PUBLIC COMMENT 1
ATTN: To Be Delivered to City Council Prior to Council Meeting Tonight 2/24/2025 SUBJECT: Public Comment on Management Reorganization and Salary Increases To City Council Member:
For months, Yucaipa's general staff has been urged to make sacrifices in light of the city's multimillion -dollar deficit. We have been asked to temper our expectations in contract negotiations, accept budget constraints and financial limitations —particularly given increased public safety costs and the passage of Measure S—and continue "doing more with less." Some Yucaipa staff members expressed similar sentiments since the publication of tonight's agenda last Thursday evening. We believe it is important to consider these perspectives in the discussion.
While frontline and general unit employees are being asked to remain "reasonable" and "lean" in our negotiations, this same sense of fiscal responsibility seems to disappear when it comes to rewarding a few in management, especially those whose raises appear politically influenced or pre -arranged. Some of these proposed positions already have sufficient management oversight, which brings to question the necessity of new management positions in light of the number of staff -level positions currently available.
This culture of rewarding management but expecting staff level employees to take on the cost of the City's deficit fosters distrust both externally and within the internal workforce. Employees who are committed to serving the public deserve better.
We urge the City Council to reconsider this approach. If the city is truly in financial distress, then sacrifices must be shared equitably. If resources exist for raises, they should be distributed fairly across all employees who support this city —not just those with the right connections.
Our general unit employees deserve respect, transparency, and fairness. We appreciate your consideration and ask that our contributions to this city be valued equally.
Sincerely,
City Staff Members, Public Servants