HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-07-18; City Council; 5512; Proposition 13 Implementation Advisory Committee/
CITY OF CARLSBAD
AGENDA BILL NO. ^5"O J o? Initial:
Dept.Hd.
DATE: JULY 18, 1978
DEPARTMENT; CITY MANAGER c. Mgr.
Subject:J REPORT OF THE PROPOSITION 13 IMPLEMENTATION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Statement of the Matter
The Advisory Committee appointed by the City Council
concluded its work on July 13, 1978 by approving the
attached report.
The Committee held a series of eight (8) meetings in
order to accomplish the tasks assigned by the Council,
The Committee requested that the Report be forwarded
to the City Council at its July 18, 1978 meeting.
Exhibit:
Memo to City Council, dated July 14, 1978
Advisory Committee Report dated July 13, 1978.
Council action
7-18-78 The Council accepted the Advisory Committee Report and requested
that a letter of appreciation be sent to the Chairman and
members of the committee.
DATE: JULY 14, 1978
TO: CARLSBAD CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Proposition 13 Implementation Advisory Committee
SUBJECT: COMMITTEE REPORT
The Citizens Committee appointed by Council Resolution No. 5448
conducted semi-weekly meetings, commencing June 15, 1978 and ending
July 13, 1978, to consider ways and means of reducing General Fund
expenditures, in order to implement Proposition 13.
The Committee does not recommend specific cuts in dollar amount, or
service level, or specific projects, but rather recommends the
attached documents be considered as indications of priority of needs.
The Committee's recommendations and suggestions are grouped under
three headings:
1. Priorities recommended for reducing the Operating Budget,
2. Priorities recommended for reducing the Capital Improvement
Plan (CIP); and
3. General Recommendations and suggestions.
The Committee recommends that the City Council consider first the
recommended reductions in the Operating Budget. If economies dis-
covered are insufficient to achieve the targeted financial reduction,
then the reduction or deferral of projects in the CIP should be
considered. The Committee makes this recommendation because it appears
to be in consonance with popular sentiment expressed by Proposition 13,
and because reductions in the Operating Budget may well carry over
into future years.
The Committee's recommendations for reducing services in the Operating
Budget are detailed in Enclosure (1). Each line item of the Operating
Budget was classified under one of three headings:
"1": delete the item,
"2": reduce it significantly, or
"3": maintain it at present level.
These numbers, reflecting consensus of our opinion, appear to the left
of each item in Enclosure (1).
COMMITTEE REPORT
JULY 14, 1978
Page 2
The Committee recommends deletion of only one line item in the
Operating Budget: Community Promotion, Chamber of Commerce.
By consensus of opinion, the Committee recommends a reduction in
the funding of the services indicated in the following line items
of Enclosure (1) :
BUILDING; overall service.
POLICE; beach, lagoon, shopping center, and off-road vehicle
patrols; juvenile diversion, reserve program, explorer scout program,
administrative support and training, and special events program.
FIRE; education programs and special events.
PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION; overall service, planning/
coordination/administration, and growth management program.
ENGINEERING DIVISION; overall service, traffic engineering, sub-
division review, construction inspection, plan checking, and con-
struction management.
UTILITIES/MAINTENANCE; overall service, supervision/admini-
stration support, street sweeping, street striping, street signing,
new street projects, and weed abatement.
LIBRARY; overall service, operating hours, bookmobile program,
shut-in service, audiovisual service, reference service, children's
services, and cooperative programs.
PARKS AND RECREATION; overall service, youth leagues, adult
leagues, instructional programs, park play supervision, maintenance
programs for parks, street trees, open space, baseball fields, and
the future swimming pool.
PLANNING; overall service, administration/coordination, advance
planning including general plan develop/maintenance, master plans,
local coastal program, and redevelopment downtown study and the
block grant program.
NON-DEPARTMENTAL ACCOUNTS; Project Oz, COMBO, and dues and
memberships to: League of California Cities, San Diego Water
Reclamation Agency, and Safety Council.
COMMITTEE REPORT
JULY 14, 1978
Page 3
CITY MANAGER; special studies/reports.
CITY ATTORNEY; overall service.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION; overall service, copying
service.
FINANCE: utility billing and collection, accounting services.
PERSONNEL; overall service, recruitment and testing, training,
personnel classification, and labor relations.
PURCHASING; overall service and centralized purchasing.
