Being fiscally responsible means negotiating with employees in good faith realizing no deal is perfect.  Our employees have agreed to contribute between 5 and 8.52 per cent of their pay towards their retirements. They broke ground on pension reform in Costa Mesa by coming forward with this offer.

Another agreement with our general employees involves a “2^nd tier” whereby new hires will get less retirement pay but work more years to earn it.

Some wanted to delay the vote. Delaying the vote would have cost us more money with attorneys’ fees if we entered into “impasse.”  That might have been a long, dark tunnel with many unknowns and not in the best interests in a fiscally responsible city.

I promised the residents of Costa Mesa that I would keep the peace in our city and to respond to them quickly in emergencies.  Wednesday morning our employees, including our police and firefighters went to work serving our residents.  They did not have to worry about how they might have to make ends meet.   They’re out there doing their job for us and we are paying them to do it well.

I regret that those who disagree with me have resorted to false accusations and mistruths.   I have a responsibility to the people of Costa Mesa who elected me as their city council representative.

As an elected official, I review the facts, I negotiate in good faith and I am true to my word and commitments.  I do not need to apologize for doing what I was elected to do.

You have my word.

1. Using the word “unsustainable” pensions and thinking we can make them sustainable overnight in Costa Mesa is unrealistic and a straw man argument.

OC Supervisor John Moorlach agrees that state’s billion dollar pension problem cannot be solved in Costa Mesa.  I am committed to pension reform, however, I contend that, in order to effectively implement this reform, all city and other agencies with CalPERS pension agreements must simultaneously join ranks in favor of this reform. I understand that Supervisor Moorlach is working on an initiative to be placed on the ballot in 2011. I plan to engage John Moorlach’s assistance in a strategic plan to attack this problem here in Costa Mesa in the meantime. Pension reform will happen. But we must be patient. To expect our public employees to be part of a ground zero reform is unrealistic.  Unfortunately, we all have to negotiate under pre-established contractual constraints which requires that we strategize incremental changes.

2. “Defined” contributions won’t go away overnight either.

The demand that we not vote on any current contract that includes “defined benefits” is not logical; and quite frankly it is impossible. Unfortunately, we are contractually locked into “defined benefits” policies; which means that it will take time and negotiated effort to replace it with a “defined contribution” pension policies (similar to 401K). In the meantime the city council has two choices: 1) agree to good faith concessions of employee salary cuts and benefits or 2) reject concessions to salary cuts and benefits.

The first choice is projected to save the city up to more than $7.2 million over the next four years. The second choice is projected to cost the city up to $253,999 every month in keeping the status quo.  I believe that people of Costa Mesa would want the city council members to vote in a prudently fiscal responsible manner. As a fiscal conservative I am committed to bringing Costa Mesa into fiscal solvency regardless of whether it is politically expedient to do so or not.

3. Interpretations of “total compensation” differ.

The figures provided by some individuals on city employee salaries and benefits are erroneous.  I want the public to know the actual figures so I direct you to go to the city website where accurate data on current salaries, benefits, etc. and the “total compensation” are posted.

4. The 9.5 deficit

Admittedly we did not see how some prior city policies would have a  negative impact on the city budget. But, let’s not blame shift.  That’s a waste of time.

The truth:  Over many years we were living off the retail sales taxes of South Coast Plaza and the Harbor Boulevard of Cars. Life was good.  But this is where we are at this moment in time.  We can’t go back.

We must look forward!!!

Sound fiscal strategies cannot myopically focus on budget cuts alone. Indeed cuts are necessary, however new revenue sources are required to secure long-term fiscal solvency.  I intend to create innovative plans to increase city revenue. I expect to work with  current business owners, developers, investors, policy analysts etc.to develop innovative strategies that will garner new revenue sources for the city.

Nevertheless, we need to make some hard choices and decisions to secure fiscal solvency. This requires negotiated concessions from all sides. The city council must do these negotiations with an attitude of respect toward and cooperation with our police and safety officials, which provides a greater promise for contractual compromise that benefits Costa Mesa employees and residents alike.

As your public servant in this community for 16 years, and as a resident for nearly 40 years, as a mother of five and a grandmother, I am prepared to help make those hard choices so that we can ride out this crisis and look towards a brighter future.  I promise to work hard, to listen, and to be fair.

Wendy

Download the Invitation here

City Council members Katrina Foley and Wendy Leece were present along with USTA Pro Circuit Director Brian Earley who presented Hank Lloyd and the Costa Mesa Tennis Center with a prestigious USTA Pro Circuit Award.

The $10,000 USTA Pro Circuit Futures event world-class event boasts players from over 12 different nations. The United States Tennis. Association organizes, sponsors and administers the USTA Pro Circuit – the Futures are professional tournaments offering $10,000 to $15,000 in prize money and are typically the proving ground for top-ranked juniors, college players and pros at the beginning of their careers. This year, players from more than 50 countries will be competing in 96 USTA Pro Circuit events for $3 million in prize money.

$10,000 2004 Costa Mesa Classic
Costa Mesa Tennis Center
September 21-26, 2010

Sunday, September 26 – RESULTS
Singles – Finals
WOLMARANS, Fritz [3], RSA, def. POOLE, Robbye [4], USA, 6-0 6-3

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For more information contact:
Becky Edles Rye, Press Aide
(562) 706-2568 or beckye@occtatennis.com