follows below. >>> California Redevelopment Association <Ihenegar coca I redevelop.oro> 6/12/2009 2:41 PM >>> California Redevelopment Associatioll Executive Director's Legislative Update June 12, 2009 Redevelopment Funding Is Back On the Table for a Take It's back! The Legislature is once again considering a revamped proposal to take$350 million from redevelopment agencies through an ERAF shift that Department of Finance and legislative staff claim gets around the Court's decision in CPA v. Genest. A proposal to"fix"the 2008-09 ERAF shift from redevelopment agencies was added to the Legislature's joint Budget Conference Committee local government agenda two days ago. No vote was taken on the proposal, but we expect the Committee to vote on it next week as early as Monday. The Committee is also expected to vote on a nearly$2.0 billion borrowing from local government under Prop 1A. The proposed ERAF shift would work the same way as current law that was enacted through AB 1389 last year. The takes from each redevelopment agency would be nearly the same amounts as the payments that would have been due on May 10. The difference in this proposal and the law that was overturned in CRA's successful lawsuit against the State is that funds deposited in ERAF by a redevelopment agency would have to be distributed by a county auditor-controller"only to a K-12 school district that is located partially or entirely within the project area of that redevelopment agency." Further,a K-12 school district that receives funds from ERAF must distribute those funds "only to those schools with attendance areas that are located partially or entirely within the project area boundaries of the redevelopment agency that remits the funds." The proposal has not been introduced in bill form and therefore has no bill number. No member of the Legislature claims to be its author,either. If the proposal is approved by the Budget Conference Committee, it would most likely be included in a budget trailer bill as part of the budget package expected to be considered by July 1. Tell Conference Committee-Just Say No to Local Government Takes or Borrowing Local government officials need to immediately contact Budget Conference Committee members and their own representatives to ask that they just say"no"to taking redevelopment funds and taking/borrowing other local government resources.The Conference Committee leadership is Assembly Member Noreen Evans(D-Santa Rosa),Chair,and Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny(D-San Diego),Vice Chair. The other Members are Senator Robert Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga),Senator Mark Leno(D-San Francisco), Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach),Senator Mimi Walters(R-Laguna Niguel),Assembly Member Bob Blumenfield(D-Van Nuys),Assembly (6/15/2009) Rick Kirkwood - Fwd: Executive Director's Le Islative U date-June 12, 2009 $ P Page 2 Member Kevin De Le6n (D-Los Angeles),Assembly Member Jim Nielsen(R-Biggs),and Assembly Member Roger Niello(R- Sacramento). Despite staff assertions to the contrary,the CRA legal team believes this latest proposal also violates the State Constitution. As you know,on April 30,2009,the Sacramento Superior Court found the State to be in violation of the State Constitution for attempting to take redevelopment funds for ERAF in the case of CRA v.Genest.Article XVI,Section 16 of the Constitution is clear; tax increment is for the exclusive use of financing of redevelopment projects. That section,added to the Constitution by the voters in 1952, requires that tax increment"...be paid into a special fund of the redevelopment agency to pay the principal of and interest on...indebtedness...incurred by the redevelopment agency to finance...the redevelopment project." This new proposal does not meet that test. As you also know,the State has filed a notice of its intention to appeal Judge Lloyd Connelly's decision,but the Governor's staff has apparently decided not to await the outcome of their appeal before once again attempting to take redevelopment funds. CRA has informed the members of the joint Budget Conference Committee that if the State enacts this latest proposal,we are prepared to ask the court to enforce its order in CRA v. Genest,or if necessary,file a new lawsuit against the State for any other statutory measures that violate Article XVI, Section 16 of the Constitution. Immediate Contacts Needed Again, it is important to contact conference committee members and your own representatives immediately. We also urge our members to keep your legislators informed on what taking local government funds would mean to their districts and their constituents in reduced services. With respect to redevelopment funding, it should be pointed out that in a recession, it makes no sense to cut a proven program that supports jobs,generates tax revenue,and