June 17, 2009 > Union City Council Union City Council June 8, Special Meeting Proposed budget cuts. Police department will lose 12 positions (11 sworn officers). Six sworn positions are currently vacant. Early retirement incentives have been offered to other employees. Fire Department might eliminate eight positions and combine the Fire Marshal and Fire Chief positions. Battalion Chief Ronnie Oatis, Division Chief Laura Mapes, Battalion Chief Terry Carey, Battalion Chief Michael Brown questioned the feasibility of the Chief taking on additional tasks at the June 9 council meeting. The public library may close on Fridays and the skate park may close daily except for paid camps. Events like summer carnival, Halloween festival and spring egg hunt might be cancelled. Afternoon closure at weekends would reduce sports center opening hours by seven hours per week. June 9, 2009 Consent Calendar Benjamin T. Reyes appointed as Assistant City Attorney. Awarded a two-year contract for citywide custodial services to Preferred Service and Supply, LLC, Fremont, for $246,094.00 with the option to extend the contract by one year. Agreed to submit 2009 Draft Housing Element to the California Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD) for review and certification. Awarded contract to Orion Bus Industries, a division of DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America, to purchase six low-floor compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to replace Union City Transit diesel buses at the end of their useful lives. Transportation grants and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act monies will fully fund $414,818 (plus tax) cost of each bus. Public Hearings Accepted the 2008-2009 State of California Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) grant for $100,000 to fund one part-time position, a portion of two Corporal positions and overtime for special enforcement projects. City Manager Reports Authorized notification of affected employees to pending layoffs. Unanimously (4-0 vote) approved Final Environmental Impact Report for the East-West Connector Project as complete and adequate. Mayor Mark Green-Yes Vice-Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci-Yes Manny Fernandez-Yes Jim Navarro-Yes Richard Valle- Absent