Council Must Control Costs
Christopher Pummer’s article of Sept. 30 (“Council That Transformed City Is Now Under Fire”) cited the long tenure by Port Hueneme’s City Council members. Does this result in responsive government or should term limits be set?
City Manager Richard Velthoen and Tom Figg, director of community development, seem to be constantly asking for more projects and consultant costs. Is the City Council being less than prudent in approving these expenditures, including the annual increases requested for all departments?
The result is a rush to increase the property tax base by building high-density units. Figg and Velthoen also want to spend close to $3 million on an RV lot, despite the city’s remote location and lack of highway access.
The director of finance projects deficits through the fiscal ending 1996 of $1.8 million, which will rise to $2.6 million if the Beach Maintenance District assessment is found to be outside the intent of the 1972 Landscape and Lighting Act.
Wake up, City Council. Is city staff asking you to reach too far? Come back to earth. Keep the cost of the city government within the revenue.
ERNEST M. BROWN, Port Hueneme
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