HUNTINGTON BEACH : Council Vows to Avoid Cuts in Public Safety

Decisions on adopting a new budget are heating up as a City Council majority this week vowed not to make cuts in public safety.

Firefighters and senior citizens urged the council not to make a $410,000 cutback to the Fire Department and to reject a proposal that would change the way paramedic service is delivered to the community.

The Marine Safety Division faces cuts in the number of seasonal lifeguards on duty at beach towers, and reductions in beach maintenance. One secretarial and three management positions are also proposed for elimination in the Police Department. A total of 27 full-time positions are slated to be cut.

The council delayed a vote on the 1994-95 budget until Monday’s 4:30 p.m. meeting.

The proposed general fund budget is $94.23 million, about $2.5 million less than the current budget.

One proposal called for eliminating six firefighter positions. Three of those would be refilled next year as part of the proposal to switch from paramedic vans to paramedics on fire engines.

Tom Faye, president of the Huntington Beach Firefighter’s Assn., presented a petition with more than 1,600 signatures from residents opposed to Fire Department reductions.

The council took an informal 4-3 vote not to make any Fire Department reductions.

“We walked out feeling optimistic,” Faye said, adding that more than 30 firefighters and their families attended the meeting. “We came out glad that (the council) listened to citizens and firefighters, and we’re hoping they make the right decision.”

City Administrator Michael T. Uberuaga on Monday will identify fees that serve as potential revenue sources to restore cutbacks in public safety and some programs and services that are slated to be eliminated. Uberuaga said about $1.2 million is needed to restore proposed public safety cuts.