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Home My WebLink About03/20/2009 04e,*,* B A K E R S F I E L D CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM March 20, 2009 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Counci FROM: Alan Tandy, City Manager SUBJECT: General Information 1. When the economic stimulus bill was proposed, we were very excited and hopeful. After all, it was for shovel-ready projects, and we have about $200 million worth of those ready to go. Congress, however, cut the transportation amount from $80 billion to $30 billion, and California got about 10% of that. Caltrans and the California Transportation Commission (CTC) designated those State projects that had been delayed the priority for use of most of the funds. We had hoped that the Westside Parkway might be given priority as a future State Highway. It was not, and the only monies remaining were those that went to the local Council of Governments (KernCOG) for allocation. Last night, the KernCOG board overruled their own staff's recommendation and allocated the funds to Highway 46 and 7th Standard rather than the Westside Parkway. The legislature is considering a new law to change the allocation formula which might change the rules under which KernCOG made its decision. That should unfold in the next week or two. The bottom line is that there will not be much transportation stimulus in Bakersfield. 2. Enclosed are more articles from various newspapers that highlight the difficult times cities are facing and how they are adjusting their budgets. CHICO, CA — Last November, the fire union publicly announced that it would give up raises for the next two years and drop wages for starting firefighters by 5%. The fire union then requested the addition of language in the agreement that would protect staffing language. The city would not accept anything that would dictate staffing that could eventually end up costing them down the road and negate the savings. Since the city and fire union failed to agree on the wage and benefit concessions due to the staffing language, the city laid off five firefighters back in January. A sixth vacant position was also planned to be cut, for a 9 percent reduction in firefighters. COACHELLA, CA — In order to address the city's $1 million shortfall, two building inspectors were laid off last week. Top city administrators have also agreed to take a 5% reduction in salary to avoid further cuts and furloughs. Honorable Mayor and City Council March 20, 2009 Page 2 ONTARIO, CA — In the next five to six years, the city will likely face nearly $65 million in budget cuts. In February, the Fire Management Group and Firefighters Association voted unanimously to forgo a scheduled 4% raise to save the City $900,000 next year. The City Councilmembers and City Manager lead the way by deferring their salary increases until the economy turns around. Other bargaining units are meeting with the City Manager to take similar action. SANTA ANA, CA — The City of Santa Ana has implemented its first round of planned layoffs by eliminating ten positions last Friday. The city is scheduled to lay off one more worker in mid-April, and a dozen more in June. City leaders have also been negotiating with SEIU over possible salary and benefit concessions. The union has proposed that the city cut contracts, temporary workers, and offer incentives for early retirements. 3. You are invited to attend the world premiere of the Taylor Street Project on Wednesday, March 25th at 7:00 p.m. at the Majestic Fox Theater. A flyer is attached. 4. John Stinson will be filling in for me at the Joint City/County meeting next Monday. 5. The 2008 Gang Unit Year-End Report is enclosed. 6. The Streets Division work schedule for the week of March 23rd is enclosed. 7. Responses to Council requests are enclosed, as follows: Councilmember Carson • Use of local workers on City construction projects • Report on homeless statistics AT:rs:rk:al cc: Department Heads Pamela McCarthy, City Clerk Roberta Gafford,Assistant City Clerk Firehouse.com Article: California City Lays Off Five Firefighters Pagel of 3 Firehouse.com - Printable Article The Web's Source for Fire, Rescue & EMS Click Here to Print This page u California City Lays Off Five Firefighters ............ Jenn Klein Chico Enterprise-Record Jan. 11--CHICO -- Five city firefighters received layoff notices Saturday morning after the city and the fire union IV Lex sNexis- failed to agree on wage and benefit concessions. The 66-member fire union also got word that a sixth vacant position would be cut, for a 9 percent decrease in the number of city firefighters. City Manager Dave Burkland said Saturday the layoffs, effective Feb. 9, are the result of not reaching an agreement that would meet the city's goals to reduce its budget. He said the fire union could not meet the city's specific requests for wage and benefit concessions "without any strings attached and any other requests." "The plan was to obtain the savings through wage and benefit concessions," Burkland said. "That didn't come through, so we had to shift our focus to cuts for the Fire Department. We had to obtain the savings one way or another," Not meeting the agreement when the city wanted meant firefighters got a 4 percent raise Jan. 1, a stipulation of their existing contract. Fire union president Steve Harrison said the union is still committed to its earlier public declaration that it would give up raises for the next two years. He said the disagreement between the union and the city was over incorporating language in the agreement that sought to protect staffing. Harrison said he was