Background and Analysis:

The City of Chula Vista is in difficult and challenging times. Chula Vista faces the turmoil of the national economic recession and its own self-created financial woe which, according to an independent auditor report completed in 2007,  has been rooted in its spending, overhead personnel costs that equate to 80% of the city budget, and its purchase of a new police department and city hall. Combined with City Council’s extensions of contracts preventing renegotiations with bargaining groups, continued deficit spending, and drawing down on reserves, City debt has doubled (2004-07).

The Chula Vista Civic Association, concerned for immediate preservation of core services and the long term rehabilitation of the fiscal condition of the City of Chula Vista, has proposed the “Reform Chula Vista Fiscal & Budgetary Health Plan.”

REFORM PLAN ACTION ALERT: Help pass Fair and Open Competition in Chula Vista June 8, 2010

The plan includes:

• Pension Reform (Origin Date: June 2009) Date Completed: ?
  
• Fair and Open Competition Ordinance (City public works open contracting for union and non-union)
  
• Blue Ribbon Budget Sub-committee (Origin Date: June 2009) Date Completed: ?
• Analysis on Dedicated Personnel Costs Sustainable by General Fund (Origin Date: June 2009) Date Completed: ?
• Analysis on Overtime for All Employees e.g. Public Safety & Non-Public Safety(Origin Date: June 2009) Date Completed: ?
• Public Safety Budget Protection Council Policy with Exemption to Pension Reform and Overtime Employee Report Results(Origin Date: June 2009) Date Completed: ?
• Economic and Business Development
• Semi-annual Reports by State and Federal Representatives to Mayor and Council
• 10% Cut to Mayor and City Council Salaries(Origin Date: June 2009) Date Completed: ?
• 10% Cut to Top-level executives and Mid-level Managers Salaries(Origin Date: June 2009) Date Completed: ?
• Elimination of Automobile Allowances(Origin Date: June 2009) Date Completed: ?

Progress:
Mayor and City Council have rejected the following reform proposals:

• 10% Cut to Mayor and City Council Salaries with savings that may go completely into the general fund for use in core services such as public safety, libraries, or parks or partially into both the general fund and reserves. Proposed June 2009
  
• Mayor and City Council Contribution into its own Retirement with savings that may go completely into the general fund for use in core services such as  public safety, libraries, or parks. Proposed June 2009
• Elimination of Automobile allowances (includes Mayor and City Council) with savings that may go completely into the general fund for use in core services such as public safety, libraries, or parks. Proposed June 2009
• Elimination of Conferences and Travel with savings that may go completely into the general fund for use in core services such as public safety, libraries, or parks. Proposed June 2009
• 10% Cut to Top-level executives and Mid-level Managers Salaries (Meet & Confer Motion was not requested) with savings that may go completely into the general fund for use in core services such as  public safety, libraries, or parks or partially into both the general fund and reserves. Proposed June 2009

Mayor and City Council have not approved any reform proposals

• Fair and Open Competition Ordinance qualifies for June 10, 2010 ballot; Chula Vista voters will decide