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but likely not better. Now no one can be expected to know the real impact of this crisis ... that is <br />unreasonable. However, we should have plans in place to where we know what will happen if/when revenue <br />projections are worse than expected. <br />If we do not take immediate and strong response, we will be in a worse situation in a few months. We need to do more <br />than "receive and file". We need to fully understand these scenarios. This is especially true with seemingly that <br />California may be slower to economically reopen as compared to other parts of the country. <br />Someone needs to ask: <br />1. What is the city going to do if the revenue decrease is $50M instead of $27M by the end of 2020? <br />2. Is the $50M projection by the end of 2020 including the $15M of forecasted property tax revenue in 22/23? <br />3. What are the priorities for the residents of Santa Ana? <br />4. How do we related those priorities to budgetary spending? <br />S. How do we measure the progress on achieving the desired results associated with those priorities? <br />6. What is the timing for making these decisions? <br />would suggest that an item of this magnitude is much more than a traditional "receive and file". This item needs a <br />strategic response. One that puts all things on the table. One that everyone needs to work together for the greater <br />good of the entire city. I recommend that this start now. If it starts later, it may be too late to make as much change as <br />could be effectuated now. <br />If things turn out better than what they may be now, we have gone through an exercise that allows everyone to be more <br />knowledgeable on our city's finances which will only make us stronger. <br />I would also like to point out that the City will receive lower Gas Tax revenue which is used for traffic signals, light <br />maintenance, median landscaping, pothole repairs, sidewalk repairs, etc ... I think we can agree that this is an area we <br />need to improve upon. Unfortunately, the reduced revenue will hinder the City's ability to provide these services and <br />our residents will suffer. Even if we have a fund balance in the Gas Tax Fund, that only means that we likely have repairs <br />to do in arrears. Measure M funds for street improvements will also suffer with certain projects being placed on <br />hold. This will have an impact today and going forward. This was also an area that Measure X was specifically <br />mentioned as a use of funds, which unfortunately those funds went elsewhere. <br />65A(2): Affirm the hiring freeze for all City vacant positions as of March 23 2020 <br />As noted, there are 82 General Fund vacancies, and total vacancies of 153, that will remain unfilled right now. These <br />unfilled positions will "save" the city about $7M for the current year and another $8.6M for next fiscal year. First, we <br />should be asking ourselves why do we have so many unfilled positions in certain parts of the city while other <br />departments have had many people hired and filled all vacancies. <br />For example, I believe that Code Enforcement had additional hires budgeted for in the current year ... just a few if I recall <br />correctly from their presentation to the Measure X Oversight Committee. This department I believe is impacted by the <br />hiring freeze. Contrast that with the Police Department which had many officers budgeted for and ultimately hired and <br />as such, their vacancies would presumably be minimal. The city chose to focus hiring on the police department at what <br />ultimately is the detriment of other departments. Now, I want police officers to be hired but it should not necessarily be <br />at the expense of another department due to limited hiring resources. I would ask that the city look at not prioritizing <br />one unit over another when it comes to devoting of Human Resources and other hiring assets. <br />Regardless, under the circumstances it would only seem prudent to affirm the hiring freeze for right now. I would also <br />urge the city to utilize this time of doing without to determine what positions are truly needed going forward once we <br />get out of this fiscal crisis in a few years. <br />65A(3): Transfer $6.6M from the Refuse Enterprise Fund to the General Fund during FY 19/20 <br />