The Committee considers that significant reductions in the foregoing
items could in many cases be imposed with a minimum reduction in
essential services and personnel.
The Committee arranged the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), at
Enclosure (2), in a list of projects by priority, of which the most
desirable item is Number One, and the most expendable item is Number
Forty. After the Council exhausts the possibilities of savings
through reductions in the Operating Budget, the Committee recommends
that the CIP list be scrutinized for further savings. In doing so,
the Committee recommends that the cost and scope of each CIP item
be reviewed.
The Committee does not recommend the total abolition of any item
in this Capital Improvement Plan. It does, however, recommend
deferment or reduction in the amounts budgeted for selected items
for this fiscal year. Moreover, the Committee does not recommend
that funds built up in reserve for specific projects be reallocated
for other uses simply because the projects have been deferred or
reduced in magnitude.
A significant majority of the Committee has agreed upon the
following general recommendations for your consideration.
TO IMPROVE DEPARTMENTAL EFFICIENCY;
1. Conduct a city-wide management audit to clarify and re-
assign departmental responsibilities and eliminate duplication of
effort.
COMMITTEE REPORT
JULY 14, 1978
Page 4
2. Review park planting and maintenance standards.
3. Reevaluate the equipment replacement program to institute
longer use-periods.
4. Coordinate plan-checking among the Engineering, Planning,
and Building Departments, or assign all responsibility to one
department.
5. Shift responsibility for tree-trimming and right-of-way
maintenance to the Public Works Department.
6. Merge the police off-road vehicle and beach patrols, and
augment them by transferring personnel from the lagoon patrol.
7. Review recreation programs to eliminate duplicating the
efforts of local organizations.
8. Encourage citizen participation in one-time, short-term
planning projects, in lieu of hiring consultants. Assign community
projects such as landscaping, cleanups, etc., to service clubs in
search of such projects. Utilize experts from local industry or
retired citizens with expertise available at no cost.
TO REDUCE AND REVISE THE BUDGET;
1. Freeze all hiring, except for police and fire departments,
or to fill essential vacant positions.
TO REDUCE NON-VITAL SERVICES;
1. Limit the hours of availability to the public of the staff
in Planning, Engineering, and Building. Further, attempt to
establish uniform public information hours throughout all other
similar county organizations.
2. Institute bi-monthly billings for water, sewer, trash
collection, etc., and therefy extend present computer capacity.
COMMITTEE REPORT
JULY 14, 1978
Page 5
TO INCREASE REVENUE;
1. Establish fee schedules sufficient to cover costs of
recreation programs and the use of city-owned conference rooms.
2. Consider a general increase in fees for other city services
and licenses/ to render such services financially self-supporting.
3. Meter the lighting on tennis courts.
Other economy measures suggested for consideration of the Council
are attached as Enclosure (3).
Additional suggestions by individual Committee Members are
included for your consideration as Enclosure (4).
The Committee wishes to thank City Manager Paul Bussey and his
Assistants Frank Mannen and Jim Elliott for their willing cooperation
and many helpful suggestions in formulating this report.
Respectfully submitted,
DONALD E.