helps keep the economy afloat. For more help,go to www.saveyourcity.net contact your regional League public affairs manager,and/or contact CRA's outreach director, Lillian Henegar at IhenegarCa calredeveloo ora or 916-448-8760. Upcoming Events (Click here for more info) htt ://rs6.net/tn.is ?et=1102609224105Etam •s=1339Etam •e=001 OalGs W6oHMVTHEeu[rOv3(F8 rno8t0Y gKQX43glKtcetoAsQ UQhODi53vtOfFb949FV7Q w-12BZbn9HmW84wstrgsWKKBunVUJi3 UX4n4c6QJhAv MdAoFZlo YBJJcuAMN E 6JvATFKHhv RA92EcPF 5RlrAShF Lim 1UMcTAG 482dDJznobSz7Rn If3EAvK PFPah HP5 =_) Redevelopment Institute Forward email ( htt ://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.is ?m=1102204935464Etag •ea=dkunz%40bakersfieldcit .usEtam •a=1102609224105 ) (http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.isP?v=001tAx93SxsVPfV9Khfc W 10 Y67OVxn- YDaBFf4COaeX8mg3pFs8KQ%3D%3DEtamp p un ) This email was sent to dkunz@bakersfietdcity.us by thenegar@calredevelop.org. Update Profile/Email Address ( htt visitor.constantcontact.com d.is ?v=001tAX93SxsVPfV9Khfc W 10 Y670Vxn- YLaBFf4C0aeX8ma3nFs8K0%3D%3D&amp-p oo ) Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe ( http://visitor constantcontact Com/d isn?v-00'tAX93SxsVPfV9KhfcQWn10 YpaBFf4C0aeX8mg3pFs8K0%3D%3D&amn un TM Y9Y670Vxn n htt ul.constantcontaCt Com/roving/CCPriv,-QT l Q ,Sp�. Policy (6/15/2009) Rick Kirkwood - Fwd: Executive Director's Legislative Update - June 12, 2009 Page 3 Email Marketing ( http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=news04 ) by ( http://www.constantcontact.com/index.isp?cc=news04 ) California Redevelopment Association 1 1400 K Street, Suite 204 1 Sacramento I CA 95814 Fiscal misery has company -- more than you might think I Recordnet.com Pagel of 2 Donald W. Blount FISCAL MISERY HAS COMPANY-- MORE THAN YOU MIGHT THINK By Donald W.Blount June 15,2009 Record Managing Editor The city of Stockton faces huge funding challenges. So does San Joaquin County. So does the state. And of course the nation -think General Motors, banking and unemployment. Even your own wallet. It seems that no matter where you turn, there is a faction facing the glum reality of the recession. The rejection last week of Stockton's city budget proposal should've gotten the attention of any taxpaying resident of the city. Board members who voted against the proposal- Dale Fritchen, Kathy Miller, Elbert Holman Jr. and Diana Lowery want the proposal reworked so it does not include$13.7 million in federal aid requested for police.A decision on that aid request is expected by Sept. 30. San Joaquin County Supervisors last week approved a budget. The$1.27 billion budget uses$67.5 million in one- time funds and $32.7 million in federal stimulus money to delay painful cuts. Overall, it's still scary out there in the fiscal budget world. And we are far from the only community that has these problems. Here are a few quotes taken from the news with a few names removed to protect their identities. (They'll be fully revealed later.) Notice how alarmingly similar they all are, and they all could apply to Stockton, San Joaquin County or any other place with budget problems. 1)"We met for almost two days straight, and they just refused to move." 2)"I'm not laying off cops. The (police association)is laying off cops." 3)"With our citizens struggling and suffering in these dire economic times, it is unthinkable that the XXXX would not only refuse to postpone their salary increases, they would request increases to their compensation packages." 4)"Using one-time money to shore up operations shortfalls is a Band-Aid." 5) "There is no facet of our county budget that is not being impacted"by the proposed budget cuts. 6)"Even under the best scenario, the next couple of years will be the worst we've ever faced." 7) "We know we have to restructure and reduce service levels because we know 2010-11 is going to be worse." http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200906115/A NTPWQnQneionA11Z1)'2nK 1 /A NT, r „� Fiscal misery has company -- more than you might think I Recordnet.com Page 2 of 2 8)"We're sorry. This is not an easy thing to do. But we have to live within our budget. We apologize. We know how this is going to impact your lives." 9) "We're not trimming dead wood anymore. We're lopping off big branches." 10) "We hope that the city accepts this deal to freeze our pay for two years and ensure that firefighters remain in firehouses and on the job, so that we can all move forward." Who said it, when and where their comment appeared: 1) Stockton City Councilwoman Susan Eggman, April 29, The Record. 2) Modesto Mayor Jim Ridenour, June 9, The Modesto Bee. 3) Ridenour in a statement regarding the Modesto Police Officers Association, June 9, Modesto Bee. 4) San Joaquin County Supervisor Steve Bestolarides, June 10, The Record. 