NORWALK — After making some $7 million in budget cuts the past two years, the city faces an uncertain economic situation in the coming year, said City Manager Ernie Garcia, who called for residents to “make the community connection” and not play the blame game by pointing fingers at who or what may be responsible for the recession.

Commenting at the State of the City luncheon Friday at the Norwalk Marriott Hotel, Garcia noted that he was raised in Norwalk and was proud of the community and the way residents help each other.

An example was the city’s emergency food pantry, which provides for those facing emergencies such as the loss of a home to fire.

“Our cupboard was bare but we put out a call to the community and the response was overwhelming. Our cupboard is now overflowing,” Garcia said.

Other examples where volunteers are helping to keep community programs afloat include seniors at the Senior Citizen Center, TAP, a youth group; and the Junior Police Cadets, which help out with crowd and traffic control and other chores at city events, saving the cost of hiring off-duty sheriff’s deputies.

In the past year, the city had to cut some programs, like the Sanchez Halloween Parade, but drew more than 10,000 to the city's Halloween Spooktacular on the City Hall lawn. Other community programs were the July 4 celebration, Mexican Independence Day and the Christmas tree lighting, which kicked off appearances by the private Santa Sleigh Committee.

At a budget adjustment session Feb. 23, the City Council continued cuts after learning that while it had spent only 46 percent of its expected mid-year budget, revenues were at only 43 percent of anticipated funds because of the bad economy.

General fund revenues from sales taxes are now estimated at $38.56 million, about $539,258 less than projected earlier.

“We have no property taxes in the city, just sales taxes,” Garcia said, noting there is a small allocation of property taxes from the county left over from the former recreation district.

Some of the savings were from 19 employee early retirements, he said.
In addition, there were 17 full-time employee layoffs and the elimination of 35 part-time positions.

“We have 24 vacancies but have frozen hiring of new employees,” Garcia said.
The city won’t make its annual contribution to the future equipment purchase fund and will defer maintenance on some roads, meaning the potholes may remain longer, Garcia said.

“We will collaborate with businesses, residents and city stake holders to continue services as needed, even if we have to go to the reserve fund,” Garcia said.

That reserve fund currently stands at $6.68 million.

On the bright side, Garcia said the city has been able to continue the I Am Somebody self-esteem and anti-gang and drug program in local schools, reaching about 1,300 students a year.

The Art in Public Places fund has installed a sculpture at Rosecrans and Funston avenues marking the city’s 1957 incorporation and honoring Norwalk’s first newspaper, the Norwalk Call.

Federal stimulus funds are expected to help pay for some street upgrades, new roofs on city buildings to save energy and improvements at Hermosillo Park.
Transit funds have been allocated to continue work on the Santa Ana (5) Freeway widening project with work to start in 2011 on the Carmenita Road bridge.

Some 4,000 customers or the Norwalk water system will get less expensive water from a large well to be dug in the northeast part of Norwalk Park, Garcia said.

Capt. Patrick Maxwell, commander of the Norwalk Sheriff’s Station, said crime is down and there was just one rape last year, but a horrendous one, that of a blind, 80 year old woman attacked in her apartment. However, the assailant was identified and arrested, Maxwell said.

Despite a $128 million cut in the Sheriff’s Department budget by the county, existing public safety services in Norwalk will be retained, Maxwell added.

Assistant Los Angeles County Fire Chief David Richardson said fire calls in the city decreased in the past year, from 175 to 169 with some 4,000 medical calls.

New firefighting equipment has been purchased, including a paramedic vehicle for Fire Station 20 and an air and light vehicle for Station 115, both in Norwalk.

The luncheon, which drew some 250 people, was sponsored by the Norwalk Community Coordinating Council, which also conducted a silent auction with proceeds going to the Norwalk Regional Health Center, 12360 Firestone Blvd.