(May 6, 2008) -- Following an intense City Council discussion propelled by Councilwoman Rae Gabelich who bluntly asked City Manager Pat West "How are we going to pay for this?" the Council voted 8-1 (Gabelich dissenting) to approve a five-year contract with LB Firefighters (five year Gen'l Fund cost = $11.5 million) and then voted 7-2 (Gabelich, DeLong dissenting) to approve a five year contract with non-public-safety city employees (five year Gen'l Fund cost = $15 million).
Gabelich emphasized on several occasions that she favors having city employees well compensated...but cited a lack of specifics on how to pay for the multi-million-dollar multi-year financial obligations.
Mayor Bob Foster and City Manager Pat West supported the agreements and said City Hall would live within its means, focusing on core services, possibly with fewer employees...but when pressed for specifics, City Manager West acknowledged that he didn't have specific figures immediately available on how the two contracts would be funded in FY 09 and beyond but expressed confidence that they would be funded by City Hall living within its means and focusing on core services.
City Manager West said FY 09 information would be forthcoming when management submits its proposed FY 09 budget to the Mayor on schedule in June (which the Mayor then presents with any proposed changes to the Council).
Councilwoman Gabelich made a substitute motion seeking a 30-day delay in approving the first contract (Firefighters) to give City Manager West time to give the Council (and taxpayers) specifics on how the proposed agreements would be funded.
Councilman Gary DeLong, who chairs the Council's Budget Oversight Committee, openly opposed Gabelich's motion seeking a 30-day delay to get specifics from the City Manager. DeLong asked City Manager West if he planned to bring in a balanced budget in FY 09. City Mgr. West said yes...and this concluded Councilman DeLong's line of inquiry.
The Council ultimately defeated Gabelich's substitute motion on a 1-8 vote..and went on to approve both agreements.
Councilwoman Reyes Uranga said the city's Job 1 is to take care of its family, referring to employees covered under both agreements.
Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal said all such agreements entail some degree of uncertainty; she urged pursuit of cost recovery for city services provided.
Among those speaking against Council approval of the agreements was LB businessman and former Redevelopment Agency boardmember Terry Jensen...who said City Hall approval of the agreements wasn't responsible given its continuing failure to restrict its current spending to core services.
Councilwoman Gabelich stated on several occasions that her dissenting vote didn't reflect dissatisfaction with either employee unit but stemmed from her unwillingness to incur the funding obligations without knowing how they'd be paid.
LB Firefighters Ass'n President Rich Brandt said publicly that he respected Councilwoman Gabelich's position but urged Council approval for the agreement.
