Council struggles with cuts

Jenny Marder

Under the watchful eye of the city administrator, who is desperately

trying to close an $11.5-million budget gap, the City Council on

Monday voted to save the Banning Avenue and Main Street library

branches as well as the Lake Fire Station, from becoming casualties

of the cutbacks.

The air in the City Council chambers was tense Monday night and

council members were weary and resigned as they pledged their support

for a colossal list of cuts and fought to save a handful of others.

The most noteworthy rescue, if resident appeals are an indicator,

was that of the two library branches, whose doors will remain open

thanks to an offer by the Friends of the Library Foundation to donate

their $180,000 book fund to the city until budget problems subside.

The offer came after two hours of public comments, dominated by

incessant and overwhelming pleas to salvage the branches. Resident

after resident approached the podium to argue for the importance of

literacy, curriculum materials, story time programs and the sense of

community that the libraries provide.

The Sister City program, the Lake Fire station and a marine safety

officer position were also fervently defended.

With everyone fearing the worst, preemptive pleas were made for a

handful of other items on an alternate cuts lists such as parking

meters in the library parking lot and cuts to the Senior Center.

Councilwoman Debbie Cook twice assured residents the items were not

even being considered for cuts.

Once the council took control of the floor, it became a sort of

bartering system, with each council member offering alternatives to

save positions and programs they deemed essential.

At the urging of Councilwoman Pam Julien Houchen, the council

agreed to consider increasing fire inspection and suppression fees

and eliminate an information services analyst and two fire deputy

marshals to retain a fire engine company Downtown, which includes

three fire captains, three engineers and three firefighters. The

council voted to hold off on eliminating two code enforcement

officers at the urging of Cook, who argued that when neighborhoods

break down, crime increases and property values fall without them.

“This could be a revenue generating resource, and I think it

should be kept,” Cook said, adding that she hopes to find some source

of funding to retain the positions.

Councilman Dave Sullivan fought to save a marine safety officer

position, which he felt was crucial after a detailed questioning of

Marine Safety Chief Kyle Lindo.

“The loss of a marine safety officer eliminates our ability to

provide services to members of the public who come to the beach,”

Lindo said. “It affects our ability to train as well.”

Although Sullivan had no other cut or funding source in mind, he

was confident he could come up with one.

Boardman was the sole dissenter in a straw vote to postpone the

decision on eliminating the position.

“My feeling right now is we’re going to have to bite the bullet,”

she said.

Beset by pressures on all sides -- from residents to save programs

and from staff to save dollars -- Boardman concluded the meeting with

an apology.

“None of the reductions in the budget were reductions in fat,”

Boardman said. “There’s just no fat left. We’re disrupting the lives

of 40 people and their families, and I’m very sorry. I’m sorry that

the council’s had to take this kind of action.”