City facilities close for holidays to save money

City Hall and other city facilities will close their doors over the holidays to save an estimated $500,000.

The City Council approved the closure of City Hall from Dec. 25 to Jan. 3 with the exception of fire, police and marine safety officials, who will operate as usual.

The saving will come from a four-day furlough for employees during this time.

The Michael E. Rodgers Seniors Center, parts of the police station and the libraries are also going to shut down.

The senior center will be closed from 1 p.m. Dec. 24. until Jan. 3, except for the New Year’s Eve dance. Senior Outreach’s Meals to the Home will be operational during this period.

At the police station, the Records Public Counter Unit, Traffic Public Counter Unit and Property Room will be closed as well as the public counters at the Downtown and Oakview police stations.

All library branches will be closed from noon Dec. 24 to Jan. 4 with the exception of the Central Library, which will be operating at minimal hours. The Central Library will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. Dec. 28, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 29, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 30 and 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 31.

The lifeguard headquarters will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 19 to Jan. 17 to facilitate beach parking pass sales. It will close at 2 p.m. Dec. 24 and all day Christmas Day.

The Art Center will also close at noon Dec. 24 and reopen Jan. 3. The batting cages at the Sports Complex will be closed Christmas and New Year’s eve and day. The city gym and pool and Edison and Murdy community centers will be closed Dec. 24 to Jan 1.

— Britney Barnes