informed Friday night the union membership would be getting a letter regarding future layoffs, but was not told layoff notices would be received Saturday by certified mail and he had to console the five firefighters. "We're in a situation where we feel blindsided by this aggressive act. ... There's no strings -- we've always said we want to preserve staffing," Harrison said. "Nobody likes being backed into a corner and that's what the firefighters feel like happened," he added." I can only hope that this wasn't a majority council that voted for this, because if this was a majority council that voted for this, it would be shocking for the firefighters and I would imagine the citizens." The fire union publicly announced last November that it would go a step beyond the 1 percent raise caps sought by the city for all its employee groups and would give up raises for the next two years and drop wages for starting firefighters by 5 percent in order to protect staffing. Harrison said eight firefighters are retiring this year and dropping starting salaries would be a substantial savings over time. The number of the firefighters on each of the three shifts dropped from 22 to 21 in June 2008 and a second drop to 20 was planned this coming June, which the union wanted to prevent from happening. Harrison said the union wanted language acknowledging that the additional concessions was intended to go toward staffing, as a sort of "receipt" as to where the firefighters' money was going to. He said the specific language could be nonbinding and was negotiable, and would acknowledge that future cuts Firehouse.com Article: California City Lays Off Five Firefighters Page 2 of 3 could be made if they were made equitably throughout the city. He said other employee groups received a 1 percent increase in either a raise or increased retirement contribution and also received other benefits such as additional vacation time. "That's what's even more irritating," Harrison said. "Everyone else in the city, including administrators, is getting 1 percent. We're taking a 0 percent to save staffing and now we're getting guys laid off." Burkland said connecting pay reductions to staffing levels to create staffing assurances could lead to financial problems down the road. "We had asked simply for the maximum of 1 percent increases for years 2009 and 2010 and the health reductions," the city manager said. "We wouldn't accept anything that would dictate staffing that could eventually end up costing us down the road which would then negate the savings." Harrison said the fire union agreed to no raises and decreasing starting salaries without any language requirement at a meeting Nov. 28. However, he said the city also wanted to incorporate health care reductions at the same time, something the union members hadn't had a chance to discuss because they were focused on the wage concessions. He said he advised Burkland to take care of the wage concessions first because, per the union's bylaws, it takes 30 days to ratify a decision and waiting for health care discussions could slow the process down. Harrison said when the city would not separate it wage concessions from health- care talks worth far less money, the union started feeling like the city was holding its concessions "hostage." He said mistrust developed and the union then added requests for language on staffing. Burkland said the city's desire to incorporate health-care concessions was nothing new. "We'd asked from the Fire Department the same concessions that we asked from all units and we stated that very early on ... The health care was part of that package. We were trying to not make it complicated," he said. The city manager said the cuts will drop the number of firefighters on a shift from 21 to 18. He said Fire Chief Jim Beery will "design a plan that provides the best protection for the citizens within the finances that we have." "It's nothing that we wanted to do," Burkland said. "This whole effort of budget cutting has been difficult, as its difficult for a lot of cities. I really do appreciate what this (fire) unit and all the city units do. They're professionals in all they do. I'm really proud of the Fire Department and we will continue to work together to provide the best service to the citizens." Staff writer Jenn Klein can be reached at 896-7767 or jklein a chicoer.co_m BACKGROUND: To meet budget cuts, the city sought to get all its employee groups to agree to wage and health-care concessions. The fire union publically said in November that it would go above the sought cuts in order to protect staffing. WHAT'S NEW: Five firefighters received layoff notices Saturday morning. City Manager Dave Burkland said the city had to cut the employees and a sixth vacant position to achieve needed savings after an agreement could not be reached. To see more of the Chico Enterprise-Record or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http:Jjwww,chicoer com. Copyright (c) 2009, Chico Enterprise-Record, Calif. }ittr�•//rmc firahroiea rnm/rnntant/a*'tirla/r�rintar icn9i�—(,72M www.mydesert.com Printer-friendly article page Page 1 of 1 ATJ March 13, 2009 Coachella cuts two jobs, lowers salaries Xochttl Pena The Desert Sun Two building inspectors were laid off Thursday as part of the city's cost saving measures intended to address a $1 million shortfall. Top city administrators including City Manager Tim Brown have also agreed to take a pay cut to further reduce the deficit. "We are taking a 5 percent reduction in salary so there wouldn't be further cuts and furloughs,"said Brown. Those measures, in addition to reductions in operational