AOV E-Newsletter March 19, 2008
In this issue:
- Budget decisions: Taking action now to reduce costs
- National Expert on Livable Communities & Transportation Speaks at City Hall March 27
- "Cover Over US-101?" Public Design Workshop at Crowne Plaza on April 2
- Community Services Recreation Division Manager Judy Devine Given Tri-County Outstanding Professional of the Year Award
Budget decisions: Taking action now to reduce costs
Ventura City Manager Rick Cole gives immediate insight into breaking news on his blog. Here is an important announcement:
We have been preparing for tougher times. City staff proposed and our City Council adopted a 2% reduction in this year's spending by every department (which would save $1.9 million), along with $1.1 million in savings from postponing or canceling lower priority projects, for a total of $3 million in lower spending. To prepare next year's budget proposal, we assembled teams of staff volunteers, along with resource people from the Ventura Chamber of Commerce to work on spending plans for the City's "strategic visions" drawn from our General Plan. This "Budgeting for Outcomes" approach successfully produced a draft spending plan that achieves our goal of living within our revenue projections for next year.
Those revenue projections, however, were based on last fall's numbers. Since that time, the economy has deteriorated markedly. Facing even lower revenue, it's obvious that we should act now to implement the potential savings we've already identified -- and take further steps to adjust to these emerging realities.
As City Manager, under my charter responsibilities for administering the annual budget adopted by the City Council, I have consulted with the Mayor and Executive Leadership Team to implement the following:
- Immediately freeze hiring, with any exceptions to go to the City Council for approval
- Meet promptly with all our bargaining units to seek their full support, involvement and ideas for addressing this challenge
- Propose the following recommendations to a special meeting of the City Council:
- Implement additional cancellations and postponements of operating and capital projects
- Move forward implementation of the Budgeting for Outcomes cost saving measures during this fiscal year instead of waiting until July 1st
- Revise our flex schedule to implement a 9/80 plan for City Hall and other appropriate city facilities to close every other Friday
- Pursue a six-day furlough of non-safety and maintenance operations staff and closing of city facilities December 25 through January 5th
- In consultation with the Budgeting for Outcomes teams, develop a revised budget alternative, based on a lower revenue estimate, in line with emerging economic trends
- Create a Staff Transition committee, including bargaining unit representatives, to propose the most effective and supportive way to reduce the workforce, including alternatives to lay-offs as well as humane ways to implement lay-offs for the good of the organization and each member of our workforce
- Review all contracts and contractual relationships to look for ways to cancel, renegotiate or reduce rates and expenses
- Initiate a pro-active and intensive dialogue with the community to level with our residents and businesses on the choices we face and involve them in understanding and participating in making those choices
Charlie Hales, National Expert on Livable Communities & Transportation, Comes to the City of Ventura as Keynote Speaker Thursday, March 27 at 7 p.m.
Members of the public are invited to attend Charlie Hales' keynote address about public transportation systems Thursday, March 27 at 7 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room at City Hall (Room 202 at 501 Poli Street). Hales will discuss the purpose and types of transit systems, as well as the requirements for creating a successful public transit system. The presentation is free to the public, and will also be broadcast live on CAPS (Community Access Partners of San Buenaventura), local cable access Channel 15.
Charlie Hales' presentation is part of a City-sponsored initiative called "Ventura on the MOVE: Mobility Options for Ventura's Environment" – aimed at helping the City achieve its General Plan goal of providing more transportation choices by strengthening and balancing alternative mobility opportunities in the City and surrounding region.
"Cover Over US-101?" Public Design Workshop at Crowne Plaza on April 2
The public is invited to take part in a design workshop called "Cover over US-101?" that seeks the contribution of ideas for a long-term community vision for connecting Ventura's downtown to the beach. The public workshop takes place Wednesday, April 2, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach, 450 E. Harbor Blvd. Free parking is available at the city structure next door.
Attendees will be divided into small teams to examine options to cover segments of the 101 Freeway cutting through downtown Ventura – the physical barriers to realizing this vision – and weigh a mix of possible uses for the reclaimed land such as parks, transit, retail and housing.
Community Services Recreation Division Manager Judy Devine Given Tri-County Outstanding Professional of the Year Award
The tri-county chapter of the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) has recognized Judy Devine with the Outstanding Professional of the Year award. Judy has worked for the City of Ventura for more than 20 years, and currently serves as Recreation Division Manager in the Community Services department.
Judy Devine (left) with Community Services Director Elena Brokaw
CPRS bestows the Outstanding Professional of the Year award as recognition of excellence in the profession of parks and recreation; Judy's most noteworthy accomplishments include the thriving Aquatics Center at Ventura's Community Park, and the award-winning PEAK (Program Enrichment for Afterschool Kids), which partners with the City of Ventura Police Department and Ventura Unified School District to provide after-school enrichment activities to more than 450 at-risk, school-aged children. During her tenure, Judy has started and nourished many other programs for the City of Ventura, as well. She accepted the award in front of peers and colleagues during an event in Thousand Oaks on March 7.
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Masthead Art: katherinemcguire.com