Chairman,
Carlsbad Citizens Budget Committee
DEY:vm
Enclosures: (1) OPERATING BUDGET
(2) CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, PRIORITY LIST
(3) ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY
AND ECONOMY
(4) SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS BY INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
CITY OF CARLSBAD
OPERATING BUDGET PRIORITIES
JULY 13, 1978
Enclosure (1)
PRIORITY
BUILDING
2 Overall Service
3 Inspection Services
3 Plan Checking
3 Code Enforcement Programs
POLICE
3 Overall Service
3 Basic Patrol Service
2 Beach Patrol
2 Lagoon Patrol
3 School Crossing Guards
3 Investigations
2 Juvenile Diversion
2 Reserve Program
2 Shopping Center Patrol
2 Off-Road Vehicle Patrol
2 Explorer Scout Program
2 Admin. Support and Training^
2 Special Events Program
FIRE
3 Overall Service
3 Fire Suppression
3 Prevention/Inspection Service
3 Paramedic Service
3 Ambulance Service
3 Training Programs
2 ^Education Programs
2 Special Events
PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION
2 Overall Service
2 Planning/Coordination/Administration
2 Growth Management Program
ENGINEERING DIVISION
2 Overall Service
2 Traffic Engineering
2 Subdivision Review
2 Construction Inspection
2 Plan Checking
2 Construction Management
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
1
3
3
2
1
3
3
1
2
1
3
1
3
3
3
1
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
1
1
3
3
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
2
3
3
2
2
1
4
2
3
3
2
2
3
3
2
1
3
1
3
3
2
1
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
3
2
3
2
3
3
3
5
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
6
2
3
2
2
2
3
2
1
3
3
3
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
2
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
7
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
1
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
8
2
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
3
3
2
3
3
1
3
2
2
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
1
9
2
2
2
2
3
3
2
1
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
2
3
3
2
1
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
10
2
2
3
2
3
3
2
1
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
3
2
1
3
2
3
2
3
2
11
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
1
3
1
12
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
3
3
2
-
-
-
3
3
3
3
—
AVERAGE
SCORE
2.45
2.83
2.75
2.58
2.70
3.00
2.42
1.58
2.55
3.00
2.27
2.36
2.45
2.18
1.81
2.45
1.91
2.78
3.00
2.55
3.00
3.00
2.75
2.25
2.00
2.33
2.27
1.91
2.33
2.50
2.50
2.41
2.33
2.01
PRIORITY
UTILITIES/MAINTENANCE
2 Overall Service
2 Supervision/Administration Support
3 Sewer Maintenance
3 Water Maintenance
Street Maintenance:
2 Sweeping
2 Striping
3 Patching
2 Signing
2 New Projects
3 Trash Collection
2 Weed Abatement
3 Custodial Maintenance
3 Vehicle Maintenance
LIBRARY
2 Overall Service
2 Operating Hours
2 Bookmobile Program
2 Shut-in Service
2 Audiovisual Service
2 Reference Service
3 Serra System Participation
2 Children's Services
2 Cooperative Programs
PARKS AND RECREATION
2 Overall Service
Recreation Programs :
2 Youth Leagues (Sports)
2 Adult Leagues (Sports)
2 Instructional Programs
2 Park Play Supervision
Maintenance Programs :
2 Parks
2 Street Trees
2 Open Space
3 City Hall/St. Patricks
2 Baseball Fields
2 Swimming Pool (Future)
1
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
3
2
2
3
2
2
1
2
2
3
3
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
2
1
4
2
2
3
3
2
2
3
3
2
3
2
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
1
3
2
3
2
2
1
5
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
3
3
2
2
2
3
6
2
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
2
3
1
2
2
3
3
2
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
H
3
2
3
3
2
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
3
3
F
8
2
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
1
3
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
9
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
10
3
2
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
3
11
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
3
1
2
3
2
2
3
3
2
3
12
-
3
3
2
2
3
2
1
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
2
«
1
2
-
3
2
2
3
2
1
AVERAGE
SCORE
2.44
2.27
2.92
2.75
2.25
2.42
2.75
2.50
2.17
2.85
2.17
2.75
2.83
2.33
2.50
2.17
2.25
2.08
2.33
2.66
2.50
2.25
2.13
2.46
2.08
2.00
2.00
2.50
2.17
2.25
2.58
2.17
2.17
-2-
PRIORITY
PLANNING
2 Overall Service
2 Administration/Coordination
3 Zoning^ Administration (Plan Checking)
Advance Planning:
2 General Plan Development/Maint.
2 Master Plans
2 Local Coastal Program
Redevelopment :
2 Downtown Study
2 Block Grant Program
3 Environmental Review
NON-DEPARTMENTAL ACCOUNTS
Insurance and Bonds
Retirement
Library Bonds
Sewer Bonds
Lease Payments
Community Promotion:
1 Chamber of Commerce Service
Community Assistance:
2 Project Oz
2 Combo
Senior Citizen Assistance:
3 Carlsbad Sr. Citizen Association
Dues and Memberships:
2 League of California Cities
3 Comprehensive Planning Organization
2 S.D. Water Reclamation Agency
2 Safety Council
3 Audit
CITY MANAGER
3 Overall Service
3 Planning/Coordinating
3 General Management/Administration
2 Special Studies/Reports
CITY ATTORNEY
2 Overall Service
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
-
-
-
-
2
3
-
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
-
-
-
-
1
3
2
2
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
-
-
-
-
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
4
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
-
-
-
-
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
5
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
-
-
-
-
2
2
2
^ .
