City Council Continues to Pursue Retirement Reform

On May 24, the City Council adopted the Fiscal Reform Plan, which outlines a combination of strategies that will generate enough savings over the next four years (approximately $216 million) to eliminate the structural budget deficit, restore services to January 2011 levels, and open the city's vacant libraries, community centers, fire stations and police substation.

A majority of the savings identified in the Fiscal Reform Plan comes from retirement reform, which the City Council discussed at a June 24 special meeting and will revisit on August 2. View Mayor Reed's recent Op-Ed in the Sacramento Bee.

So far, five of the city's eleven employee unions have agreed to a process for negotiating retirement reform and a potential ballot measure. This framework includes a deadline to complete negotiations by October 31, 2011, which would allow sufficient time to go to the voters in March 2012 and generate the immediate savings needed to avoid even deeper cuts in the FY 2012-2013 budget. Learn more about the retirement reforms being considered.

City Council Approves FY 2011-12 Budget

On June 14, the City Council adopted the final budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, closing a $115 million budget gap through a combination of one-time revenues, employee concessions, new service delivery models, and significant cuts to city services. Altogether, approximately 450 positions were eliminated, including a number of public safety positions.

Fortunately, the City was able to achieve a 10% reduction in total compensation for all employees, saving $39 million in services and avoiding hundreds of additional layoffs. The City Council also preserved a number of services by adopting the Mayor's June Budget Message recommendations, which included:

• Restoring 49 firefighter positions via a federal grant;
• Rehiring police officers from any increase in sales tax receipts;
• Keeping all branch libraries open 4 days a week; and
• Preserving funding for the Safe Schools Campus Initiative.

Read about some of the significant city service changes that took effect July 1.

Safe Summer Initiative Receives Overwhelming Support

Given the City's continuing fiscal challenges, Mayor Reed launched a fundraising campaign in the Spring of 2011 to make sure that at-risk youth have fully funded intervention programs and activities over the summer months.

Thanks to the support of local residents, community organizations and private foundations, $380,000 was raised for the 2011 Safe Summer Initiative, exceeding the City's initial goal by more than $50,000! This extra funding will allow the City to support additional activities this summer, beyond the initial 35 applicants who were selected via the City's competitive process earlier in the spring.

Special thanks to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, the Shortino Family Foundation, and our many other donors for their generous support.

Pilot Program Launched to Help the Homeless and Reduce Trash Along Coyote Creek

This July, the City of San Jose is launching the Clean Creeks, Healthy Communities project, a 4-year pilot program to reduce pollution and improve water quality along Coyote Creek by employing homeless individuals from creek encampments. The program will also provide assistance to the local homeless population, deter dumping and litter, and engage residents in keeping the creek clean. Learn more about the pilot program.

A majority of the funding for the project is coming from a four-year, $680,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with a number of local partners contributing matching funds and other forms of support. Read the press release.

 Sign up for this six-week program for all ages, featuring multicultural events, live performances, and many other activities.
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 Go wild this summer at Happy Hollow's zoo-themed and puppet-themed summer camps! 
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 Two new parking lots at Terminal B have been completed, adding more than 1,500 spaces.
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