5)Sacramento County Chief Operations Officer Nav Gill, June 10, Sacramento Bee. 6) San Joaquin County Administrator Manuel Lopez, June 10, The Record. 7)Stanislaus County Assistant Executive Officer Monica Nino, June 9, Modesto Bee. 8) Stanislaus County Supervisor Bill O'Brien said to pink-slipped employees and their families, June 10, Modesto Bee. 9) Stockton Vice Mayor Kathy Miller, May 1, The Record. 10) Sacramento fire union spokesman Chris Harvey said in a statement, June 9, Sacramento Bee. One way to look at this is to see that our problems are no different than those of others. Perhaps there is small solace in knowing that we're not the only ones affected by the economy. Contact Blount at(209)546-8251 or dblount @recordnet.com. VMIT 1418 BLt1t# http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090615/A NFW4nR04/Q0AI S0goA/_1 ie NIPAXI A 1 1Z/,)()[In - Local Page 1 of 1 Fresno police make concessions to city Officers vote to give up 2% pay increase to avoid further cuts. Published online on Wednesday,Jun.17,2009 By Denny Boyles/The Fresno Bee The Fresno Police Officers Association's rank-and-file members voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to make economic concessions to the city in the hopes that more severe cuts can be avoided. Union members approved by a 78%majority an agreement that calls for them to give up a 2%salary increase scheduled for the fiscal year that begins July 1. They also agreed to accrue more than twice as many holiday hours--from 96 hours to 230--before they can cash them in for pay. Jacky Parks,president of the FPOA,said the union vote came after he presented both sides of the issue. "My members don't want me to come in and sell a proposal to them.They want to make up their own minds. In this case, I just explained the economic realities the city faces,and they voted to make concessions,"Parks said. Fresno's assistant city manager,Bruce Rudd,credited the union with making"a hard decision." "They had a closed contract and no legal obligation to reopen it,but they worked with us and came up with solutions that work for their membership and for the city,"Rudd said. Wednesday's vote will be followed today by a vote by a separate bargaining unit representing managers such as deputy chiefs,captains and lieutenants. Parks said he expected similar results. Under the agreement,the contract between the city and the FPOA--due to expire June 30,2010--will be extended by two additional years,to 2012. Police Chief Jerry Dyer said earlier that the agreement would save the department from having to eliminate 10 police manager positions and two sergeant positions--a move that would have resulted in 25 demotions as job holders bump other employees out of their jobs.The department has 849 sworn officers. http://www.fresnobee.corn/local/v-print/story/1480200.html 6/19/2009 Print Version>Police union won't budge Page 1 of 2 Politics Police union won't budge E-mail says officers will not forgo a 6% raise despite pleas from council about budget shortfall. By Melanie Hicken Published:Last Updated Friday, June 12,2009 11:41 PM PDT GLENDALE — The Glendale Police Officers Assn. has declined to reopen its contract for possible concessions on a planned 6% raise despite repeated pleas from the City Council as it works to close a projected $9.7-million budget deficit before July 1, according to an e-mail obtained by the Glendale News-Press. The City Council last week agreed to postpone a planned budget study session as city executives continued to hold out for possible concessions, and police union President Larry Ballesteros has repeatedly described talks with the city as ongoing. But in an e-mail sent Monday from the leadership of the Glendale Police Officers Assn. to City Hall, the union notified council members that it"declines your request to modify the contract for the upcoming fiscal year, July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010." Ballesteros could not be reached for comment Friday. City Manager Jim Starbird on Friday described the association's decision as"tremendously disappointing"and said that, in the absence of any union concessions, executives would likely recommend 5% in cuts to the Police Department, an option that includes potential lay offs of sworn officers. The police union has been under increased pressure to make concessions after the other three city employee associations agreed earlier this year to either forgo planned cost-of-living pay increases or cede other planned pay bumps. In May, the council gave direction for cuts as high as 7.5% for the majority of the city's departments, but the council, hoping to avoid laying off sworn officers, held off on the Police Department, noting that pay concessions could help alleviate budget issues. The lack of concessions makes it more likely that deeper cuts will have to be elsewhere, officials said. As part of the police union's four-year contract negotiated