pages: CityCouncil/2011-06-21.pdf, 4
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CityCouncil | 2011-06-21 | 4 | Speakers: Nancy Hird, Alameda Citizen's Task Force (ACT); Noel Folsom, Alameda; Rosemary McNally, Alameda; Gretchen Lipow, ACT; Lester Cabral, Alameda; Adam Gillitt, Alameda; Red Wetherill, Alameda; Corinne Lambden, Alameda; Ashley Jones, Alameda; Kurt Peterson, Alameda; Trish Spencer, Alameda; Jim Sweeney, Alameda; Kevin Kennedy, City Treasurer; Jon Spangler, Alameda; and Kevin Kearney, City Auditor. Councilmember deHaan stated the Council put together a Fiscal Sustainability Committee; an eye opening report was provided in 2009; $4.8 million needed to be saved in last year's budget; one fire station was closed; closing City Hall West was initiated; departments were consolidated; positions were reduced; programs were eliminated; there were no pay increases; the City is still facing a shortfall; the can is being kicked down the road; Council has solved problems by using one time funding; that he still has questions regarding discretionary funds; 30% of the budget will take a hit if nothing is done to change the 70% for public safety; manpower will need to be reduced if concessions are not made; library hours have been cut and more hours may have to be reduced; Council cannot continue to window dress the budget; that he supports delaying the MOU and will not support adoption of the resolution. Mayor Gilmore stated the life of the MOU would cost $9,300; contract negotiations began in 2009; a five to ten percent pay cut has never been on the table; items cannot be introduced in negotiations after a certain point of time; nothing has been accomplished in the last eighteen months; other cities have given bargaining units pay raises, but Alameda has not; previous contract costs would still be in full force if the MOU is not approved; costs would be locked in and the City would not be able to take advantage of any savings; going back to the negotiating table might result in more concessions; something needs to be done to solve structural problems; the City and unions have no interest in seeing the City go bankrupt; getting back to the negotiating table might take years if the City goes to war with employees; lawyers would be the only ones that would benefit; the Council has no power to impose pay cuts; a five to ten percent pay cut would be accomplished by cutting bodies, which would require a meet and confer process. Vice Mayor Bonta stated the proposed MOU would make inroads and progress in areas that have not been addressed in the past; the MOU has short-term, mid-term, and long- term savings; the spousal retirement health care reform is very significant; $500,000 per year would be saved; Cadillac plans would not be funded by the City; Firefighters have removed the minimal staffing provision scheduled for the November election; the election would have cost the City $300,000 and, if passed, would have cost $4 million per year. Councilmember Tam stated negotiations have taken a long time; the City needs to have certainty and accuracy in projections and estimates in order to ensure a balanced budget; progress made over the last three months has been significant in giving management some idea of how to look at balancing a budget that seems to have an increasing deficit because of uncertainties with the State and economy; the MOU Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 4 June 21, 2011 | CityCouncil/2011-06-21.pdf |