Documents should be scanned for prosperity's sake as well as freeing up scarce storage space, a high-powered color printer should be acquired, desk chairs and other office furniture should be replaced, and the city parking lot improved. "The number one improvement" is a new phone system, at a projected cost of $80,000, said Bobkiewicz.The Santa Paula Police station needs new furniture and carpeting. "I went over there, and the carpet," subject to round the clock traffic "needs to be replaced," noted Vice Mayor Rick Cook, a retired SPPD sergeant. After a few comments from Acting Police Chief Mark Hanson, Bobkiewicz noted that Hanson had been "very vocal about cleaning up" and improving the station.Mayor Mary Ann Krause asked Acting Chief Hanson, then on the eve of handing over the department to new Chief Steve MacKinnon, to return to the podium. "I want to lead a round of applause for you stepping into this position" and doing an excellent job leading the SPPD as acting chief, said Krause.After the applause, Bobkiewicz made other recommendations, including filling parking lot holes and slurry sealing the city parking lot; parking opportunities on two vacant lots near City Hall will be explored, he added."Lastly," the City Hall administration wing heating system "went out about a month ago," and although a new unit would cost as much as $100,000, Bobkiewicz said that the city - a member of the county Energy Alliance - would be able to replace the unit for only about $12,300.
Council: One-time expenditure from reserve still leaves emergency fund
December 02, 2005
Santa Paula City Council
A city newsletter, revisions to the Website, new portable audio system, creating additional storage space and a new citywide phone system were among the one time expenditures recommended to the City Council at the November 15 meeting.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA city newsletter, revisions to the Website, new portable audio system, creating additional storage space and a new citywide phone system were among the one time expenditures recommended to the City Council at the November 15 meeting. City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz said that an overage in General Fund Reserves could be used, while still maintaining a minimum 15 percent emergency fund.The city has some "longstanding onetime needs," as well as a way to overcome the elimination of the city's twice yearly community services activity guide. The loss of the guide created a "sense of disconnection with the community" that could be bettered with a twice-yearly city newsletter, at a cost of $15,000 annually.Tourism would benefit from a new Website, as there is "not a single place to go to find information" about Santa Paula's attractions. Bobkiewicz said the city is working closely with the Chamber of Commerce, and would provide $7,500 "seed money" to create such a site.The city needs to hire a human resources specialist on a temporary basis to work fulltime on recruitment at a cost of $31,500.
