Tonight, after being rejected by the majority of the City Council the first time around, City Staff is back with the “Reduced Work Time Option” Policy aka the Jennifer Ott rule. Essentially this new policy was designed to provide flexibility for Alameda Point Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Ott non-exempt staff to work 3/4 time or 2/3 time depending on need. As you all should know, City Staff is already on a four day a week schedule which made wrapping my head around an even less than that but more than part time schedule a little much.
So the first time City Staff introduced it, I believe the proposal was still to allow full benefits even at 3/4 or 2/3 time work. Now it appears as though the benefits have been pro-rated based on what the working schedule is. That I can live with, I was having problems with full benefits under a reduced work schedule, but can see how staff was urging that this would be okay.
City Staff thinks that this option is super necessary to provide flexibility for staff, I’m pretty meh about it.
The City Council will also be taking up the issue of raising fees for Park and Rec type things. The biggest change is the fee for the youth leagues which the staff report notes makes more fair for teams because the old rate structure encouraged teams to book as much time as they could even if they didn’t need it which meant that some teams couldn’t get any field time at all. Which makes sense because despite hearing that there was no space or open slots, I would always see the fields around my neighborhood park empty.
Another big change is allowing a smaller number of tables to be rented for picnics or parties which I think is a great idea and will allow for more parties to happen depending on how many tables are needed for individual events.
So here’s what the old fee vs the proposed fees look like.
Heres a Concept……..The Residents are Contributing 12 -13 times to our Fireman than what Large Companies and Corporations contribute to pension fund for their employess…….If the Heroes would maybe just recieve 10 times as much the Parks could be free and we could have New pools and Lighted Sports Field…..Jon Spangler see if your Heroes will go for this.
Comment by John — February 5, 2013 @ 9:43 am
Call me Cynical but my Guess is we spent 10X as much in labor in creating these new fees then what they will return…But it keeps the people busy and really adds value to the residents. I think we should charge for breathing air in the open space also……..You guys are Huge missing opportunity..
Comment by John — February 5, 2013 @ 11:39 am
So does this mean that if my wife and I want to eat lunch together in a park and there’s an unused picnic table we have to pay the city $30 an hour to use it but if we just sit on the lawn we have to pay the city $40?
Comment by Jack Richard — February 5, 2013 @ 12:01 pm
Nope, only if you want to book said table in advance or book that piece of lawn ahead of time.
Comment by Lauren Do — February 5, 2013 @ 12:10 pm
Jack ……..But for 40/hr you can book a picnic table in any of our parks and you can hear a FREE SALES PRESENTATION on Condos at the Base/Alameda Point. Plus you get a signed autograph of our City Manager Riding the Fire Truck in the Parade …..Something you and the bride can remember on that special occasion. We like to Spoil our Residents.
Comment by John — February 5, 2013 @ 4:19 pm
We think of everything in Alameda…….For you LOW INCOME FOLKS who don’t have a house or room to throw a party and need to use a park for your family get togethers on a holiday , We have Created these Special New Fees…….Open Park Areas for 40/hr and picnic table Rentals from 40 -80 /hr. Just for those 57% of the State Kids attending School who live in Poverty and Qualify for Free Lunches, Were going to only charge your parents 25/hr for Inflatable Bounce…….Alameda Cities way to provide Amazing Experiences……
Comment by John — February 5, 2013 @ 4:32 pm
4. How many square feet do I get for an hour, Lauren, and do I get to pick my spot for the forty or is that extra?
Comment by Jack Richard — February 5, 2013 @ 5:08 pm
Jack……Don’t give them any more Ideas…..They will have to add more staff and probably two consultant studies and an comprehensive environmental impact study…….Lets not leave out our transportation guys…..Maybe two Bike racks for every Picnic table…..Sierra Club might be concerned about the squirrels eating leftovers and gnawing on John Russo’s shoes in the 8X11 Glossy they pass out.
Comment by John — February 5, 2013 @ 6:04 pm
Jack……They are going to Run Special at City Hall for the New Parks Programs……It’s only 1/2 price if you only just think about it……..Saves everyone a lot of work and they take Credit and Debit cards and as an added value they can just put it on annual property tax…..They just don’t stop sacraficing for their residents.
Comment by John — February 5, 2013 @ 6:19 pm
Can you two get your own private blog and massage each others’ prostates there?
Comment by Scorekeeper — February 5, 2013 @ 6:39 pm
This is our own private blog.
Comment by Jack Richard — February 5, 2013 @ 6:46 pm
Scorekeeper……Your 3-0 on being AH………..Share your Wisdom ole wise one…..
Comment by John — February 5, 2013 @ 6:47 pm
Scorekeeper owes the city $40. He parked in an open space.
Comment by Jack Richard — February 5, 2013 @ 7:07 pm
The reduced fees for small number of tables will be really helpful– the big fee stopped us from reserving tables in the past. It is OK to just take chances on free tables during low traffic times but I appreciate the ability to reserve tables during the warm season at a reasonable cost.
Comment by Kevis Brownson — February 5, 2013 @ 9:10 pm
Many of us actually agree with ScoreKeeper and are getting fairly tired of the John/Jack personal suckfest blog complete with daddy issues and all – it moves past creepy almost everyday now.
Was surprised that this was not Lauren’s blog any more (bet she was too because she does good work here)
many of us have the knowledge and would be happy to help you both set up your own blogs and then you could be oh so happy together for ever.
You would be happy- we would be happy- Win/Win
Comment by I'mwithscorekeeperonthis — February 6, 2013 @ 12:28 pm
# 15
Oh come on, let us all have some fun, after all John and Jack are the only ” rationals ” here among a slew of ” irrationals ” !!
But then again, what is rational to me is irrational to you, may the courts decide on the definition and good luck with that.
Comment by GCOBRE — February 6, 2013 @ 12:55 pm
CGOBRE………Hard to pay any attention to sockpockets who have offered absolutely Nothing to any conversation……and then try and stifle any contrary opinion……….Thinking there is only one way to come to a conclusion…….Dumbing down syndrome.,,,,,,,,,,
Scorekeeper and Imwithscorekeeper seem to love the suckfest and massage the prostate sexual connotations ………..Speaking of FRKN CREEPY…….
Comment by John — February 6, 2013 @ 3:29 pm
I agree with 15. I’m leaving.
Comment by Jack Richard — February 6, 2013 @ 5:43 pm
Jack……Your probably Smart………I think I have learned way too much about what really goes on in Local Politics and what is happening in our Schools….Not going to try and make sense of this crap anymore……. Thanks for sharing your wit and knowledge……Learned alot and laughed alot….Will leave it to the koolaid drinkers and crickets.
Comment by John — February 6, 2013 @ 8:53 pm