Council, police hit an impasse

CITY HALL — The City Council, after weeks of holding out for possible wage concessions, appeared to reach a standstill with the Glendale Police Officers Assn. on Tuesday as the clock on passing a balanced budget before July 1 continued to tick.

With the police union seemingly unwilling to budge on a planned 6% salary increase due in July as part of a four-year contract, council members at a special morning budget hearing Tuesday directed Interim Police Chief Ron De Pompa to return next week with alternates for a 5% funding reduction to the department that has so far included controversial proposals to eliminate the Vice Unit and substantial cuts to the Community Police Partnerships Program as the council moves closer to balancing a $9.7-million deficit.

“I’ll be honest,” said City Councilman Ara Najarian. “I was out there pounding the stump, saying, ‘I won’t cut public safety.’ But I really do feel like I’m backed into the corner.”

But De Pompa has said repeatedly that there are limited options because already lean funding for core emergency response services must be maintained.

“We hate to see these programs go, but nonetheless they have the least effect on services,” he said.

The council had delayed making any decisions on the proposed police cuts for several weeks, noting that potential wage concessions could make up the difference needed to save the sworn-officer positions. As part of the police union’s four-year contract negotiated in 2007, all officers are due a 6% increase July 1.

The police union was under increased pressure from the city to make concessions after the other three city employee associations agreed earlier this year to either forgo planned cost-of-living pay increases or cede other planned pay bumps.

Forgoing the increases could have saved nearly $2 million, more than enough to make up for the police programs the council hoped to maintain, city officials said.

But last week, police union officials notified the city it would not be reopening its contract this year, but left the door open for next fiscal year, said City Manager Jim Starbird.

Mayor Frank Quintero made it clear during the hearing Tuesday morning that he would not vote for a budget that included cuts to the police Vice Unit and community policing program. Councilman John Drayman joined him in calling for alternatives, singling out the department’s shooting range as a possible option.