_
-
-
—-
3
3
3
2
2
6
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
2
-
-
-
-
1
3
1
2
3
3
3
1
-
3
3
2
3
2
7
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
-
-
-
-
1
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
8
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
-
-
-
-
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
3
3
-
3
2
2
9
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
-
-
-
-
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
10
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
3
-
-
-
-
3
2
2
3
1
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
1
2
11
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
-
-
-
-
1
2
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
12
-
3
_
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
2
1
3
3
3
-
—-
-
-
3
AVERAGE
SCORE
2.33
2.45
2.58
2.36
2.36
2.36
2.17
2.18
2.55
-
-
-
-
1.5
2.17
1.73
2.55
2.33
2.55
2.36
2.20
2.56
2.78
2.90
2.73
2.27
2.36
-3-
PRIORITY
CITY CLERK
3 Overall Service
3 Business Licenses
3 Preparation of City Council Agendas
3 Record Keeping/Minutes
3 Elections
GENERAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
2 Overall Service
3 Switchboard/Receptionist
3 Mail Service
2 Copying Service
FINANCE
3 Overall Service
2 Utility Billing and Collection
2 Accounting Services
3 Payroll Services
3 Financial Management and Control
TREASURER
3 Overall Service
3 Investment of Funds
PERSONNEL
2 Overall Service
2 Recruitment and Testing
2 Training
3 Personnel Files
3 Affirmative Action Program
2 Personnel Classification
2 Labor Relations
PURCHASING
2 Overall Service
2 Centralized Purchasing
1
3
2
3
3
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
1
2
2
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
5
3
3
3
3
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
—
6
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
7
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
8
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
3
2
3
2
2
2
9
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
10
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
3
2
3
2
1
2
2
2
1
3
3
11
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
2
2
2
3
3
12
3
3
3
3
3
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
-
2
-
-
—
AVERAGE
SCORE
2.90
2.83
2.67
2.75
2.75
2.25
2.80
2.70
2.09
2.88
2.30
2.50
2.80
2.80
2.88
2.80
2.50
2.27
2.30
2.70
2.60
2.40
2.30
2.38
2.50
ATTACHMENT 2
«
.
PROJECT
PRIORITY
1 (*)
2 (*)
.3 (*)
4. (*)
'5 (*)'
6. (*)
7 (*)
. 8 (*)
9 (*)
• XO .{*)
llr(*j
• 12'(-)
13 (*)
14 (*)
14 (*)
.'16 (*')
17. (*)'
18' (*)
19 (*)
20 (*)
1/21 (R)
t/22 (R)
•J/23 (R)
.24 (*)
V25 (R)
1/26 (R)
26 (-)
28'(-)
29 (-)
30 .(-)
31 (-)
•• r ~v \_,JLJ.J. w v-*xi\jjiJju.n>L/ .'"™% •- .'w • • OCAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
PRIORITY LIST
. AUGUST 25, 1978
* • . »
i • •
PROJECT DESCRIPTION . .
Harding Street Community Center
Stairway to Library Mezzanine (Const.)
Holiday Park Comfort Station (Const.)
Roosevelt and Elm Traffic Signal • '
Tamarack - Carlsbad Blvd. to 1-5 (Design)
Relocation of Fire Station No. 2
Monroe - Elm Avenue to Marron (Design)
Elm- Avenue - Donna Drive to El Camino Real (Design)
Palomar Airport Road & Paseo Del Norte Signal (Design)
Paving of Parking Lot Adjacent to Pine' School'
Computer Up-grade - City Hall - Equipment
Pine Field Lighting . , . •
Fire .Station No. 5 (Land Acquisition)
Beach Access - North of Ocean Street (Const.)
Swimming Pool
Extension of Parking Facility (Library)
Repair of Storm Damage (Parks) .•
Land Acquisition East of Library
City Service Center (Public Works Yard) (Land)
Police Facility '(Reserve & Design)
. Carlsbad High School - Street Improvements
Vapor Recovery System
Sycamore, Chestnut/ Maple - Storm Drain
City Hall Expansion (Reserve) . *
Magee House - Street improvements
AT^F17 S-HOY-TTI nvain .<•;>" . •
Chase Field Lighting . . ""
Fire Station No. 5 (Design) •
Cherry Avenue Storm Drain '
Holiday Park Shelter House .(Const.)
