BUENA PARK : Police, Firefighter Pacts Get City OK

Despite picketing by employees outside City Hall, the City Council on Monday approved one-year contracts for police and firefighters.

Members of the Buena Park Police Assn., Firemen’s Assn. and Police Management Assn., who have been working without a contract since Oct. 31, told council members that they oppose the contract, which reduces benefits and offers no salary increase.

Members of employee groups and their supporters picketed outside City Hall before the council meeting.

“We don’t believe the city has the legal basis to impose the contracts,” David L. Woofter, president of Buena Park Police Assn., said before the meeting. “A contract is an agreement between two parties, and there is no agreement here--we are at odds.”

As a result of the council action, Woofter said the association will pursue “whatever legal avenues to prevent the imposition of (the city’s) proposal.”

Only two of the city’s five employee groups have reached agreement with the city for new, one-year contracts. Members of the Buena Park City Employees Assn. and Buena Park Management Employees voted to accept the city’s contract offer.

As a result of about $2 million in state cutbacks to the city, as well as reduced revenue because of the poor economy, city officials say they have no choice but to reduce employee benefits to cope with a looming budget deficit.

Mayor Arthur C. Brown said: “When you don’t have the money, you can’t pay it. When the good times are back, the pay will be back. I’m sorry you all are unhappy. There just isn’t any money to pay.”

Councilman Donald L. Bone said the council’s first priority “is to save jobs.” The decision, he said “is tough. This is hard. We don’t like it, but it’s reality.”

Representatives of the police and firefighter associations said they understand the financial crisis the city is facing and do not want to bankrupt the city to get a raise.

But they also said they believe that the city is not as financially destitute as the picture officials are painting.

“I agree revenues are down due to the recession, and state budget cuts have reduced revenues,” Woofter said. “But . . . the city is not in as bad of a financial situation that we are led to believe.”

David C. Dorn, president of Buena Park Firemen’s Assn., called city management’s attitude “anti-employee.” He said the association wants to return to the bargaining table.

“There are still issues to be discussed,” Dorn said. “It’s really disheartening they’ve taken this approach. We recognized there’s a (financial) crisis, but there are other avenues besides asking the employees to pay part of the bill.”

Dorn urged the council to impose an admissions tax on tourist attractions and other entertainment businesses to help the city cope with its budget crisis.

“You taxed your citizens but refuse to ask the millions of citizens that come to Buena Park to pay a small tax,” he said. “A 2% fee would bring in over a million dollars. The city of Buena Park is drowning but is not grabbing for the tourist life preserver.”