IRVINE : City Hall Closure Heralds New Hours
City Hall will be closed today for the first time under a new schedule that calls for most city buildings to shut down every other Friday.
The limited hours are among a series of cutbacks approved by the City Council earlier this year to help close a projected $4.5-million shortfall in the city’s fiscal 1994-95 budget. City officials said they are not sure exactly how much money the new hours will save.
The closure will affect most city departments, including community services, community development and public works. But the Police Department will remain open on Fridays, and city crews will be on call in case emergency work needs to be done, City Manager Paul O. Brady Jr. said.
Irvine joins several other cities, as well as the county, in closing down on alternating Fridays. The city sent notices announcing the change to residents and others who regularly do business at City Hall.
Brady said the new hours have the added benefit of getting cars off local roads and helping the city comply with smog regulations.
City Hall is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On alternating Fridays, it is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In addition to approving the new hours, the council has eliminated 71 city positions and called for officials to look into privatizing some services.
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