Minutes 1996 0617 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - June 17, 1996 Page - 15 - PUBLIC HEARINGS (continued) Lou Filipovich, 15376 Laverne Drive, said several employees are in better positions than the private sector. He discussed the cost of bonds for retrofitting. He said placing recycling fees on the property tax bill is a tax. He said San Leandro has two different sewer service providers and discussed rates. Lavern Anderson, 1495 - 159th Avenue, Bonaire Homeowners' Association, said the Association wants parks and libraries to remain open during the holiday season. There being no further comments from the public, on motion of Council Member Loeffler, seconded by Council Member Polvorosa, and carried by a majority vote (7), the Public Hearing was closed. Council Member Galvan asked what alternatives to the furlough the Finance Committee discussed. He agreed that the financial condition of the City is different than it was when he was elected. Mayor Corbett said the Finance Committee very strongly made its position known that they would like to see libraries and parks open during the holiday season and asked for recommendations to allow that this be done. Vice Mayor Polvorosa said the Finance Committee did not develop alternatives as yet. He said he hoped some method would be looked at to get together with the employees' association. One alternative was to offset Police Department expense with a "sin tax" on liquor licensing. Council Member Loeffler said one of the concerns he expressed as a member of the Finance Committee was the need not to institutionalize the furlough but to move to a different model. He said the Committee needs to sit down with the employees' group and use their collective wisdom and find resources. He said we should move away from the furlough as a model unless we go back to an emergency economic situation. In response to City Council questions, the City Manager recommended that the City Council adopt the budget and refer the matter of the $285,000 cost of the furlough to the Finance Committee, with direction to look at alternatives and involve the employees' association. He said the Council also asked that department heads make recommendations to the Finance Committee via the City Manager on operations of the City. He said the furlough is a meet - and - confer issue and should be discussed in executive session. It was moved by Vice Mayor Polvorosa, seconded by Council Member Glaze to approve the resolution adopting the budget and to direct the City Manager to work with the employees' association.