Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/tyler-diep/)
Several Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine and other city council members and candidates reported robust fundraising for the first six months of 2017, according to the latest campaign finance disclosures.
The Westminster City Council Wednesday night gave an emotional tribute to former City Clerk Amanda Jensen, who was shot and killed July 16 by a Los Alamitos police captain.
With new revenue from a recent sales tax increase starting in April, council members hired two police officers, and plan to add part-time code enforcement workers and other services aimed at helping the homeless.
Questions about the residency of newly elected Councilwoman Kimberly Ho have led to a policy requiring a screening process to ensure that applicants who want to serve on a commission or committee live in the city.
While Westminster City Council members have struggled to make any decisions about how to deal with a $12.6 million structural deficit that is only expected to rise in coming years, they have made at least one thing clear: public safety will be a priority.
After a contentious meeting packed with residents and employees in support of putting a tax increase before voters, the City Council voted to approve the ballot measure on the condition that any tax increase expire after six years.
As the window rapidly closes on they city’s chances to prevent bankruptcy by 2018, council members will meet Wednesday to pass a 2016-17 budget and again debate whether the path forward should be shaped by a tax increase or major spending cuts.
With a massive budget deficit that could bankrupt the city by 2018 looming, a divided city council traded shots this week over whether service cuts or taxes increases are the solution.
The city is facing a long-term deficit of $12.6 million and is on track to spend through its reserves in three years. Yet there is little appetite on council for either more budget cuts or tax increases.
Council members voted Thursday night to indemnify three former police chiefs and current chief Kevin Baker for $2.1 million in punitive damages leveled against them as part of a 2011 federal lawsuit.