From Frank Matarrese

Dear Neighbors,
Here are some updates which are of interest to Alameda:
NEXT TOWN HALL MEETING

Monday March 16th
7 - 9 PM
Crosstown Coffee
High Street and Encinal Avenue

BUDGET
We still await a decision from Sacramento on how the State plans to address
their multi-billion dollar deficit. State actions will certainly impact
Alameda and we are taking steps to be ready. A budget workshop was held on
Saturday, February 7 and the city's financial policies and fiscal status
were discussed. Additionally, we were informed of a $2.1 million cash
deficit within the city's Internal Service Fund, related to workers
compensation. The Chief Financial Office presented some options to address
this shortfall, which were again discussed at the Council meeting of
February 17th. There was progress made on finding solutions for meeting our
obligations to current retired City public safety workers and recognition of
the need to upgrade the antiquated information technology system currently
in use by the city.
One of the policies at the budget workshop which generated discussion was
related to using volunteers, part time employees and outsourcing as tools to
balance the budget. Volunteers have provided enormous enhancement of
programs but we cannot and should not run core services with them. While
there may be times when contracting out is appropriate and/or part time
positions make sense, the policies as proposed looked too much like the
destructive pattern that we've all seen in American industry. I opposed the
proposed policy and the Council agreed that it should not be included. Our
policy should be:
-To manage city departments more efficiently with a "flattened" organization
which maintains those positions that directly provide the service and
supervisors, but consolidates top management
-To work or contract with other public agencies to pool resources for
services that can benefit by economy of scale
-To base outsourcing on specialty services which are infrequently needed or
not justifiable for the city to maintain
These issues will continue to be addressed as we begin to prepare for the
2009-2010 fiscal year.
SISTERCITY
I was privileged to attend a dinner on Sunday February 8th in honor of some
thirty municipal government administrators from our Sister City, Jiangyin
City, China. These civil servants have been sent here to study Public Policy
and Administration in a three month intensive course at Stanford University.
This gathering furthered the exchange between Alameda and Jiangyin City and
helped strengthen our ties and understanding with a far away community whose
challenges are not unlike our own. Special thanks is given to Dr. Stewart
Chen, past member of our Social Services and Human Relations Board and
founder of the Sister City Committee, and to Dr. Nancy Li, the driving force
behind the Sister City Committee, for arranging this beneficial event.
FORWARD LOOKING ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
If you are interested an excellent example of good environmental design
applied to restoration of an old house and construction of a new house, stop
by the open house at 1533 Morton Street, February 26, 27 (3 - 6 pm) and 28
(11:30 am - 4 pm). See pictures and details at
http://1533mortonstreetalameda.shutterfly.com/ .
TOWN HALL AND FUTURE MEETINGS
I encourage you to attend my Town Hall Meetings and Council meetings during
these challenging times. Communication is vital to our efforts and your
ideas are welcome to help us make sound decisions for Alameda's future.
Please feel free to contact me at any time if I can be of further service.

Councilman Frank Matarrese