SAN CLEMENTE : City Hall to Be Closed Alternating Fridays

As a result of the most recent budget cuts, City Hall will soon be closed every other Friday, and many employees will accept unpaid days off in the near future, officials said.

The first Friday off for City Hall will be Nov. 20.

In an effort to cut costs and increase productivity, city employees holding non-emergency positions have agreed to begin working a new schedule, Assistant City Manager Paul Gudgeirsson said.

Instead of working 10 eight-hour days in a two-week period, employees will work nine nine-hour days, taking every other Friday off.

City Hall hours will remain the same at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., allowing city employees an extra hour each day to catch up on work free of distractions from the public.

“We’re increasing our productivity,” Gudgeirsson said. “We’re hoping it will work.”

Similar work schedules are already being used in Buena Park, Garden Grove, La Habra and Orange, he said.

In addition to the new work schedule, general city employees have also agreed to take a four-day unpaid work furlough Dec. 28-31 to help cut costs, Gudgeirsson said. With the furlough, City Hall offices will be closed the entire week after Christmas.

The new work schedules and furloughs will not affect the city police or fire departments.

So far this fiscal year, the city has been forced to cut about $2.6 million in city services from its annual $20-million general fund budget.

Included in the cuts were the elimination of 25 city positions, about 7.5% of the city work force. General city employees have also accepted a salary freeze this year.