HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment from Hope Horning At last month's meeting, there was much discussion about water and sewer rate hikes that will double
n just a few years. As a former Federal Warranted Officer that signed contracts for the United States
of America, I understand source and use of funds, appropriations, and allocations. So, I did some
research about source and use of these funds and learned that water and sewage rates are
supposed to reflect the cost of providing those services to customers or ratepayers. In a well-
managed city, water and sewer revenues are used to obtain water, operate & maintain delivery &
treatment systems, and fund necessary capital projects. In particular, proactive preventive
maintenance projects, which ensure safe and effective services, instead of reactive emergency fixes
of failing infrastructures. Water and sewer rate increases, usually are necessitated when general
funds begin to subsidize water and sewer operations. THAT is not the case with the city of Seal
Beach, it's just the opposite, water and sewer revenues are subsidizing general fund operations.
I l V water I 11 YV V revenues I\r1 V I subsidizing\AILI general 1 fund VI U IVI V.
Specifically, over one day a week, the salaries of the city manager, assistant city manager, and 2
manager analysts, come from water and sewer revenue. I don't believe the citizens of Seal Beach,
who conscientiously conserved water during years of drought, should be penalized for their efforts,
especially when water and sewer revenue is not being used to just deliver those services, but is being
used to subsidize 25 to 35% of the very largest city salaries. And I find it hard to believe that
employees in those positions really spend over one day a week or equivalent hours managing or
administrating water and sewer operations, when we have a whole department for that. Even part of
your salary as city council members is allocated as coming from water and sewer revenue. And in
another matter, at almost every council meeting, Councilman Steele expresses concerns about the
potential impact of a projected annual $5 million dollar deficit over the next 3 years for a total of $15
million dollars. There is a better way to address those potential deficits than on the backs of folks
using water and sewer services. So, I would point out, an article in last week's Sun Newspaper
indicating "Multiple Job Openings in Seal Beach City Government" and note the quickest way to
reduce that potential deficit is to reduce personnel costs. Maybe, we should consider letting those
positions unfilled until the economy turns around or we get better projection.
go unfilled 1 the economy turns around V a projection.
In conclusion, I direct your attention to the section of the city manager's contract regarding "Annual
Evaluations and Salary Review," which requires "On or before March 1 of each year . . . the City
Council shall conduct an evaluation of Employee's performance." During that evaluation, the City
Council and Employee shall mutually established performance goals and objectives and reflect such
in salary and benefits offered. Because of COVID, there has not been such an evaluation for a
number years and that is understandable. But the time has come and it's really past due, for you to
meet your contractual obligations to your Employee and conduct THAT evaluation. Maybe you should
do exit interviews with the multiple employees who have left our city government. It is also pastime to
conduct that evaluation on behalf of your other employees and in the interest of your constituents.
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POSITION ALLOCATION PLAN IFY 2023-2024
Funds Allocation
Adopted General Tidelands Water Sewer Other
DEPARTMENT DIVISION POSITION FY2023-24 Vacant (101) (106) (501) (503) Various
CITY COUNCIL
101-0010 City Council Council Member 5.00 - 4.50 - 0.25 0.25 -
•
Total City Council 5.00 - 4.50 - 0.25 0.26 -
CITY MANAGER
101-0011 City Manager City Manager 1.00 - 0.70 - 0.20 0.08 0.02 „
101-0011 City Manager Assistant City Manager 1.00 - 0.55 0.05 0.25 0.10 0.05.