in 2007, all officers are due a 6% increase on July 1. Each 1% concession would have saved about $347,000, with a full concession penciling out to nearly $2 million, Human Resources Director Matt Doyle said in an e-mail. A full 5% cut to the department's budget outside of salaries would bring additional layoffs of six sworn officers and two non-sworn positions to a department already lean after last year's unpopular cuts of sworn officer positions, according to the proposal Interim Chief Ron De Pompa presented in May. Still, Councilman Ara Najarian — who as a reelection candidate was a staunch advocate against any significant cuts to public safety — said that without concessions, the council would have no choice but to explore rollbacks. "What we will be doing officially is asking the acting Chief Ron De Pompa to go back through his budget and to come back to us with his proposals for cuts, which would achieve that 5%," he said. "I think the idea is that we would leave it to the chief to go through and eliminate those items that are least essential." Still, while De Pompa is searching for alternatives to potential cuts to the Vice Unit and Community Police Partnerships programs, he said there aren't many other options because the department must preserve its core service of emergency response. "It becomes very difficult for us to just look at our agency, scratch our head and say, 'Where can we find $1 million to cut out of our operation without cutting services,'" De Pompa said. "It's near impossible." Starbird echoed De Pompa, calling the initially proposed cuts "the most appropriate." The council will likely have to look at further reductions to other departments, many of which have already been hit by 7.5% in spending cuts, said Councilman John Drayman. "I would say it is likely that, given the public's desire that we not eliminate COPPS, that we not eliminate the Vice Unit, it Print Version> Police union won't budge Page 2 of 2 becomes pretty clear that if there is nothing else to choose from, we begin looking at services provided by other departments," he said. Council members have repeatedly said they hope to avoid mandatory furloughs of city employees, which were discussed at a May study session, but at this point, nothing is off the table, Najarian said. Each day of a mandatory furlough would save about $168,000, according to city officials. "The only thing that I think the employees association can support as far as furloughs go would be a voluntary one," said Craig Hinckley, president of the Glendale City Employees Assn. Hinckley has publicly spoken out against mandatory unpaid work furloughs as essentially indirect pay cuts to employees. De Pompa said the association, now midway through its contract, may be willing to look at concessions next year. "It's not as simple as it may seem. There's a lot of nuances related to their decision," he said. "I believe that the association is in the middle of their contract. They have time to come back for their final year and work in a good-faith manner with the city." Drayman said that while he was confident future concessions would be reached, they likely wouldn't come in time to contribute to the budget-balancing act in the next couple of weeks. "I don't think the intention here is to create havoc in our budget, or to hamstring other departments, or to cause a loss of necessary quality of life to our citizens," he said. "I am convinced the board and the membership will work together to help out the city as we go along." Councilman Dave Weaver, who has been especially strong in his calls for police wage concessions, said he was very disappointed by the lack of concessions. "If it holds true Tuesday, it's very sad," he said. "It really boxes us into a corner." Copyright©2009-Glendale News Press [y,]Close Window Latest county budget plan includes about 200 layoffs - Bakersfield.com Page 1 of 2 Bakersfield.com: Kern County news, events, classifieds, shoppinLy, & search Local News Latest county budget plan includes about 200 layoffs BY JAMES BURGER,Californian staff writer jburger@b�ake;�sfield.com I Thursday,Jun 18 2009 06:58 PM Last Updated Thursday,Jun 18 2009 07:15 PM Kern County supervisors made their budget plans brutally clear Thursday during a marathon board session that rolled into the evening. They directed county administrators to draft a budget that will cost an estimated 203 Kern County workers their jobs but close a $72 million gap in their spending plan. Supervisors started the day with a list of recommended budget cuts crafted by interim County Administrative Officer Elissa Ladd's staff. At the end of the day they left only a couple of questions unanswered: should the minimum security wing at Lerdo Jail close and can the county afford to make sharp operational cuts to the Department of Human Services? Supervisors weathered a day of passionate