BUDGET DISCUSSIONS The council will have its...

BUDGET DISCUSSIONS

The council will have its first public talks on the city’s budget

at the study session before the council meeting. This draft budget is

all about the status quo: no new spending programs and no serious

cutbacks. The most striking item is a reduction in general fund

capital programs from about $4 million to about $1.5 million. This

will give the city some cushion against the uncertainty in Sacramento

that could cost the city millions in revenue.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The status quo spending plan leaves little to fight about. The

council will consider the details and discuss minor changes, but no

vote is scheduled for tonight. June 24 is when the council is

scheduled to vote on the final budget.

CITY PARKS

A policy that no city park should ever be named after a person

could become law tonight. Staff suggested creating the policy after

several residents suggested naming city parks in memory of notable

members of the community. The idea behind the action is that there

are many outstanding individuals in the area and not enough parks to

honor them all.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Even family members of the late Rosalind Williams, who requested a

park be named after her, say they understand the need for a policy.

So it’s likely this one will pass. Residents will still be able to

honor notable individuals through dedications of items within city

parks such as benches and trees.

FEDERAL GRANT MONEY

A public hearing tonight will review the city’s request for

$426,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant dollars. The

one-year city plan includes details of where the money will go. For

example, $4,000 is slated to go to WISE Place, a charity that assists

homeless women; $10,000 is earmarked for the Orange Coast Interfaith

Shelter; and $20,000 will go to FISH Harbor Area Inc.’s mobile meals

programs. The bulk of the money, though, will stay within the city’s

control: $50,000 will go to making improvements to public facilities

for people with disabilities, $214,020 will go to repay the city’s

Section 108, which was used to help fund public improvements in

Balboa Village; and $25,000 will go to salaries for code enforcement

officers to conduct housing inspections in designated low- and

moderate-income areas of the city to ensure health and safety codes.

WHAT TO EXPECT

If the council approves the action plan, staff will submit the

request for funds to the federal department of Housing and Urban

Development.

-- Compiled by June Casagrande