Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - April 6, 1994 (70)GD L CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA TITLE: Discussion of Status of Efficiency Committee MEETING DATE: April 6, 1994 PREPARED BY: City Manager RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council discuss this matter and take action as deemed appropriate. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City Council -appointed Efficiency Committee consisting of seven members now, due to resignations for various reasons, consists of three persons. The Mayor has requested that this item be placed on this agenda for Council action. FUNDING: Not applicable Respectfully submitted, Thomas A. Peterson City Manager TAP:br CCOM-033/T%TA.07A APPROVED THOMAS A PETERSON acre led ogre City Manager CC•+ April 6, 1994 Honorable Mayor City Councilmen M IN RE CITY OF LODI EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE This evening we have gathered to discuss the future of the City of Lodi. We have reached an important crossroad in the direction that we will proceed as a city with respect to our citizens. The Efficiency Committee was charged with the responsibility of discovering avenues that would lead to more efficient operations and procedures at a cost savings to the citizens of Lodi. The committee believes that this duty can siill be accomplished. It is unfortunate that my announcement of intention to seek office has led to the resignations of three of our members. Perhaps if they had attended just one meeting after my candidacy was made public, we as a committee could have addressed this issue and resolved said matter at that time. These members apparently felt that the charge of the committee was not important enough to the citizens of Lodi, and reacted in the manner that we have evidenced. I strongly believe in the pursuit of' our charge, and plead with the City Council to allow the committee to continue without delay or hesitation, in order to benefit our citizens in establishing effective and efficient government. In this light, should the City Council, as a body of the electorate, feel that my presence on the committee is detrimental to the citizens of the City of t.odi, at the Council's request, 1 will step down from the committee. I have no intention of compromising the committee's efTectivcness and further wish no compromise upon our citizens. It is my hope, however, that the City Council will exercise prudence and discretion in reaching a decision as to my position on the committee. In addition, and much more importantly, I entreat the Council to consider all the facts presented here tonight in support of allowing the committee to continue unabated, and act not in promptitude, much as the three resignations of our past committee members evidence. The citizens of Lodi have a right to know what policies and procedures are in place with respect to city operations, and further have a right to know where their tax dollars are spent. While it may be true that the information that is made available to this committee is a matter of public record, and is available to any citizen that may seek same, the support of the Council is mandatory in reaching viable recommendations that preclude waste and inefficiencies. Should the Council decide to vanish the committee, the option of forming a private inquiry would be a possibility pursuant to the Public Records Act, and the records necessary to determine city operations would have to be disclosed. It would be unfortunate, however, to conduct a study of this nature without the advocation of the City Council. The Council plays a vital role in determining the successfulness of this committee, and I believe that it is incumbent upon you to act in the best interest of our citizens. In closing, allow me the opportunity of proving whether or not I can separate the functions of the committee from the goals of my candidacy. If I evidence shallowness and an inability to isolate the two pursuits, then I will voluntarily step down from the committee. To close the committee pursuant to Council concerns over my candidacy is unfair to the citizens of Lodi. I will not be the excuse for this deprivation, and should you so decide, request my resignation, but allow the committee to fulfill their charge as given them in December of 1993. In light of a proposed 2.0-2.5 million dollar budget shortfall, it is mandatory that we find ways to shave excess from the city's operations without effecting department cutbacks. The Efficiency Committee can discover problem areas and make the necessary recommendations that will allow this City Council to make prudent decisions in establishing a balanced budget during these difficult financial times. Plcase do not allow the opportunity of progress to escape our citizens, and let us as a community work toward responsible government. The time has conic to act in the best interest of all citizens, and move toward a safe and secure future. f o do less, is a loss bestowed upon us all. Brian C. Ochoa City of Lodi I.fiiciency Committee y1b EWSMETii WMRv ROSMIQUIST 1013 K. KRUM STRUT LODt, CA 95240 (209) 334-1797 March 22, 1994 To: City of Lodi Council members 1Prom: Elizabeth Rvsenquist Re: Rfficiency Committee Tt la with grant: regret that T tender my resignation from the above committee. T lend great hopop: of nerving our community and making a pooiti.ve contribution to the community of Lodi. At thin. time, I bttlieve Lbe mombership of Lhis committee fo not conducive to accomplishinq it's original objectiven and goals. Hucit to my dismay thin, committee has lost the objectivity and lxiliti.cai non -bias that in indippensable in fulfilling this committee's: charge and purpose. I war. morL dlsheartcnod when urian Chavez-Ochon, rpoke an a member of the Ftiiciency Committee When it was agreed that the Efficiee►tcy Committee would be represonte±d only by the chnfrperrnn. The comments by Mr. Chavez -Ochoa Vero not rrproventative of the committee and his speaking ar. a member vuggr_Rtod tlu+t it wao so. AI no, durinq the hearing of the garbaget ratco, Mr. Chavez -Ochoa did not argue the increane of the rates but rather simply attacked the character of Mr.derry Clenn and Mr. David Vaccarezza, the latter whom he had never met. Gent] even, there type of actions fundamentally conflict With my personal philosophies of how changes rhould he made in city government, 1n wall an, how one's approach to change ahould he bnond on facts .and figorea and not on i.nnuendoR and questions of character. Furthermore, I disagrees with any committee member utilizing his or her ponition on the Efficiency Committee for pesroon:el pulltical opin. Although 1 bol ie±ve that an Efficiency Committee would be benafieirl to Our community, further effort by the committee as it standr, would only be detrimental to Lodi and our city government. P1nR- .2-1994 16:00 x0'3473155W n ►��a Cr" C P.01 March 22, 1994 Page 2 14y resignation In based solely on my personal objections to the above, and philosophies. There were no other factors or personalities involved in this decision. I suggost that council consider one of the followinq. 1. That they continuo this committee 11rrER ELIlG'TTOHS, and or, 2. 111re an independent consulting group that would be overseen by tho City of Lodi Efficiency Colgmittea. I thank the counc1 t for the opportunity and look forward to serving YAAJ in the future. Best regards, e A�Iec a � t. -4 Elizabeth R. Rosenquint mZ-22-1994 16:00 2094731507 P.02