HomeMy WebLinkAbout08- Public Comments August 6, 2012
The City of San Bernardino is faced with some very challenging times now that bankruptcy has been
declared. They must come up with a plan to make many, and in some cases, drastic cuts to the budget
in order for the City to survive and come out of the bankruptcy a better and more financially secure City.
Everything must to be on the table and nothing, absolutely nothing, not be considered for cuts. While _
considering cuts, large and small, if the City is to emerge successfully, it has to go to where the largest
amount of money can be realized. That means wages and benefits for all City employees, past and
present should be the first consideration.
Remember that the only wrong or bad suggestion is the one that is never made.
To that end here are some suggestions that the City should seriously consider.
1. Retirement should be calculated on base pay only, and no other considerations involved.
2. Retirement should be based on the highest 3, or possibly even 5 years highest pay
3. Sick leave accumulation is unlimited while employed by the City. However when you retire
there is no compensation for any un-used sick leave. Use it or lose it.
4. Vacation time can be accumulated to a maximum of 40 days. Anything over 40 days will be lost
at the end of each year.
5. Employees must pay the entire employee share of their retirement.
6. By instituting number 3,4 and 5 you affectively eliminate payroll "spiking". Any other"spiking'
presently allowed must be eliminated.
7. Evaluate ALL departments to see if outsourcing those City functions/services can be cost
effectively performed by an outside service provider.
8. Where City employees will be utilized to perform services, if there are not enough employees
presently to do those duties without overtime, hire enough employees to eliminate overtime,
except in emergencies
9. Eliminate all current"feel good and special interests" (Operation Phoenix, etc.) programs
immediately. If it is not beneficial to the vast majority of the citizens of the City,we do not
need it and certainly cannot afford it.
10. Do not start any new projects unless it will benefit the majority of the citizens of the City and
also generate revenue for the City to offset any costs associated with the new program.
11. All purchase order over$10,000 must come before the Council for a vote.
12. Consider having the Council meet weekly until the City emerges from bankruptcy
13. Have a balanced budget from this point forward. If there is no CASH to pay for it,the City
doesn't buy it.
14. Close all but one or two City parks. Then place all efforts to make those several remaining parks
as good as they can be.
15. Close all but the main branch of the library. Place all efforts to make it as accessible as possible
for all citizens.
16. Seek pro bono help from outside sources, i.e. certified public accounts, lawyers, and any and all
citizens with ideas on how to make the City all that it can be.
17. Speak with the employees and get their input on cost saving ideas. The person who does it 8
hours a day generally knows where the waste is and how to do the job efficiently and
effectively.
18. Work with the San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce to encourage new businesses to
locate within the City limits of San Bernardino.
19. Consider certain tax incentives for new businesses that locate in the City
20. Consider certain tax incentives for businesses that hire new employees that live within the City
limits.
21. Any and all ideas need to be thoroughly vetted before implementation and/or dismissal
22. Close and/or eliminate any and all giveaway programs.Soup kitchens, etc.,that only continue to
draw the wrong demographic of people to the City. The only way to improve the City is to
change the demographics. Without that change we are doomed.
23. Look at the entire City Charter for possible areas that could be changed that would ultimately be
better for the City and all of its residents
24. Consider changing the ward system to an at large system, so that Council members are
considering the entire City when they vote and not just what's good for"their" ward.
While this may seem like drastic measures by some, these are drastic times that required drastic and
bold actions if we are to have any chance, whatsoever, to get out of bankruptcy sooner, rather than
later, and be a place that we all want to live, shop and play.
Respectfully,
Ronald Coats
San Bernardino