News
City Hall Sets Sat. July 12 ELB Public Meeting On 2004 Budget: Staff Discussion + Public Input & Questions
(July 1, 2003) -- LB City Hall has scheduled a Saturday morning, July 12 meeting in ELB at which "the public will have the opportunity to meet with Mayor Beverly O’Neill, Councilmembers, the City Manager, department directors and other city officials" and hear a "preview of the approach to the proposed budget...with opportunities for the public to ask questions and provide feedback."
It'll be at The Grand, 4101 E. Willow (between Lakewood Blvd. & Redondo Ave.) on Saturday, July 12 from 9:00 a.m.-noon (doors open at 8:30 a.m.).
LBReport.com posts City Hall's informational release verbatim below:
[begin text]
The City of Long Beach is dedicated to helping the community understand the complexities of its $1.6 billion budget. Helping the public better understand the $370 million general fund, that along with related funds, is facing a $97 million structural deficit over the next three years, is a very high priority. The City is committed to providing as many opportunities as possible for the community to learn about, and be able to comment on, the proposed budget prior to City Council consideration. One opportunity for the public to give input on the proposed 2004 Budget is at a public budget summit to be held on Saturday, July 12, 2003, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at The Grand, 4101 East Willow Street, Long Beach. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m.
"The City is striving to increase public understanding of the budget process. I believe it is extremely important to seek public input earlier in the budget formulation process than has traditionally been done," said Gerald Miller, Long Beach City Manager. "The vision is to increase public awareness and trust in the process, and give members of the community more time and opportunity to provide feedback."
The outreach process will begin with the budget summit on Saturday, July 12, 2003. At this summit, the public will have the opportunity to meet with Mayor Beverly O’Neill, Councilmembers, the City Manager, department directors and other city officials. A preview of the approach to the proposed budget will be presented, with opportunities for the public to ask questions and provide feedback.
The session will start with an economic forecast. City Departments will discuss how changes proposed in the Fiscal Year 2004 budget may impact services to the public.
In the closing session, there will be time for a review of the comments from previous sessions and a discussion of next steps.
To obtain even more community input, City staff will be attending various City and community meetings during the month of August so as to actively solicit more community input regarding the budget.
The input and feedback from the summit and the community meetings will be made available through the Internet and shared with the City Council for consideration during budget deliberations.
Free childcare, refreshments, and parking will be provided for the July 12th budget summit. Door prizes will be awarded. Spanish and Khmer translation will also be provided.
|