Following contentious discussions about the proposed reorganization of library management, a new flagpole at the harbor, and a possible reshuffling of police staff, the Redondo Beach City Council passed its 2013-2014 budget 3-1 Tuesday night.
Councilmember Pat Aust, agitated by the budget’s provision of $18,000 to move the Harbor Patrol flagpole, abstained. Colleague Steve Sammarco opposed the motion without offering a reason.
The fourth in a series of public hearings closed at about 9 p.m. Tuesday, at which time the council decided to pass an amended version of the budget as per a motion put forth by Councilmember Matt Kilroy.
Kilroy’s motion approves all decision packages set out by City Manager Bill Workman and staff, save three pertaining to the reorganization of library leadership and the harbor tidelands and uplands funds.
Again there is $100 million available to the city – $63 million in the general fund, $33.8 in a capital improvement budget that forecasts into 2018, and $5.8 million in reserve funding.
Initially Workman had proposed deauthorizing the library director’s position and transferring the associated responsibilities to the director of the Recreation, Community Services and Transit, thereby freeing up cash to open the North Branch one additional day a week. His suggestion met with ample resistance from many involved in library management.
Tuesday, Alice Taylor of the Library Foundation approached the pulpit to oppose Workman’s attempt to make organizational changes at the library without first putting together a mid-term strategic plan.
She suggested the city already has money in its general fund to keep the North Branch open on Tuesdays and alleged the proposed reorganization was prompted by a certain “personality conflict.”
Resident Jaclyn Taylor said she was “frankly dismayed by this reorganization,” calling it a “game of chicken.”
“The majority of the library commission opposes this change,” she said. “Feeling like the commission doesn’t really have an impact… is disheartening.”
As a result of such input, the amended budget does not deauthorize the director’s position but will still earmark funding for costs associated with opening the North Branch on Tuesdays. It authorizes a temporary library director upon incumbent Jean Scully’s June 30 retirement.
Budget deliberations included consideration of ways to potentially restore the concessions city employees made when they absorbed a six percent pay cut four years ago.
“Put that money aside. Start showing some good faith that you want to restore these employee concessions,” police officer Ian Miesen told the council.
“Without their commitment and loyalty for the last four years I believe the recession would have been much worse.”
The budget assumes the pay cut will continue through this financial year, but the council is considering ballot measures to increase taxes for utilities and landscape and lighting, which would have to go before voters in two years’ time. In the meantime, to restore compensation to employees, the council is negotiating to raise parking meter rates, award Athens a street sweeping contract, and de-authorize several city positions.
One of Workman’s suggestions – to de-authorize a police lieutenant position and use the funds retained to create jobs for an administration analyst and an active-duty officer within the force, thereby saving a a projected $129,000 – was scrapped Tuesday.
Toward the end of Tuesday’s discussion, there was still back-and-forth debate about several components of the budget and Mayor Steve Aspel considered wielding his veto power.
City Attorney Mike Webb informed him that a veto would mean no budget and put him and city staff in an “awkward position” – “not something I find remotely funny,” Webb said of smiles from the dais – and Aspel subsequently adjourned the meeting.
“The budget’s passed,” the new mayor said. “It is what it is.”