appeals for more money from county departments, but voted on a string of motions crafted by Supervisor Michael Rubio that maintained the CAO's sharp cuts. Some of the other votes were tight 3-2 actions. Supervisors Don Maben and Mike Maggard wanted more money for District Attorney lawyers and the Probation Department and voted against actions that did not fund those departments. "It's very naive of people to believe we are going to always agree," Maggard said. The meeting was filled with painful stories about real life impacts of county cuts --jobs lost,program reductions and disappearing public services. But supervisors acknowledged that they have little room to ease those impacts. Retiring Public Defender Mark Arnold drew an ovation from the congregation of county department heads after he bluntly challenged his peers to accept reality, absorb the budget losses and prepare for the tough times ahead. "My department is going to be devastated by this," he said. But Arnold said his department will survive and asked for no additional money. http://www.bakersfi eld.com/news/local/x 1216780978/Latest-county-budget-plan-includes-about-200-la... 6/19/2009 Latest county budget plan includes about 200 layoffs - Bakersfield.com Page 2 of 2 Other department heads were not so ready to give up the fight for more cash. New Fire Chief Nick Dunn made no headway with supervisors as he struggled to convince them to give him an additional $2.5 million in overtime pay to fully staff rural fire stations. Without the money, Dunn said, staffing at nine stations would drop from three firefighters to two on every shift. Supervisors grilled Dunn about the actual human cost of those staffing changes. "I think what we are struggling with is with the reduction,you are still not terminating any employees," Maggard said. The Kern County Sheriffs Department had more luck with supervisors. Undersheriff Marty Williamson said cuts to the department would require the closure of the minimum security building at Lerdo Jail and,in total,result in layoffs of 103 staffers,including 88 deputies. Supervisors flinched hard at the idea of closing the jail,which Williamson said would put 3,000 convicted or accused felons on the street over the next 12 months. "If this is the position we find ourselves in now without the impact of the state budget,Kern County is in for one of the darkest periods in its history," said Rubio. And Department of Human Services Director Pat Cheadle made a passionate appeal about the impact of losing 122 temporary "extra help" workers on the families her department serves. Supervisors postponed action on both appeals and directed the departments and Ladd's office to try and save money in other areas of the department budgets and bring them ideas by the end of June. Supervisor Jon McQuiston,who took a tough line against new money for departments throughout the day Thursday, said the supervisors have made their budget intentions clear to county leaders. "We set a dollar amount for next year's budget," he said. Ladd said she now has certainty about how supervisors want her to craft their budget. "They've given us the direction in how to move forward," she said. Open Calais http://www.bakersfield.com/news/Jocal/xl 216780978/Latest-county-budget-plan-includes-about-200-la... 6/19/2009 Supervisors OK layoffs, move up budget hearings - Bakersfield.com Pagel of 3 Bakersfield.com: Kern County news, events, classifieds, shopping, & search Local News Supervisors OK layoffs, move up budget hearings BY JAMES BURGER,Californian staff writer jb_u_r-er albakersfield.com I Tuesday,Jun 16 200912:00 PM Last Updated Tuesday,Jun 16 2009 04:06 PM Kern County supervisors approved more than two dozen layoffs in the District Attorney's office Tuesday and to leap into budget hearings Thursday—a full month ahead of time. And they'll hold those hearings without a printed budget to work from. The move was triggered by frustration that bubbled up as supervisors fielded two requests from District Attorney Ed Jagels to authorize 26 layoffs and cut other vacant positions. Supervisors approved the layoffs on a tight 3-2 vote,but pushed implementation back from early July to Aug. 1. They then launched into a heated debate about how the board can deal with a county administration edict for most departments to cut at least 15 percent of their spending. "If we don't make a decision right now about what our priorities are,"Supervisor Ray Watson said, "we may be laying off people we don't want to lay off." Interim County Administrative Officer Elissa Ladd warned the board that it would be operating partially in the dark. But supervisors pushed forward. Watson said he believes the board has enough information from department budget proposals and County Administrative Office reports to act. "We need to prioritize," said Supervisor Mike Maggard. "My hope is we will