LAPD, Fire Dept. Dominate Initial Budget Talks

Los Angeles City Council members opened deliberations Monday on Mayor Richard Riordan’s $2.7-billion spending plan, providing glimpses of the wrangling that probably will dominate discussion over the next couple of weeks.

But the budget process, which allows council members the chance to review funding proposals and take care of their pet projects as well, got off to a relatively calm start.

Aside from some obvious concerns, such as public safety and an adequate reserve fund, the mayor’s budget this year has left council members precious little room for squabbling.

“This just isn’t the same,” one council observer said, almost nostalgically, referring to past budget battles that pitted the council against the mayor.

Still, the council’s five-member budget committee, which plans to meet this week and into the next, found enough to discuss during its daylong session, focusing primarily on Fire Department funding as well as police and Department of Water and Power budgets.

The mayor’s budget boosts city spending by $100 million and closes a projected budget deficit of $75 million through cuts in existing programs and new revenue.

Riordan added no new taxes--except for a proposed cat license fee and a $1 annual charge on rental properties for an inspection program. He managed to raise the reserve fund to $38 million, a proposal met with some praise from lawmakers.

Still, public safety appears to be high on council members’ list of concerns. For the first time in five years, the mayor’s budget this year adds no new police officers but boosts the Fire Department’s staffing by 126 positions and allocates funds for updating the department’s equipment.

Apparently concerned by the lack of additional funding for the Los Angeles Police Department as well as a $10-million cut in overtime, some council members expressed concerns that the LAPD could be shortchanged.

Councilman Richard Alatorre, the budget committee chairman, requested a report from the city’s financial officers to determine whether more money should be allocated to the department for overtime costs.

LAPD Chief Bernard C. Parks told the panel that although he was pleased overall with his budget, he would “certainly like to add positions.” Parks said he especially needs to boost civilian hiring in the department to ease the workload on sworn officers.

In a lighter moment when Parks first appeared before the committee, a blown-up picture of the chief was displayed from the latest People magazine in which Parks was listed as one of the 50 most beautiful people.

“Congratulations,” Alatorre told the smiling chief.

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It was the fire chief, however, who arrived with a laundry list of additional budget requests. Chief William R. Bamattre said some new requests had to be made since the mayor released his budget April 20.

Bamattre, whose department has lost personnel to a helicopter crash and a building fire, requested an additional $2.7 million for hiring as well as $1.5 million for recruit training. He also asked for $413,000 for safety equipment and for maintenance of emergency vehicles.

Bamattre’s initial requests were met with support from the mayor’s budget director, Jennifer Roth, who told the committee that the recruit training and equipment needs “would be something the mayor would support.”

Although the council members appeared concerned about those issues as well, it was the somewhat controversial cat license that brought out the speakers. They opposed the mayor’s proposed cat license fee of $8 for a spayed or neutered cat and $30 for an unneutered one.

The issue even brought out a council member who doesn’t belong to the Budget Committee. Councilman Mike Hernandez, who said he owns a dog and two cats, made an appearance to ask if the animal regulation department had studied household pet licenses. The department will report back.

On a more serious note, the council members also discussed the mayor’s proposed 5% transfer from the Department of Water and Power to the city’s general fund. DWP General Manager S. David Freeman previously said he could afford only a 3% transfer as the city’s municipal utility attempts to pay down a $4-billion debt and enters the open energy market.

But Freeman now says he is willing to pay the DWP’s “fair share” of 5% to the city in lieu of taxes.

“It will make us work harder and be more frugal,” Freeman said. “If you don’t need the money, I’ll be glad to keep it.”

In one of the day’s only heated exchanges, Councilwoman Rita Walters sparred with Freeman, asking whether he is attempting to lure the council into privatization of the utility.

Freeman vehemently denied that.

“I just want to make it clear, ma’am, the fact that we’re paying a dividend in lieu of taxes does not mean we’re going down the road to privatization,” Freeman said.

Walters also criticized Freeman for offering to sell the Fire Department two helicopters and other vehicles.

“They’re your poor relatives and you’re going to charge them for hand-me-down clothes,” she said.

But Freeman countered that the DWP needs the money from the sale of the used equipment and that it should not be expected to give it away.

In his spending plan, the mayor also called for a higher reserve fund. That amount, which Riordan said should not become a “pork barrel” for council members’ pet projects, was praised by some lawmakers.

“I too believe the reserve needs to be at least this high,” said Councilman Mike Feuer, who also suggested that the council receive quarterly reports on the fund.

Over the next several days, the budget panel, which includes council President John Ferraro and Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, will review other possibly controversial items, such as the city’s debt.

The full council is expected to receive the committee’s budget recommendations May 15.