HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - March 9, 1993SPECIAL "TOWN HALL" MEETING
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
LODI, CALIFORNIA
TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1993
7:30 P.M.
Roll was recorded by the City Clerk as follows:
Present: Council Members - Mann, Sieglock, Snide and
Pennino (Mayor)
Absent: Council Members - Davenport
Also Present: City Manager Peterson, Assistant City
Manager Glenn, Fire Chief Hughes, City
Attorney McNatt, and City Clerk Perrin
BUDGET PRESENTATION FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
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CC -21(b) Mayor Pennino opened the meeting and reminded the audience
of the following guidelines for public input at the "Town
Hall" meetings.
"Specifically, the public is invited to tell the City
Council:
1. What City services do you (the public) feel
could be reduced or eliminated?
2. What ideas do you have for making the City
more efficient?
3. What City services are you willing to pay
more for in order to maintain them?
4. What City services are you UNWILLING to see
cut, no matter what?"
Mayor Pennino informed the public of the "Town Hall"
Hotline phone number, 333-6896.
Fire Chief Hughes presented an overview of the Fire
Department. Mr. Hughes covered four different sections:
Fire Department Organization, Fire Department Statistics,
Fire Department Budget Information, and Fire Department
Budget Reduction & Revenue Generation Concepts.
Following a lengthy discussion, questions were directed to
Stan Mall in regards to the following memo he wrote to the
City Council:
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do� Continued March 9, 1993
"I serve as the President of United Fire Fighters of Lodi.
Our organization is the line division of the fire
department. I am writing this letter to project and
alternative solution to save money in a tight budget year.
The money saving idea is being projected because the fire
department has lost on duty "hands on" fire fighters since
1977. We are a department that has suffered since
proposition thirteen passed. To prevent further cuts we
have a number of proposals for you. However, one proposal
needs expeditious presentation.
The proposal is to consolidate the fire and police
department's top mnagement position until after the budget
crunch is no longer a problem. The position would become a
safety director position. The idea is timely for numerous
reasons.
1. There is a perception at the bottom of the
city employee group. That perception is
voiced in a fear that cutting the budget
always means cutting the workers or their
fringe benefits. Department head positions
are never cut.
2. This cost saving idea is about one hundered
thousand dollars per year.
3. There is a public concern being projected
about too many high paid managers within the
city (a timely response to this concern).
4. The current police chief is retiring soon.
A window of opportunity is opening with the retiring of the
police chief. It allows the City Council to project cost
savings to the public without taking jobs at the worker
level. No direct public services suffer as a result of the
move.
It also deals with the outcry from some citizens dealing
with too many high paid manager positions in the city
employment. Last but not least, there is a manager in the
fire department that has served in another city as the city
manager.
Having filled that position more than qualifies him for the
Joint Safety Director position over two departments. The
professional staff of both departments are more than
qualified to fill in the gaps and assist this new appointee
for a temporary budget reduction period.
It is our intention to project other cost saving ideas at
the proposed Town Hall meetings. Each of our proposals
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Continued March 9, 1993
- will deal with ideas that do not reduce emergency services
to the public. It would be irresponsible of our
organization to do otherwise in light of the economic
hardships our citizens are now facing.
If United Fire Fighters of Lodi, may be of further service,
please do not hesitate to ask."
ADJOURNMENT After further discussion, the Mayor adjourned the meeting
at approximately 9:34 p.m.
Attest:
fifer Perrin
City !ler
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