conclude Thursday with a clear direction from this board about minimum levels of service in those departments." Michael Turnipseed of the Kern County Taxpayers Association said the early hearing on Thursday is actually a little late. "Budget hearings should start two months ahead,"he said. Maggard said the board set the 15 percent cut level as a tool to help departments prepare their budgets and as a guideline for Ladd's office in drafting a countywide spending plan. The intent was always to come back and have supervisors decide,looking at the impact of the 15 percent cut,if critical littn•//www hAkPrc&-lrl Supervisors OK layoffs, move up budget hearings - Bakersfield.com Page 2 of 3 county departments should actually suffer that badly. That has not happened, Maggard said. "I don't think the board has effectively made clear its priorities," he said. He wants Thursday's hearing to focus on public safety departments. Once supervisors determine the maximum amount they are willing to cut departments like Sheriff, Fire and the District Attorney, then the CAO's office can calculate what kinds of cuts other departments must take, he said. Tuesday's meeting was particularly tough for supervisors. They had to face five of the people they would be laying off. Jagels asked to lay off 26 people including those in prosecutor,investigator, criminalist and forensic technician jobs. He said the move would seriously impact his ability to prosecute misdemeanor cases and that more gang cases would be plea-bargained and settled for lesser charges. "A very severe reduction in our gang effort will have to occur,"Jagels said. Despite those facts, he asked for authorization to lay off people immediately in order to save as much money as possible and save other jobs in the future. Chuck Waide of the Service Employees International Union brought five of the seven welfare fraud investigators on the layoff list to the meeting to make their pitch to supervisors. He said the seven workers would be replaced by less experienced and more expensive sworn district attorney investigators. It's a bad call, he argued. Jagels said funding for the investigators was cut by the Department of Human Services,which pays the District Attorney's office for its services. Supervisor Don Maben made the motion to approve the layoffs but delay the action date from early July to Aug. 1. Supervisors voted 3-2 to approve Maben's motion. They also voted to approve six layoffs in the Personnel Department. Aaron Neira, one of the investigators whose job is on the line, said the delay until August leaves him feeling in limbo rather than laid off. He said the board needs to make its thinking about the budget clear to the county. "They keep on talking about priorities and no one has said what their priorities are,"he said. Supervisors Michael Rubio and Jon McQuiston voted against the decision. "I see a trend coming along here.The trend was to delay the Assessor's layoffs until after July. Now we're going to do that for the D.A.," Rubio said. littn•JhuuvwhalrerefiArl The Modesto Bee I Layoffs loom in conflict with union Pagel of 2 The Modesto Bee p, Print This Article modbee,com Posted on Sun,Jun.14,2009 Layoffs loom in conflict with union By Adam Ashton aashton @modbee.com last updated:June 14,2009 02:10:34 AM Deadlocked negotiations between Modesto City Hall and the Modesto Police Officers Association could result in as many as 14 law enforcement layoffs if the two sides can't reach a deal by June 30. Both have talked tough for weeks,publicly painting themselves into positions that appear to leave little room for compromise. The union portrays the City Council as unconcerned with public safety; elected leaders call the bargaining unit unreasonable for insisting on raises in the midst of a historic recession. Without those raises,the union wouldn't face a layoff threat this month. Modesto Police Officers Association members and some family members march out of Tenth St.Place after attending the city The police want to pad their pockets,so they'll lose nine officers, Mayor Jim council meeting,June 9,2009.(DEBBIE NODA/ Ridenour said, dnoda @modbee.com)-Modesto Bee-Debbie Nods The schism is set to come to a head Tuesday when the City Council considers a union proposal to prevent layoffs and $4.8 million in new budget cuts Ridenour drafted with City Manager Greg Nyhoff. The council has to plug the gap by July i,when its new financial year begins.That's a tight deadline for the city's labor negotiations. The latest spending reductions appear heavy on law enforcement because the city has reached tentative agreements to prevent layoffs with unions that represent firefighters,midlevel managers,blue-collar employees and low-level administrative employees. The Modesto City Firefighters Association,for example,could save$745,00o by restructuring its contract to delay its