costs, such as supplies, should help the city end fiscal year 2009-2010 balanced. Should the economy continue to deteriorate and revenues for next year decline below$14.5 million, further cuts may be needed, Brown said. Eliminating the two positions is expected to save the city about$171,000 a year in salary and benefits. The two employees were given a two-week severance package. "There's not much building activity going on so we cut it back," Brown said. The pay reductions will be absorbed by six administrative staff members including Brown. The savings there exceeds$100,000 he said. The cost cutting measures were difficult, Brown said, but were made as a team. "Management asked for the help of the employees. They gave us suggestions. We took those," he said. Xochitl Pena covers Indio and Coachella for The Desert Sun. She can be reached at 360-1340 or at Xochitl.Pena @thedesertsun.com. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090313/NEWSOI/903130324&tem1)late=T)rintarr 3/1 ui?nno Layoffs begin for Santa Ana city workers city, workers, friday, union, budget - News - OCRegister.com Page I of 2 THE M&NUE CMN" TWG15MR Friday, March 13, 2009 came from the Parks and Recreation agency, or from the planning department. Layoffs begin for On paper, the ten workers have their jobs until Sunday. But Friday was the day they Santa Ana city packed up their things and said good-bye to workers their coworkers. "Residents are calling me in tears," Lisa Ruvalcava, a laid-off employee of the Neighborhood Improvement Program, said Facing a multimillion-dollar in a statement distributed by a city workers' shortfall, the city eliminates union. "They know they won't get the same service I've been able to provide." 10 jobs and warns that more The city issued pink slip warnings to 43 of than 30 others are in its workers in January, telling them that their jeopardy. jobs were in jeopardy as the economic slowdown tore through the city budget. The city is scheduled to lay off one more worker By DOUG IRVING in mid-April, and a dozen others at the end of June, Assistant City Manager Cathy The Orange County Register Standiford said. SANTA ANA—Ten city workers lost their City leaders have also been negotiating with jobs on Friday as City Hall —struggling to the Service Employees International Union, keep its budget afloat in a grinding economic which represents city employees, over recession —carried out the first round of its possible salary and benefit concessions. The planned layoffs. union has proposed that the city cut contracts and temporary workers —which it At least some of the workers who were laid calculates could save the city millions of off Friday came from the Community dollars—and offer incentives for early Development Agency, where they helped retirements. bring together city departments and neighborhood or community groups. Others The city has seen its revenue slump by more Advertisement MODIFY YOUR MORTGAGE YOURSELF A -OMPL E',rE S TrP B Y STEP G UIDE Visit GeffourLoan Mod DVEIcom Now! Print Powered By at fittp:[(www.ocregister.com/articies/city-workers-friday-2334993-union-bu 3/18/2009 Layoffs begin for Santa Ana city workers I city, workers, friday, union, budget - News - OCRegister.com Page 2 of 2 TNT GROM TMGISTER escroOster min than $7.5 million since it approved its current budget last summer. The biggest hit has been to the city's sales-tax revenue, its most important source of income. The city has roughly 1,800 employees. Contact the writer: 714-704-3777 or dirving@ocregister.com Advertisement Neo by io> cross www.citiesby'foot.com Print Powered By http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city-workers-friday-23 34993-union-bu 3/18/2009 • B A K E R S F I E L D Economic and Community Development Department M E M O R A N D U M March 19, 2009 TO. Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Donna Kunz, Economic Development Director SUBJECT: The Premiere of "The Taylor Street Project: Everyone deserves a place to call their own." During the winter of 2008-09, twenty-five Kern-based developmentally disabled student filmmakers had an opportunity to work side-by-side with professional filmmakers to create a series of short films that document aspects of life in Bakersfield. The Taylor Street project was a unique partnership with the City of Bakersfield Economic and Community Development Department and Kern Regional Foundation to provide HOME Investment Partnership funding for 12 developmentally disabled persons/families to go from renting to homeownership. The premiere of this short film will be held on March 25, 7:00 p.m. at the Majestic Fox Theatre. Attached is the informational flyer for the event. SADEBBIE'SNMemosltaylor street.doc • During the winter of 2008-09, twenty-five Kern-based student filmmakers with developmental disabilities participated in a unique opportunity to work side-by-side professional filmmakers to create a series of short films documenting aspects of life here in our county. Please join us as we celebrate the achievements of these filmmakers. In addition to "The Taylor Street Project," we will also premiere three student-created public service announcements and a behind- the-scenes film on the workshop itself. T''e TS COUNCIL KERN LM 11 A K�1` 11 BAKERSFIELD POLICE ' MEMORANDUM March 6, 2009 To: Chief of Police, William Rector From: Sgt. Greg Jehle and Sgt. Jeff Watts, Gang Unit Subject: 2008 Gang Unit Year-End Report The Gang Unit continued its efforts to reduce gang violence in our community this past year. Probation/parole searches saw an increase of 7%(5,292 in 2007 to 5,638 in 2008)and search warrants executed