Two new incoming members of the Los Alamitos city council will be asked to take the so-called Fiscal Accountability Pledge after they are sworn in.
Two new members, Jordan Nefulda and Ron Bates, will be sworn in December, and Mayor Pro-tem Mark Chirco wants them to take the Fiscal Accountability Pledge taken by the current Council before the election.
“It looks like Measure Y is going to pass,” said Chirco, “and we’re (council) are being entrusted with more of our residents’ sales tax, something that was absolutely needed.”
The 1.5 percent sales tax that was narrowly passed by voters Nov. 3 is estimated to produce as much as $4 million annually for city operations.
Since the tax was undedicated, meaning it will go straight into the city’s general fund and can be spent for any purpose, city council members created their own guardrails by drawing up a “Fiscal Accountability Pledge” that they individually agreed to before the community voted on Nov 3.
“I’d ask that we put the Fiscal Accountability Pledge on the January agenda,” asked Chirco, “and I think it’s important that they get a chance to sign on to that pledge.”
Mayor Richard D. Murphy did not run for re-election and council member Dean Grose apparently lost to Tanya Doby by a razor thin edge.
Also this week, Murphy congratulated the city’s finance department for receiving an award for “Financial Reporting Achievement” from the Government Finance Officers Association.
As Interim Finance Director Craig Koehler said “thank you” and held up the award, city manager Chet Simmons said “we’re obviously ensuring that we’re continuously keeping an eye on the books.”
“Craig and I have talked about significantly ensuring that our numbers are correct and making sure we can always revert back to double, triple check that our numbers are correct.”
He thanked the entire department, including Ryan Phelps and Norma Murillo for their work in winning the award.
Finally, the city recognized Chief Eric R. Nunez to congratulate the police department for the quick work of many officers after the Oct. 18 burglary at Casa Youth Shelter in Los Alamitos.
“Because of the pro-active and quick response from the police department, numerous stolen items were recovered and solved other cases,” said Murphy.
A further investigation by detectives resulted in “several career criminals” being arrested,” the mayor said.
Nunez thanked the city for their recognition, but said not all officers involved “in this incredible arrest” were on the call so he called them out, starting with Corporal Dalana Lopez, who he said spotted the suspicious vehicle and ran the records check that activated the take down.
When the plate came back stolen, she received backup from Officer David Rael-brook and Sgt. John Krok who helped take the suspects into custody, the police chief said.
Detective Nestor Rodriguez coordinated an investigation that tied the suspects with the stolen items back to Casa Youth Shelter, said Nunez, also complimenting the work of Officer Joseph Medici, and records specialists Amanda McDowell and Riley Hill for their “monumental work” booking all of the stolen property and evidence in the case.
“I just want to add that that that that the fact that they (suspects) did have that shotgun as part of that evidence,” said Nunez, “really elevated the significance of the risk of the arrest.”
Nunez complimented the professionalism of the Department. “I just want to thank them for being out there doing that kind of work there every day.”