raises.Other unions are being asked to take 96 hours of furlough time,reducing their wages by nearly 5 percent. By contrast,the MPOA has not agreed to open its contract unless it gets a no-layoff guarantee. Ridenour and other council members are unwilling to make that promise because of the city's continually sliding revenue projections. "We're not at the bottom yet,"said Councilman Brad Hawn,who is especially concerned about efforts the state might take to borrow cash from cities and counties to balance its budget."I can't see us being able to have a hands-off provision for any bargaining." If the MPOA,Modesto Police Management Association and Modesto Police Non-Sworn Association do not agree to labor concessions,the city would: Lay off nine MPOA members,filling in front-line patrol officers with officers from special units. Demote a police lieutenant and a police sergeant to the rank of officer and lay off two more officers. Lay off two police clerks and one community services officer. The police management association represents lieutenants and sergeants.It does not have a contract.The nonsworn association represents a mix of police employees,such as clerks and community service officers. Both of those unions have described their contract talks as productive,though they do not have deals to present to their members. "Our talks are ongoing,and based on today,things are going really well,"said Lt.Ron Cloward,the police management association's vice chairman.He was in a bargaining session Friday. bttn-//www mm)-w-P i1nM1 1nro 11.. 1_­_1 The Modesto Bee I Layoffs loom in conflict with union Page 2 of 2 MPOA President Tony Arguelles declined to comment on Ridenour's proposal because he had not seen it Friday.The union Thursday told the city it wants to keep its raises but would accept 96 hours of furlough time as long it gets a no- layoff pledge.The union said the furloughs would give the city the$820,000 in concessions it is seeking. The council is scheduled to discuss that proposal in a closed-door meeting at 7:3o a.m.Tuesday.The council's Finance Committee is expected to meet at 9 a.m.in the council chamber at Tenth Street Place to weigh the mayor's recommended budget cuts. Bee staff writer Adam Ashton can be reached at aashton @modbee.com or 578-2366. This article is protected by copyright and should not be printed or distributed for anything except personal use. Copyright©2009,The Modesto Bee,1325 H St.,Modesto,CA 95354 Phone:(209)578-2000. httn•//unuw The Modesto Bee I Modesto sends layoff notices to 10 officers Page 1 of 1 ' he Modesto Bee Aq Print This Article modbee.com Posted on Wed,Jun.17,2009 Modesto sends layoff notices to 10 officers Union head. 10 officers on notice after talks failBee Staff Reports last updated:June 18,2009 12:21:46 AM Modesto sent layoff notices Wednesday to 10 police officers,said Modesto Police Officers Association President Tony Arguelles. He said the notices say the city has 14 days to lay off the officers,adding he's not sure how many the city would dismiss. The notices were issued after city and union officials did not reach a deal in a Wednesday bargaining session. The city wants the 202-member MPOA to defer raises of 3 percent this month and 2 percent in February as part of an effort to close a$4.8 million deficit for the budget year that starts July 1.The deferral would save the city$820,000. Modesto Police Officers Association members and family members march out of Tenth Street Place after attending the The union would prefer to keep its raises but would accept 96 hours of June 9 City Council meeting.(DEBBIE furlough time as long as it gets a no-layoff pledge.The furloughs would save NODA/dnoda @modbee.com)-Modesto Bee-Debbie Node the city about$820,000 annually. "I think it's an unfortunate fact that we've gone to the table with the city several times and that we could not find a medium where both the city and the MPOA could benefit,"Arguelles said. He said the MPOA also offered to take a shortened no-layoff pledge of say 90 to 12o days at which time the union would be willing to meet with the city and discuss layoffs if the city's finances continued to deteriorate. Mayor Jim Ridenour and other council members have said they are unwilling to make the no-layoff promise because of the city's finances. Ridenour could not be reached Wednesday night,but he has said he wished he could give the officers raises but the city's finances will not allow it.He also has said the officers would not face layoffs this month if the MPOA agreed to defer the raises. This article is protected by copyright and should not be printed or distributed for anything except personal use. Copyright @ 2009,The Modesto Bee,1325 H St.,Modesto,CA 95354 Phone:(209)578-2000. http://www.modbee.com/breakingnews/v-print/story/748786.html 6/18/2009 City of Sacramento reaches tentative pact with firefighters