Controversial layoffs seem likely in Menlo Park Controversial layoffs seem likely in Menlo Park (May 26, 2004)

By Rebecca Wallace
Almanac Staff Writer

Despite ardent appeals to the Menlo Park City Council, it looks like some well-defended city employees will lose their jobs and a controversial reworking of the community services department, which runs recreation, cultural and child-care programs, will take place.

Residents packed the council chambers on May 18, filling most of the seats and lining the back of the room. Some hobbled up in walkers to support Debbie Helming, who runs the shuttle bus service that ferries seniors to errands and the doctor, and commuters between the train station and work.

Others were single parents with kids in programs at the Onetta Harris Community Center in the lower-income Belle Haven neighborhood, or adults who had grown up at the center. They said kids trust the staff there, including longtime director Aaron Johnson and senior recreation leader Tyrone Williams.

If the council approves a budget plan proposed by City Manager David Boesch on June 22, as seems likely, Ms. Helming and Mr. Williams will have their positions cut. Mr. Johnson will be moved across town to the Burgess Recreation Center as part of a reorganization of his division. Some other employees will also be demoted or moved.

Mr. Boesch said the city's projected $2.24 million deficit in its $27 million general fund budget is driving the difficult staffing changes. "In order to maintain services, this is an absolute necessity," he said.

Other employees will assume the duties of Ms. Helming and Mr. Williams, and the city will also seek volunteers to take over some of Mr. Williams' basketball coaching duties, officials have said.

The state budget could worsen the picture; under the governor's latest proposal, Menlo Park stands to lose about $544,000 to the state in both 2004-05 and 2005-06 -- cuts not yet budgeted, Mr. Boesch said.

But the prospect of losing beloved Onetta Harris staff was more painful to resident Sharon Green, who was moved to tears as she addressed the council.

"How can you break up a village where children go every day to stay off the streets?" Ms. Green cried.

Shuttle service

Shuttle users were equally fervent. Despite assurances by city staff that the schedule and frequency of the shuttle will not change, several residents said they fear the service will suffer without Ms. Helming's support. Ms. Helming helped start the service in 1989.

Catherine Peterson, 77, said she uses the shuttle because arthritis keeps her from walking well. She said much of Ms. Helming's salary is covered by grants and that the city only pays about $20,000 annually for her salary.

"We are not too expensive," she said.

In sum, some 25 people addressed the council, speaking for about an hour and 15 minutes.

Under the plan, the equivalent of 10.75 full-time positions would be cut, also including a three-quarter-time community specialist at the Menlo Park Senior Center in Belle Haven and the city's full-time community relations manager. A night clerk at Onetta Harris and a social services coordinator at the senior center would go from full-time to three-quarter-time.

A program assistant would be moved from Burgess to Onetta Harris to help fill in the gaps. Overall, community services staff will be asked to focus their programs citywide, rather than concentrating on one facility.

Council's response

With the exception of Councilman Chuck Kinney, who stood alone in defending Ms. Helming, no one on the council spoke against the proposed job cuts or reorganization. Instead, the council simply agreed to have city officials do more outreach to help residents understand the reasons behind the changes.

Mayor Lee Duboc praised Aaron Johnson as a "hero" to the Belle Haven community, saying the reorganization would allow children on the other side of town to benefit from his work.

Councilman Paul Collacchi was absent.

Ms. Duboc added later that she agreed with the city manager's plan.

"We've gotten a fairly strong endorsement from Dave (Boesch) that indeed the shuttle service is not going to be affected," she said. "I'm going to hold him to his word."

Some residents and union officials urged the council to avoid layoffs by taking more money out of the city's reserves, which total about $28 million. The current plan includes taking $725,000 from reserves to help cover operating expenses in fiscal year 2004-05.

"This is not some corporate downsizing ... these are people," said Sascha Eisner, worksite organizing director for Service Employees International Union Local 715, which represents about 200 Menlo Park city workers.

Mr. Kinney agreed that more of the reserves could be used, but he found no support among his colleagues. Ms. Duboc said that fund could quickly be spent down, adding that the predicted $544,000 in state take-aways would probably have to come from there.

One of the main reasons that the city manager has championed reducing the size of the city's workforce is the continuing increase in employee retirement costs for the city.

Mr. Eisner said the city should look into a new program in the state public employees' retirement system (PERS), under which cities can defer some of their PERS payments to get through a tough budget time that will not last forever.

But Mr. Boesch said that plan was undesirable because it would mean the city would pay more in interest.

Labor negotiations covering such topics as retirement benefits and salaries are ongoing with the unions representing the city's police force. The contracts expire in late June.

Some speakers addressing the council May 18 also said cuts could be avoided if the city reduced the car allowances it pays to management. Eleven department heads are paid a monthly allowance for using their personal vehicles, with Mr. Boesch receiving $400 and the rest getting $320.

The council did not discuss this topic at the meeting, but Ms. Duboc said later that other cities pay car allowances to management and that Menlo Park needs to remain competitive in hiring for top positions.

The next hearing on the budget is set for June 8, with budget adoption scheduled for June 22.

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