Consultants say, however, that it’s already efficient

The City Council members clash often, and typically vote in political blocs on controversial issues. Discussions on the dais often include personal jabs. Councilmen Kern, Gary Felien and Jack Feller often make up a majority bloc, while Councilwoman Esther Sanchez and Mayor Jim Wood form a minority. That vote split has pushed two propositions onto the June ballot, one dealing with vacancy decontrol in mobile home parks and the other with how elections will take place in the city.

The study also listed as an option consolidating the Fire Station 1 and Fire Station 2, both in downtown and with overlapping service areas, though it did not go so far as to recommend that option.

The City Council split 3-2 in September to commission the study and pay TriData $71,000. Some opposed the study, saying it was a waste of money for the cash-strapped city. The council majority defended the study, saying it could identify larger or long-term savings. Wood was absent, because he was on the East Coast.

City officials have been grappling with a $1.6 million deficit expected over the $112.5 million projected in revenue for the budget year beginning July 1.

The council decided last week to go with the city manager’s recommendation to close the deficit by reducing most city department budgets proportionally, eliminating 16 unfilled city positions and changing the elected city clerk from a full-time job to part time, but adding support staff for the clerk’s office.

The city manager’s plan also included raising fees for ambulance transports to generate more revenue, which will be decided by the council at a future meeting.