union - Sacramento Politics - California Polit... Page 1 of 2 THESACILA4iENFOBEE sacbee,coni This story is taken from Sacbee / Capitol and California / Government/Politics City of Sacramento reaches tentative pact with firefighters union rliiiis @sacbee.com Published Saturday, Jun. 13, 2009 The city of Sacramento has reached another tentative agreement on wage concessions with its firefighters union. Firefighters last week soundly rejected an earlier agreement that their representatives had reached with the city. The latest deal, reached late Wednesday, includes a salary freeze this year, followed by yearly raises into 2014, according to a source familiar with the agreement. City firefighters would forgo a 5 percent raise due to them next month. Under the tentative pact, firefighters instead would receive a 1 percent raise in July 2010, 2 percent in July 2011, 1 percent in July 2012, 2.5 percent in January 2013 and 1.5 percent in January 2014, according to the source, who asked for anonymity because city and union officials have not yet made the details public. The pact would protect firefighters from layoffs for one year. The deal shot down last week was a shorter-term agreement that froze salaries for 2009 and provided a 1 percent raise in July 2010 and 2 percent in 2011. Neither fire union officials nor city leaders would publicly confirm details of the agreement, saying they were worried about affecting the ratification vote by union members. Assistant City Manager Gus Vina spoke only in general terms, saying the new agreement "is one that both sides believe will be successful with the membership." Vina said that if the agreement is ratified by union members and approved by the City Council, the city would rescind layoff notices sent earlier this month to 50 Fire Department employees. Firefighters are scheduled to vote on the deal next week. Union leaders said in a written statement they were concerned that the agreement does not prohibit firefighter layoffs after this year nor keep the city from reducing staffing in firehouses and on fire engines. "Our goal remains to have an adequate number of firefighters on the job to protect public safety in our communities, and it will be up to our members to determine if this tentative agreement achieves that," union spokesman Chris Harvey said. City negotiators are also in talks with the city's largest union, Local 39. Between 100 and 150 workers covered by Local 39 and other unions whose members are not involved with public safety could be laid off }1-hr •/�wncv cnn}�an rnm/nn..o.-.-.«..,.«a/.. ._.._��/_�____/i ne��,n , , City of Sacramento reaches tentative pact with firefighters union - Sacramento Politics - California Polit... Page 2 of 2 as Sacramento deals with a $50 million deficit. With wage concessions from all unions, the deficit would be cut in half and the layoff number reduced, city officials said. The City Council is scheduled to adopt the city's budget Tuesday. ShareThis Call The Bee's Ryan Lillis, (916) 321-1085. littn-fl:runx7 B A K E R S F I E L D CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM June 19, 2009 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Steven Teglia, Administrative Analyst 1115 SUBJECT: Referral Response to Evelyn Stewart —Various Neighborhood Problems - Referral # 81 (Ward 2). Councilmember Benham requested staff work with Evelyn Stewart regarding various issues relating to code enforcement, graffiti, roadside weeds and trash, and street cleanup. In addition, staff was directed to provide Ms. Stewart with information regarding the Neighborhood Watch Program. Since Ms. Stewart presented her concerns to the Council on April 22, 2009, and this referral was made, staff has been working with Ms. Stewart to address her concerns. The City Manager's office has coordinated efforts of multiple departments to bring resolution to the specific issues raised by Ms. Stewart. To date the specific issues raised by Ms. Stewart at the April 22nd meeting have been abated, however staff continues to communicate with Ms. Stewart on additional areas of concern as they arise. Crime Prevention staff has also contacted Ms. Stewart to provide information regarding the Neighborhood Watch Program. As referenced above, staff will continue to communicate with Ms. Stewart to provide resolution, where possible, to the various issues she relays regarding her neighborhood. JUN 1 a 2009 B A K E R S F 1 E L D CITY OF BAKERSFIELD PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Raul Rojas, Public Works Director DATE: June 16, 2009 SUBJECT: POTHOLE ON MING AVENUE Referral No. 96 COUNCILMEMBER SULLIVAN REQUESTED STAFF REPAIR A LARGE POTHOLE ON MING AVENUE, EASTBOUND NEAR TACO BELL. The pothole located near Taco Bell on Ming Avenue at Valhalla Drive was patched Thursday, June 11, 2009. C:\DOCUME—I\Iskinner\LOCALS—I\Temp\XPgrpwise\#96 Pothole.doe