A Special CRA/City Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. The Notice is available online.
http://www.cityofgrandterrace.org/list.aspx
Budget and Closed Door Meeting regarding potential law suit... are on the agenda.
This City Council and City Management is being forced by economic factors to address the sustainability of the Redevelopment Agency and City Management Staff and Government Provided Services.
The State Government Decisions have an impact on the GT Budget and the State's input is still in flux so our Council/Board and Management has continued the discussion on the final budget.
This is the first time the Council and the Citizens are being provided a real look into the reality of funds on hand, funds projected as revenue, expenses and how fees were paying for civic activity. For example, the Code Enforcement Officer was being paid to support Civic Activities like Grand Terrace Days. With the loss of funds and the lower Rental Inspection Fees expected to be collected this function will be cut, and hopefully replaced by community support. When the Rental Inspection Fees were on the Agenda, the Agenda and Staff Reports did not include the fact that the Code Officer would be using some of those funds in effect to support Grand Terrace Days. This is a slight of hand, a dishonest way of raising fees for one service to pay for another service. That is just plain wrong if the Government wants to be respected and trusted.
If your child asks for money for a college book and you find out the money was spent on a trip to the beach a parent may be a bit careful the next time book funds were requested.
It is always difficult to have to layoff people. However, it is clear that the workers are being cut and those with the top incomes are not making equal sacrafices in their income and benefits. The City Council and RDA Board should waive all but Liability Insurances and Bonds. They should surrender their Medical Insurance, Retirement Payments, and Meeting Stipends and Gas Allowances. Second the City Manager should VOLUNTEER a contract change, at a minimum cut her contract costs by 50,000.00 year, without cutting the hours she is working. Most of our citizens are working longer hours for less income in order to keep our jobs. The 1.4 Million in Employee Wage Cost for a city with a less than 5 Million budget is top heavy. Maintenance workers and clerks earning barely minimum wage should not lose their jobs. Maintenance workers were not the ones who created the need for property maintenance to be done.
