Minutes 1993 0315 - Laserfiche WebLink

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l Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - March 15, 1993 Page - 26 - NEW BUSINESS (continued) Council Member Corbett said adopting these Budget Strategies does not mean the Fire Department consolidation was approved. Mr. Oliver said it does not -- all of the ramifications of the Fire Department consolidation must be fully explored. The study results will come back to the City Council , and a proposal has yet to be developed. He said the Budget Strategies only contain a concept right now, but a real offer is not on the table. Council Member Corbett asked if it would be possible to look into a summer recess to decrease the number of City Council Meetings in the future and as a cost-saving measure. Council Member Perry commended the Task Force and the Finance Committee. She said there were five items on the reduction list that concerned her -- one included the training budget for the Planning Commission, reduced to $3,000. It was indicated this has already been amended. She said she was concerned regarding the elimination of swimming lessons and teen dances because positive activities are needed for youth. She was also concerned regarding cuts to the senior programs and suggested the Library Assistant going to part time rather than eliminated. She said a lot of staff have already been cut. She said this totaled $35,000. She suggested these activities could be maintained and could be paid for by deferring hiring of the Disaster Preparedness staff member for six months and utilizing the savings. Council Member Faria said he was concerned regarding the elimination of the Building Inspector and that it would cut back on the one-stop counter service. He said he was concerned regarding cutting back on the plan-checking for unreinforced masonry buildings and on elimination of the Traffic Engineer position. He said he was also concerned regarding eliminating $60,000 in sidewalk repairs. Mr. Oliver said this did not propose elimination of the sidewalk repairs but rather shifted the cost to Gas Tax from the General Fund. Council Member Faria said he was concerned that reducing the Risk Manager position to part time could create more of a liability than a cost savings. He said he was also concerned regarding the Library Assistant. He was concerned regarding the Book Binder and said he did not like elimination of the Switchboard. He said until Voice Mail was working properly the Switchboard Operator should not be eliminated. He said 5 days, 40 hours a week of animal -control services would not be adequate to do the job, and there needed to be some way to handle it on a 24-hour basis. He said he was concerned about Planning and Building because everything has been going well , and he does not want to see problems in the Department. He said, not including the Switchboard Operator, his areas of concern came to $528,000, and he thinks there should be some way to adjust the numbers. He said he felt the City should implement the Taxes right away and not wait. He said there never should have been a split role on the Utility Tax. He said the other items mentioned by Council Member Perry contribute to the quality of life in San Leandro.