CYPRESS : Layoffs, New Fees Avert Budget Deficit

The City Council, voting 3 to 1, has approved a $15.5-million budget that averted a deficit by increasing city fees for street sweeping and trash collection and laying off six workers.

Mayor Gail H. Kerry voted against the budget, saying it failed to spend enough money to improve the city’s roads and sewer system. The new budget, complained Kerry, also will not allow the Police Department to hire the nine additional staff members it requested.

“We are balancing the budget at the expense of future disasters,” Kerry told the council Monday night.

But Councilwoman Cecilia L. Age disagreed, labeling Kerry’s call for upgrading city roads, sewers and hiring more police officers a “wish list.”

“I think Cypress should be proud,” Age replied. “We are in very good shape (financially) compared to other communities.”

The two fee increases will add $310,000 to city coffers, according to city officials. Street sweeping fees will rise from 50 cents to $2.50 a month, and residents also will pay 65 cents more on their $8.21 monthly trash collection bill. The city will collect the fees through local water bills.

Beside approving the fee increases, the city also shifted about $409,000 from its budget reserve and cut $30,000 from several city programs to offset an anticipated $744,000 revenue shortage.

Previously, the council agreed to lay off six city workers, including five maintenance positions and one job in the finance department, to reduce an even higher expected deficit.

In other action, the council directed city staff to draft an ordinance banning skateboards, roller skates and roller blades near certain schools and businesses.

If the ordinance is adopted, the city would join Los Alamitos, Dana Point, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Seal Beach, which have similar laws.

Complaints from local merchants and especially from Cypress College have intensified over the past four months, said police Chief Daryl Wicker. He said that some skateboarders and roller-bladers are damaging or vandalizing property.

The ordinance is slated to be considered Aug. 2.