INSIDE CITY HALL Here are a few...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are a few of the issues the council decided Monday.

REVIEW OF PROGRAMS

The council approved continuing funding for youth and family

programs, including birthday parties and mobile recreation and mobile

skate park programs. The city’s tight budget had some on the council

urging cuts to services and programs as a good way to save the city

some money.

The council directed recreation staff members to keep all the

programs and services that were approved in the 2004-05 fiscal year

budget and return to the council in the middle of the fiscal year

with a proposal to accomplish $100,000 in savings, which could be

through a combination of revenue increases and spending cuts.

Councilman Allan Mansoor dissented.

WHAT IT MEANS

No more recreational programs will be on the chopping block until

the recreation staff returns to the council with its proposal.

WHAT WAS SAID

“We’re attempting to trim the budget, and the recreation division

seems a little fat, so we’ve asked them to streamline their process

and adjust their programming to where it’s more efficient, and

hopefully that will save us at least $100,000,” Mayor Gary Monahan

said.

GENERAL PLAN REQUEST

The council approved preserving state-owned property at the

northwest corner of Harbor Boulevard and Fair Drive and directed

staff members to proceed with a general plan amendment to change the

land-use designation from high-density residential to

public/institutional.

If the property is rezoned, land uses allowed under the

public/institutional designation include parkland and recreational

uses and also allows development such as churches and day-care and

educational facilities.

WHAT IT MEANS

Staff members will bring back to the council a general plan

amendment to change the land use from high-density residential to

public/institutional.

WHAT WAS SAID

“This prepares the city for the ability of the city and/or some

type of school entity to purchase the property,” Monahan said.

-- Deirdre Newman