increased by 11%(71 in 2007 to 79 in 2008). The number of gang related shootings saw a 2% decrease(61 in 2007 to 60 in 2008). The number of gang related shootings that resulted in death for 2008 remained the same as 2007 with a total of 7. The Gang Unit has made the seizure of firearms from gang members a priority each year. This year was no exception as the Gang Unit surpassed all previous years by seizing 166 firearms. This number yields an increase of 4%compared to 2007(160 firearms were seized in 2007). The Gang Unit has seized a total of 1,111 firearms since its inception in 1999. The Gang Unit is also involved in gang presentations throughout the city. These presentations offer a look into gangs and their members,which in turn raises the communities' awareness of the dangers and warning signs of gangs. Officers gave approximately twenty-six gang presentations to various aspects of the community including schools,the US Army,churches and numerous other organizations in the community. The Gang Unit is comprised of 2 Sergeants, 3 Senior Patrol Officers,and 16 Officers. The Gang Unit is dedicated to reducing the amount of gang related part 1 crimes, such as shootings,homicides, robberies,etc through active enforcement, increased patrols,and community awareness. 7200 130 6600 160 6000 140 5400 4800 120 4200 100 3600 80 3000 2400 60 1800 ' 40 ' 1200 600 20 p 0 Probation/Parole FI's/Street Checks Hours assisting other Search Warrants Gang Related Guns Seized Searches departments/ Shootings agencies 0 2004 132005 0 2006 El 2007 0 2008 02004 El 2005 02006 0 2007 02008 Page 1 of 2 STREETS DIVISION — WORK SCHEDULE WEEK OF MARCH 23, 2009 — MARCH 27, 2009 Resurfacing/Reconstructing streets in the following areas: Reconstructing streets in the area east of Fairfax, north of Panorama Drive (weather permitting). Miscellaneous Streets Division projects: Working on the Mill Creek project. Working on the Aera Park project. Crack sealing on Buena Vista Road between Ming Avenue & Stockdale Highway. THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Week of March 23-2009—Work Schedule Page 2 of 2 STREETS SWEEPING SCHEDULE Monday, March 23, 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 Limits; Between Jenkins Rd. & Allen Rd. — Stockdale Hwy. & Birkenfeld Ave. Between Hosking Rd. & Astro Ave. — So. "H" St. & Union Ave. Tuesday, March 24, 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.; Between Union Ave. & Madison St. — Casa Loma Dr. & White Ln.; Between Westwold Dr. & So. Laurelglen Blvd. — Gosford Rd. & Woodglen Dr. Wednesday, March 25, 2009 City areas between Snow Rd. & Rosedale Hwy. — Jewetta Ave., west to the City Limits; Between Ming Ave. & So. Laurelglen Blvd. — Coffee Rd. & El Portal / Laurelglen Blvd. Thursday, March 26, 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, March 27, 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 March 23_2009_Work Schedule • MAR a 2009 B A K E R S F I E L D Economic and Community Development Department M E M O R A N D U M March 16, 2009 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Darnell W. Haynes, Principal Planner.,:. SUBJECT: Referral Response to Use of Local Workers on City Construction Projects City Council Referral No. 72 Council member Carson requested staff contact the contractors on the Mill Creek and Westside Parkway to ask if they would consider hiring local subcontractors and to facilitate a meeting with Marvin Dean. South Mill Creek Mixed Use Redevelopment Project (Southeast Bakersfield Redevelopment Project Area) City staff has contacted the developer on the South Mill Creek Mixed Use Redevelopment Project to arrange a meeting with Mr. Marvin Dean to consider hiring local subcontractors on city construction projects. The developer has agreed to a meeting as soon as possible and requested city staff coordinate with Marvin Dean to schedule a meeting. A tentative meeting is scheduled for April 2, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. at the Office of the Kern Minority Contractors Association located at 1330 E. Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA. 93305. Additional meetings may be scheduled if necessary. J:\Darnell\KernMinContractorsAssoc.doc • MAR 2 0 2009 B A K E R S F I E L D Economic and Community Development Department M E M O R A N D U M March 19, 2009 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Donna L. Kunz, Economic Development Director SUBJECT: Referral Response to Report on Homeless Statistics in Bakersfield and use of Vacant Building for Homeless and Unemployment Statistics By Area Council Referral No. 73 Councilmember Carson requested staff provide a report back on Homeless Statistics in Bakersfield; whether vacant buildings can be used for the homeless; and, provide unemployment statistics in the city by area. HOMELESS STATISTICS IN BAKERSFIELD The Kern County Homeless Collaborative conducted a Homeless Census on January 21, 2009, with a result of 672 homeless persons in Metro Bakersfield. WHETHER VACANT BUILDINGS CAN BE USED FOR THE HOMELESS Vacant buildings are generally unusable for homeless persons due to the legal aspects such as liability concerns and insurance. In addition, the homeless v&ould need to have the resources to maintain necessary life sustaining items such as electricity and running water in vacant buildings. UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS IN THE CITY BY AREA Unemployment statistics are not gathered for specific areas of the city. The most recent estimated unemployment rate for the City of Bakersfield was 9.7% in January; for Kern County, 13.8%. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)