Chula Vista and Eastlake Implement Budget Reduction Plan

While successful labor negotiations with non-public safety employees resulted in several million dollars of taxpayer savings for the City of Chula Vista, the funds are not enough to offset the entire budget deficit for 2011. Decreases in major revenue sources, coupled with the loss of monies from the defeat of Prop H, the Telecommunications User’s Tax (TUT), has compounded the City’s budget gap. As a result, the City is forced to make up the difference by laying off employees and the services they provide. This will result in a reduction in operating hours at many City facilities, and, in some cases, elimination of public services and programs.

Beginning January 7, 2011, the City will have new hours of operations at various facilities, public counters, and will be reducing many public services and programs.  “Since 2007, we have eliminated 259 permanent positions. With the loss of another 101 full-
time positions in January, we simply can not provide the same level of programming and services we once did,” said City Manager, Jim Sandoval. “However, when our operations are open, we are committed to providing quality, dedicated service to the best of our ability and be able to safely maintain our facilities for our residents and staff.”

The following is a detailed list, per department, of eliminated or reduced public services and new operating hours at impacted facilities:

Clerk’s Office
Hours of operations at the public counter will be Monday thru Wednesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Thursday 9 a.m. to noon and continue to be closed to the public on Friday.
The office will no longer provide passport services.

Finance
Hours of operations at the public counter are Monday thru Thursday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and continue to be closed to the public on Friday.

Human Resources
Hours of operations at the public counter are Monday thru Thursday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and
continue to be closed to the public on Friday.

Library
Hours of operations at the Civic Center branch are Tuesday thru Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Hours of operations at the South branch are Monday thru Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

Hours of operations at the EastLake branch are 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday.
Closed Thursday thru Sunday.

Recreation
All recreation centers will be open two days a week. Hours of operations will be varied and posted at each center as well on the City’s website. Most fee-free activities and drop-in programs are being eliminated. Fee-based classes are being revamped and will be posted in January. Most facilities will continue to be available for rent during non-operational days and times.

Loma Verde Center
Open Mondays and Wednesdays

Otay Center
Open Tuesdays and Thursdays

Veterans Center
Open Fridays and Saturdays

Heritage Center
Open Mondays and Wednesdays

Parkway Center
Open Tuesdays and Thursdays

Salt Creek Center
Open Wednesdays and Saturdays

Montevalle Center
Open Tuesdays and Thursdays

Norman Park Senior Center will be open Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. until noon during the month of January. In February, the center will be open from Monday thru Thursday during the same hours. The outside agencies using the building on the second floor will not be affected.

Loma Verde and Parkway Pools will operate five days a week with some seasonal variation.  Exact pool hours to be determined. Some adult lap swimming as well as recreational swim activities are being eliminated.

Public Works
Park and picnic shelter reservations will no longer be taken by phone but will still be available through the City’s website.
Park Ranger Program will be eliminated.  Park restroom and parking lot hours of operation may be reduced depending on staffing levels.
Graffiti on private property will no longer be removed.  Graffiti removal on public property will be delayed.
Tree trimming services will be provided on emergency basis only.
Holiday lighting for Starlight Parade and downtown Third Avenue area is eliminated.
Custodial services provided at recreation centers on the weekends is eliminated.
Custodial services at Fire Stations 1, 4 and 7 is eliminated.
Custodial services at Rohr Manor and Ranger Station is eliminated.

Traffic congestion monitoring will be reduced or eliminated.
Restroom cleaning at Civic Center Complex will be reduced from twice a day to once a day.
The City Hall Complex including the Mayor and Council, City Manager, City Attorney,
Development Services, Fire Administration, Human Resources and Finance will continue to be closed to the public every Friday.

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Posted by Eastlaketimes on Dec 31 2010. Filed under Business News in Chula Vista, Community of Eastlake. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry