Pomona council wavers; members seek to temper cuts

POMONA - Community center activities and Neighborhood Watch programs are among the services some City Council members want to protect from budget cuts.

But to save those and other programs, which add up to about $826,000, cuts must be made in other areas, city administrators said at Monday night's council meeting.

Council members approved budgets for the city's redevelopment agency, housing authority and capital improvement program but held off on approving the city's $165.5 million proposed operating budget.

Included in the operating budget is $78.9 million from the general fund, which pays for services such as police, fire, the library and parks and recreation.

Council members directed department directors to review their portions of the budget and look for places to reduce costs in order to fund other projects.

Among the proposals that went before the council was reducing after-school and summer recreation activities at six of 12 community centers around the city.

But Councilwoman Cristina Carrizosa said she found other areas that could be cut from the budget.

"I think we can squeeze more," she said, seeking greater funds for community center programs.

Councilman Tim Saunders said after-school programs provide help to working families, giving their children supervised activities they can take part in until parents come home from work.

"That's one thing parents have to be able to count on," he said.

"It's hundreds of kids, and it's at every center."

Restoring such programs would cost $300,000, city administrators said.

Councilwoman Paula Lantz sought funding for additional community service officers.

In its budget, the Police Department reduced the number of community service officers, which are civilian positions, from six to two.

Lantz said if cuts to police officer positions will be made, then programs such as Neighborhood Watch need to be bolstered. She called for funding four additional community service officers.

Capt. Paul Capraro responded that those extra officers would cost $284,000 and would require the elimination of two sworn officers.

Mayor Elliott Rothman lobbied to restore five of the 15 police officer positions being eliminated.

Police Chief Dave Keetle said any further cuts will hurt services.

"We're running out of options," he said. "There are fewer and fewer positions we have to look to for funding."

On Tuesday, Rothman said he thought the requested adjustments can be carried out, allowing the city to restore some services such as police.

Services can be provided by cutting money for items such as tools, furniture and equipment and redirecting the funds to services, he said.

"Those aren't items that are going to affect the community," Rothman said.

During the meeting, Rothman asked council members if they supported proceeding with the search for areas to cut.

Councilman Steve Atchley said he was opposed to several of the modifications council members were seeking unless specific and viable alternatives were offered.

If not, "this to me is a meaningless discussion, and I object to every single one" of the modifications, he said.

The library was one area where slight improvements were made.

Library and Community Services Director Greg Shapton said under an updated proposal the library would be open 26 hours a week, two more hours than in the previous proposal. The library would be open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

A total of seven full-time positions would be reduced to three-quarters time, and nine full-time positions would become half-time positions.

Shapton said the proposal provides service during peak hours and gives patrons who can't make it to the library during the week a weekend day to access services.

Council members are expected to meet Monday morning for a strategic planning session at Cal Poly Pomona, followed by a study session on police matters at 5p.m. at Pomona City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave.

Police representatives are expected to bring back information on alternative budget cuts to provide the programs council members requested.

At this week's meeting, Lantz proposed making a 10 percent cut to council compensation and council discretionary funds.

"As council member Carrizosa was saying, every little bit helps," Lantz said.

Council members now receive $800 a month in compensation, and the mayor receives $1,600 a month.

Each council member also gets $33,310 in discretionary funds. The mayor gets $39,318.

Half that money comes from the general fund and half from the city's redevelopment agency and can be used for office expenses, travel to conferences and mileage reimbursement.

Members of the council also use the funds to provide assistance to groups and organizations with activities.

Council members may use some of those funds to help offset the cost of programs at community centers, Rothman said.