Rescission of layoffs

The POA president urged the council to rescind layoff notices, saying the previous administration manipulated financial data and that employees deserve stability while new leadership works with unions on alternatives.

Said layoffs were decided based on fraudulent, inaccurate numbers and warned that cutting positions would strip essential services like court prosecutions, water bills, and payments at city hall.

Read a statement on behalf of fellow POA member Stacy Esqueda, noting ten police department employees facing layoff represent 67 years of combined policing experience being lost with no cross-training or preparation.

Said no one can trust the numbers, asked the council to buy time, bring in outside help for finance, and let HR and the unions keep working toward real solutions before November 13.

A Public Works engineering employee laid off October 14, she thanked the council for ending the financial emergency and administrative leave but asked them to also rescind the November 13 terminations.

The utilities supervisor described short-staffed water, sewer, and stormwater crews facing El Niño, and flagged an unbalanced arrangement with Sunny Slope Water that deserves review.

Said no employee should have to do months of research just to get clear answers about decisions affecting their livelihood, and asked the council to rescind the layoffs.

A resident who warned the council that separated employees likely can't be brought back a second time, and that if the notices stand, the loss is a choice the council is making and must own.