HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-23-1993MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA
MARCH 23, 1993
CALLED TO ORDER
CONFERENCE ROOM
SANTA ANA LIBRARY
26 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA
6:10 P.M.
ATTENDANCE
COUNCILMEMBERS
Present:
MIGUEL A. PULIDO, Mayor Pro Tem
(7:23 p.m.)
TOM LUTZ
LISA MILLS (6:14 p.m.)
TED R MORENO
ROBERT L. RICHARDSON
Absent: None
DAN YOUNG, Mayor
RICK NORTON
Present:
DAVID REAM, City Manager
JANICE C. GUY, Clerk of the Council
EDWARD J. COOPER, City Attorney
Absent: None
BUDGET PRESENTATION
Although a Council quorum was not present, the City Council elected to proceed with
departmental budget presentations. Councilmember Richardson indicated the Library
presentation would be deferred pending a quorum and the Community Development Agency
budget would be discussed first. A quorum was reached when Councilmember Mills arrived
at 6:14 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Community Development Agency Executive Director Cindy Nelson discussed her agency's
budget proposals on personnel reductions and revenue enhancements. Director Nelson
proposed eliminating 18 positions and creating 1 new position for a net decrease of 17 full-
time employees. She explained the agency would compensate for personnel cuts through
work reassignments.
On the revenue side, Director Nelson reported agency budget reductions resulting from the
State budget deficit would be partially offset by anticipated revenue from various Clinton
administration programs.
Councilmember Richardson requested staff provide Council with a summary of the
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the McFadden and Main street realignment project.
LIBRARY SERVICES
Library Services Executive Director Rob Richard presented the Library budget proposal,
reporting that Santa Ana ranked 11 lth among the 158 public libraries statewide in library
spending by dollars per person. Director Richard noted that the City's library system has
been chronically underfunded and currently needs in excess of $15 million in new books and
additional library space to meet state standards.
Mayor Pro Tern Pulido arrived at 7:23 p.m.
Director Richard indicated that the Library will continue to focus on Hispanics and youth as
its primary customers. He then presented various charts, maps, and demographic data
supporting the budget proposal to close the McFadden Branch Library.
Councilmember Richardson requested Director Richard to provide the Council with copies of
the statistics and materials used in the presentation, and the Clerk of the Council Office to
provide copies of the same materials to any interested member of the public.
The Council then discussed at length various alternatives to closing the McFadden Branch
Library including shorter library hours, use of volunteers, and reduction of the Library's
book budget.
Rosa Ramirez, 2307 W. Russell, and Cecilia Maciel, Committee for the Immaculate Heart of
Mary, asked the Council not to close the McFadden Branch Library on behalf of a group of
some 50 adults and children present at the meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Pulido and Councilmember Richardson explained to the audience that the
Council was not voting on the McFadden Branch Library closure at this time and would not
be voting on this issue until after the budget presentations have been concluded.
crrY COUNCIL ~ 12~ MARCI~ 23, ]~'J3
Councilmember Richardson suggested that City staff investigate the possibility of pooling
library services funds of the City of Santa Ana and the Santa Ana Unified School District.
In response to Councilmember Moreno's query regarding the feasibility of operating the
Library on Sundays, Director Richard reported that staff had studied the matter and
concluded that Sunday Library operations would be infeasible.
RECESS 8:23 - 8:33 p.m.
RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
Recreation and Community Services Executive Director Allen Doby prefaced his budget
presentation with an update on key projects slated for completion this fiscal year. Director
Doby then presented his budget proposals to reduce personnel and increase revenues. Doby
described the department's organizational structure, indicated that 5 full-time positions
would be deleted, and explained he was compensating for this loss by increasing the use of
part-time and volunteer staff.
Director Doby proposed to raise revenue by increasing Santa Ana Zoo admission prices and
user fees for sports programs, establishing rental charges for the use of city facilities outside
the City's normal operating hours, and adopting a more aggressive citation program for park
safety enforcement.
In response to concerns raised by a senior citizens group represented by Lew Lefler
regarding the proposed community center rental charges, Director Doby explained how the
affected parties had been notified of the proposal.
Councilmembers Richardson and Moreno expressed reservations regarding proposals to
charge senior citizens and other Santa Ana residents for the use of City-owned facilities.
Councilmember Richardson also expressed qualms regarding the proposal to close the
McFadden Branch Library.
City Manager Ream concluded the session by pointing out that the FY 93-94 budget was
different from those in previous years in that the proposed budget called for a significant
restructuring of the City's operations.
ADJOURNED - 9:10 P.M.
Clerk of the Council
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 125 MARCH 23, 1993