City weighs budget cuts

For fiscal year 2018-19, staff recommended eliminating 17.1 budgeted city staff positions, including nine vacant positions in the fire and police departments, and filled positions, including the fire department’s emergency preparedness coordinator, several library assistants, city manager intern and other “casual labor” roles, such as front desk and phone operators, according to a staff report.

Other recommended cuts proposed in the staff report include a reduction in combined library hours from 208 to 161 per week, and the elimination of funding for the Familias Unidas at Hoover and Hawes schools program, which serves about 80 families a year. The report also recommends cutting the Schaberg and American Scores after-school programs, which will affect 130 students, as well as Shakespeare in the Park.

Collectively, the recommended cuts for fiscal year 2018-19 total $3.8 million. The report also suggests cuts for fiscal year 2019-20 totaling $2.2 million.

Even though Redwood City is experiencing a construction boom and city revenue — estimated at $140 million — are higher than projected, Diaz said the council directed staff to reduce expenditures for a variety of reasons, most notably rising pension costs, flat sales and hotel tax revenue and the need to prepare for a future economic downtown.

According to the staff report, increases in general fund expenditures for the current fiscal year are primarily attributed to $5.4 million in transfers associated with implementation of the Docktown Plan, which requires payments to relocate residents there.

During the Monday meeting, members of the Community Emergency Response Team, a disaster preparedness program facing cuts, made a strong showing. Numerous speakers implored the council to leave the program fully intact, including funding for its emergency preparedness coordinator, Christy Adonis, who is vital to the program.

“In light of the recent increase in disasters both natural and manmade, I do not believe that cutting budgets to first responders of any kind is a good idea,” said Greg Schmidt, a CERT member. “I hope it doesn’t take a large-scale emergency to realize how valuable Christy and CERT is.”

In fact, nearly everyone who spoke during the study session’s public comment period expressed support for CERT.

Every member of the council responded with praise for CERT, and several councilmembers, including John Seybert and Janet Borgens, said they’re confident staff will find a way to keep the program intact.

“We hear you, CERT,” Councilwoman Alicia Aguirre said.

As for possible cuts to library and youth programs, several councilmembers expressed concern.

“My overall read of the budget is a lot of what we’re cutting is programs that serve young people and that worries me,” Councilwoman Shelly Masur said.

In response, Diaz said that staff, for the most part, tried to preserve youth programs, and suggested it’s easy to forget how many programs have been preserved when considering the few up for reductions.

Councilman Jeff Gee suggested any future cuts are largely due to rising pension costs and that responsibility for those cuts should not lie solely on the Redwood City Council.

“I know one speaker is angry at the council but I would hope that that speaker also shares some anger at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System board,” Gee said. “There are cities around the state — and I think one in this county — that have already declared a fiscal emergency because of the outlook of city budgets and these significant increases in contributions for which we really don’t have a choice.”

At the end of Monday’s meeting, Mayor Ian Bain stressed that the council is only considering these cuts for the first time. A study session on potential new sources of revenue is scheduled for April.

zachary@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ex. 102