Laguna Riviera Park Banks . (Design)
•
PROJECT
COST
94,620
10,000
29 f 200
50,000
80,000
.170,000
10,000
20,000
11,000
2,788
26,000
12,200
75,000
19,500
1,212,753
15,000
4,509
283,000
' 50,000
. 160,000
4,000
10,000
101,000• '•«• 100,000
48,000
235,000.
13,600
• 35,000*
45,000
9*900
10,000
ATTACHMENT 2 (Cont'd)
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PRIORITY LIST
'age 2 ^ >'
'ROJECT
'RIORITY
32 (-)
/34 '£
35.' (-)
36 (-)
37 .(-)
38 (-)
•39 •'(-)
'- 40 (-)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Children's Library (Design ...i
Carlsbad High School Tennis Courts (Lighting 2 Courts)
Magee House Landscaping
Trail System (Design)
Tennis Court Lighting (9 C9urts) . x
Larwin Park (Design)
A'lta Mira -Park (Design) . -. , -.
Wind Screens for Tennis Courts
Carrillo Ranch Park (Design) . .
PROJECT
COST
56,000
7,000
168,000
: 33,000
60,000
22,000
22,000
2,285
30,000
('*) Tentative decision of Council to include in Capital' Improvement Program
(R) Previously eliminated but recommended for reinclusion in Capital
Improvement Program ' ' <
(-) Eliminated from Capital Improvement Program
Enclosure (3)
ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY
TO IMPROVE EFFICENCY;
1. Reduce use of city vehicles and consider paying per diem
or mileage for use of personal vehicles.
2. Cooperate with other cities in training police and firemen.
3. Make maximum use of legal services offered by County and
other regional agencies.
4. Coordinate the Children's Library Program with the public
school libraries, possibly using the Bookmobile for liaison.
TO REDUCE SERVICES;
1. Reduce frequency of street sweeping, except downtown.
2. Review street lighting standards to reduce them to
minimum safety requirements.
3. Shorten library hours.
4. Reduce library telephone reference information service.
TO IMPROVE SERVICES;
1. Police Department issue more citations and fewer warnings.
2. Review police response and dispatching procedures.
3. Improve Parks and Recreation beach cleanup, or coordinate
it with local service clubs as a revolving community project.
TO INCREASE REVENUE;
1. Charge for library audiovisual use.
2. Charge for police patrols for special events.
3. Increase ambulance fees and consider coordinating billings
with emergency room charges, to facilitate collection.
4. Establish a lagoon use fee and tax.
OTHER LONG-RANGE PROJECTS;
1. Consider charter city status to generate new revenue sources,
2. Join other cities to change state laws mandating expensive
operating requirements, and to increase the maximum cost limits for
discretionary consulting contracts.
3. Emphasize energy conservation in planning new building.
,^OT^ Enclosure (4)
£? MLl&a ^ July |3f ,978
tg <*%?***,>
\<?', "<f
xc^ ' v*
To the City Council of Carlsbad: N^"/T 1\$*>''
As a member of the committee appointed by you to recommend cuts in
the budget in response to Proposition 13, I *%ish to submit this letter as
a minority report. We were asked to set the projects in the capital im-
provements plan into a priority list so the council, once the level of money
available is known, can go down the list, seek the level of projects it can
afford, and delete what is below. I participated in the priority ranking and
concur with the composite list submitted with the majority report. However,
it occurred to me early in the sessions, that there were items in the capital
improvements budget for design and/or construction that seemed overpriced.
I contacted people in various businesses to ask an approximate cost of com-
pleting a number of the projects and got estimates, in some cases,of one
quarter to one tenth of the sums budgeted.
In light of these findings, I would suggest that, rather than deleting
low priority itmes, that a careful look be taken at the items to be built
with the aim of significantly reducing the cost. I wish to emphasize the
foI Iow i ng suggest i ons:
1) that design work be done by city employees where at all possible,
rather than outside consultants, even if overtime must be paid
2) that city employees be trained to handle work now being done by
consultants
3) that previously designed plans be reused for similar projects
4) that alternate ways of accomplishing a project be explored
5) that the scope of some projects be reduced
6) that lower bidders be actively sought
7) that all bids for a project be rejected if all are too high. If
necessary, some specifications might be changed for the project to be rebid.
Sincerely yours,
<3r«JL4^ feWxJ-CJL^
Lois Boncer
Jerry Donlon has givem me permission to add his name in concurrence to
this letter.