SAN FERNANDO : City Budget Includes Quake Repair Costs

The San Fernando City Council has approved a city spending plan of $36.5 million for 1994-95, up about one-third from last year’s budget, mostly because of earthquake repair costs.

Included in the budget is $7 million to repair damage caused by the Northridge earthquake, $1 million for construction of a bikeway along the Metrolink right of way and $475,000 for improvements and renovations at Las Palmas Park, said Finance Director Mike Moon.

The bikeway is being built with grant money from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Moon said.

City Council members this week voted to give themselves only cost-of-living pay increases. Funds that might have gone toward their salaries will now go to the city’s parks and recreation programs.

But not everyone agreed with that decision.

“If it costs you money to do this job, and it costs you money to get the job, that will discourage a lot of good people,” said Raul Godinez, who argued that the council should get raises.

He read statistics that showed the council has had only two raises since 1980--a 34% raise in 1986 and a 5% raise in 1988.

“I don’t think I earned the money I get,” said Doude Wysbeek, a veteran councilman.

Council members now are paid $378 a month.

Moon said that the cost-of-living rate now is just under 1%.