101-0014 City Manager Management Analyst 2.00 - 1.20 0.26 0.35 0.15 0.04,
101-0011 City Manager Executive Assistant 1.00 - 0.75 - 0.15 0.075 0.025 ,,
Total City Manager 6.00 - 3.20 0.31 0.95 0.41 0.14
CITY CLERK
101-0012 City Clerk/Election City Clerk 1.00 - 0.80 - 0.15 0.05 - .2(
101-0012 City Clerk/Election Deputy City Clerk 1.00 - 0.75 - 0.15 0.10 - .P
101-0012 City Clerk/Election Executive Assistant(Part-time) 0.76 - 0.61 - 0.11 0.04 - .I S
Total City Clerk 2.76 - 2.16 - 0.41 0.19 -
FINANCE
101-0017 Finance Director of Finance/City Treasurer 1.00 - 0.70 - 0.225 0.075 -
101-0017 Finance Finance Manager 1.00 - 0.70 - 0.225 0.075 -
101-0017 Finance Accountant 1.00 - 0.60 - 0.30 0.10 -,/t0
101-0017 Finance Senior Accounting Technician(A/P) 1.00 - 0.10 - 0.75 0.15 -AO
101-0017 Finance Senior Accounting Technician(Payroll) 1.00 - 0.60 - 0.30 0.10 -.'W
101-0017 Finance Senior Accounting Technician(Utlity) 1.00 -
-
0.75 0.25 1.00
101-0017 Finance Management Analyst 1.00 - 0.60 - 0.30 0.10 -4r7
101-0017 Finance Account Technician 1.00 1.00 0.80 - 0.15 0.05 -,1.0
501-0900 Finance Accounting Technician(Part-time) 0.46 - - - 0.46 - -.%
101-0017 Finance Office Specialist(Part-time) 0.60 - 0.60 - - - -
Total Finance Department 9.06 1.00 4.70 - 3.46 0.90 -
POLICE
101-0021 EOC Police Sergeant 1.00 - 1 00 - - - -
101-0022 Field Services Police Chief 1.00 - 1.00 - - - -
101-0022 Field Services Police Captain 2.00 - 2.00 - - - -
101-0022 Field Services Police Lieutenant 2.00 - 2.00 - - -
101-0022 Field Services Police Sergeant 5.00 - 5.00 - - - -
101-0022 Field Services Police Corporal 4.00 - 4.00 - - - -
101-0022 Field Services Police Officer 21.00 - 21.00 - - - -
101-0023 Support Services Executive Assistant 1.00 - 1.00 - - - -
101-0023 Support Services Senior Accounting Technician 1.00 - 1.00 - - - -
101-0023 Support Services Senior CSO 2.00 - 2.00 - - - -
101-0023 Support Services Management Analyst 1.00 - 1.00 - - - -
101-0023 Support Services Civilian Investigator 1.00 - 1.00 - - - -
101-0023 Support Services Records Supervisor 1.00 - 1.00 - - - -
101-0023 Support Services Police Aide(Part-time) 0.75 - 0.75 - - - -
101-0023 Support Services Crossing Guard(Part-time) 1.96 - 1.96 - - - -
101-0025 Parking Enforcement Senior CSO 6.00 - 6.00 - - - -
101-0025 Parking Enforcement Police Services Manager 1.00 - 1.00 - - - -
101-0025 Parking Enforcement Police Aide(Part-time) 3.00 - 3.00 - - - -
101-0036 Animal Control Senior CSO 2.00 2.00
106-0825 Beach Operations Police Officer 2.00 - 0.75 1.25 - - -
205-0111 Field Services Police Officer 1.00 - - - - - 1.00
217-0371 Field Services Police Officer 1.00 - - - - - 1.00
Total Police Department 61.71 - 58.46 1.25 - - 2.00
79
yp P'
SON NEWSPAPERS Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024 jobenin s in Seal Beach cit overnment
IMultipleoopenings Y �
BY CHARLES M. KELLY • Deputy Director of Public • 'Management Analyst, part
Works/Maintenance and Utilities time, in Human Resources
There are 13 job openings Maintenance Worker - in • Police Aide, Part Time, in
in Seal Beach city government, Public Works/Maintenance SBPD
according to the CalOpps web- • Police Officer—lateral or • Crossing Guard in SBPD
site. All 13 positions are open ' academy graduate. (A "lateral," • Maintenance Aide in Public
until filled, according to the web- As Capt.Nick Nicholas explained Works/Maintenance
site. in Jan. 6, 2022, means someone • Pool Lifeguard, part time,
•SeniorAccounting Technician who "worked at previous depart- 'temporary, in Aquatics
(Payroll) means before making the jump • Aquatics Coordinator in
E, Senior Community Services to the SBPD." (See: "Briefing ,Aquatics
Officer (in the Seal Beach Police Room: Peace Officer Standards • Recreation Specialist, part
Department) and Training" at www sunnews. time, at Tennis & Picklebal l
Deputy City Clerk org.) Center in Recreation