Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/raul-godinez/)
City officials say they need the extra $63 million to maintain existing service levels and fix aging infrastructure. Most of the increase apparently would go toward maintaining existing services and the pension cost increases for the existing workforce and retirees.
The budget pressures are prompting warnings from the city manager that services may have to be cut back, despite growth in tax revenues. The funding gap is projected to grow to $40 million in five years.
In a tense meeting this week, City Council members said in coming weeks they will re-approve the original agreement – including the use of emergency reserves.
2017 was a year full of divided – and deeply personal – actions on the Santa Ana City Council, affecting everything from police officer discipline to who runs the city on a day to day basis.
“This is probably the most political and divisive city council Santa Ana has had,” Councilwoman Michele Martinez said as the council debated the appointment. “Let’s be honest with each other. We really don’t like one another, and we really don’t trust one another.”
Raul Godinez works for the city of Lynwood, which has one-fifth the population of Santa Ana. He previously led the larger public works departments of Oakland and Santa Ana, before his run as city manager of El Monte abruptly ended in controversy.
URS Corp. failed to submit adequate environmental review reports, which is at least in part to blame for cost overruns that amount to nearly $500,000.
The city supplies some of the best-tasting water in the world, according to judges with the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting competition.
City leaders closed a $13.6-million budget gap mainly by
borrowing money from liability and workers’ compensation
reserves.
City Council narrowly approved a $600,000 annual contract with
Los Angeles-based Graffiti Protective Coatings Inc.