I ask the press to go back and ask my colleagues who are now beating their chests on this issue (after two major employee contracts were approved while they were on city council)why they were not interested in these reforms then:
10/11/2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE #LD05-110
Subject :
Schipske Proposes Several Charter Amendments to Improve City Services
Suggests Charter Change to Set Police and Fire Staffing Levels
Fifth District Councilwoman , Gerrie Schipske, today proposed that the City Council Charter Amendment Committee consider placing several items on the ballot to improve budgeting for both public safety levels and employee pensions. The Council Charter Committee is currently considering amendments to the City’s Charter which will be placed on a city-wide ballot in Spring 2007.
Among Schipske’s proposals:
* Requiring the City Council establish mandatory minimum staffing levels based upon a ratio of public safety personnel to population. This would require that that public safety be established as a priority in each annual city budget at levels sufficient to provide public safety.
* Requiring that the City Council certify that there are sufficient funds available to pay for any pension system provided by the Council for City employees.
* Making the age of retirement in the Charter for City employees consistent with the state retirement programs. Current language sets retirement at age 65 while CALPERS allows retirement at age 55 for public safety personnel and 57 for other employees.