June 09, 2004

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Palo Alto Online

New city attorney, new threat of strike

by Jocelyn Dong

Employment issues topped the City Council's agenda Monday evening as city workers threatened to strike and Gary Baum of Santa Clara received a formal offer for the vacant city attorney position.

The 43-year-old Baum, who is expected to accept the position, will earn $179,000 a year -- about $22,000 more than former City Attorney Ariel Calonne earned. Baum, currently the assistant city attorney of Santa Clara, was attending a conference earlier this week and could not be reached for comment.

He will start work July 14, receiving benefits commensurate with the city's management-compensation plan -- a nine-month severance package in salary and benefits -- and be eligible for a relocation loan, should he move within 8 miles of City Hall.

Baum specializes in land use and human resources issues.

The council voted 7-2 to extend the offer. Council members Vic Ojakian and Jack Morton cast the two dissenting votes.
@12smallhead:City workers threaten to strike

Earlier Monday evening, about 100 city employees wearing purple union T-shirts marched in front of City Hall -- five weeks after their contract expired. The members of the Service Employees International Union Local 715 -- from park rangers to transportation engineers -- chanted and raised posters that read, "Don't sell out the community. Stop contracting out," and "Maintain our health care benefits."

Senior librarian Maya Spector, chair of the city's union chapter that represents about 600 workers, said three main issues prompted the rally and threat of a strike: the city's proposal that employees take mandatory days off in the coming year to save costs, the loss of the PPO health-care option, and the "overuse" of temporary workers.

Spector said the three days off per employee would amount to an average loss of about $1,000 per person, something that would "hurt the most vulnerable of us." Last year, union members voluntarily took days off, saving the city $500,000, she said.

Meanwhile, the elimination of the PPO option, used by about 11 percent of employees, would likewise hit people who have the greatest needs, she said.

During the council meeting, a number of union members spoke. Lisa Myers, a ranger, asked the council to "stop the temp abuse," saying that city staff take the time to train temporary workers, only to have them hired away by other agencies because the city doesn't offer those workers full-time employment.

Brian Ward of the City of Palo Alto Utilities accused City Manger Frank Benest, who was present at the meeting, of "not bargaining in good faith."

A liaison between the union's negotiating team and members, Ward said employee ideas were not taken seriously and that management's cost-cutting measures would result in poorer quality work.

The union could ask members before the end of June to vote for a strike if the negotiations, which have been ongoing since March, continue to stall. Approximately 300 members have already signed strike petitions, though Spector said she was hopeful a strike wouldn't be necessary. If a walkout is approved, the union will give the city 10 days' notice.

City Manager Frank Benest denied that management was unresponsive to the union.

"We have a demonstrated history of collaborating with labor groups," he said. When the city faced a $10 million deficit last year, they solicited employee suggestions and "implemented hundreds of ideas," he said.

Like Spector, he said he remained "optimistic" that a strike could be avoided, though he said he had no timetable for completing negotiations.

The city is attempting to cut $2.4 million from its budget; the mandatory furlough of both union and non-union workers would save an estimated $1 million.

In part, the city's been hard hit by rocketing costs of employee benefits, including a retiree medical plan that's expected to nearly double, to $15.8 million.

Arastradero Preserve renamed

Also Monday evening, the council renamed Arastradero Preserve in honor of former City Councilwoman Enid Pearson. It is the first parcel of open space to have its moniker renamed under a policy adopted by the council in April.

The 609-acre open space in the Palo Alto foothills will now be known as "Enid Pearson-Arastradero Preserve." It will cost about $10,000 to make new signs.

Pearson is credited with the 1965 Parks Dedication Ordinance, which mandated that parklands be used as such unless revoked by city voters. She also pushed the city to adopt a general plan for zoning. Her supporters call her "far-sighted" and phoned her last night to share the good news. Pearson has been ill for some time.

The vote was 7-2 on a motion made by Councilwoman Yoriko Kishimoto and seconded by Councilwoman LaDoris Cordell.

Councilwoman Dena Mossar advocated for the decision to be deferred, warning it would hurt ongoing efforts to raise money to buy acreage to add to the preserve.

Councilwoman Judy Kleinberg, meanwhile, took passionate exception to naming the park for a living person, citing California guidelines that prohibited it for state parks. She called the issue "the most difficult vote I've had to consider during my five years on the council."

Although she admires the former councilwoman, Kleinberg said singling Pearson out for the honor had the potential to offend others in the community who had worked hard to establish the preserve.

"We're treading on delicate, sensitive feelings here," Kleinberg said later, as a second motion was made to create a plaque honoring others affiliated with the preserve. The plaque, she argued, could be construed as "second prize" and would "put salt in the wounds of some people."

That motion was defeated 5-4.

In a simpler Parks and Recreation matter, the council unanimously approved the naming of the new 2.4-acre park in the University South neighborhood on Homer Avenue and Waverley Street as "Palo Alto Heritage Park." Senior staff writer Jocelyn Dong can be reached at jdong@paweekly.com.

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