Editor,
A recent Letter to the Editor raised concerns about schedule changes at City Hall. For the benefit of those not familiar with the reasons for the changes, I would like to explain and clarify several things. In late March or early April of this year, City Hall will expand its operating hours on Mondays through Thursdays to 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This is a change from the current hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On alternate Fridays, City Hall will be open either from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and be closed on the other Friday. City Hall employees will continue to work 80 hours during every two-week period. It is important to note that public safety services are not affected by the changes.
The new schedule provides expanded public access to City Hall on Mondays through Thursdays while also addressing prevailing marketplace conditions for employees throughout Orange County. Thirty of 34 cities in the county currently have similar schedules allowing employees to provide additional service hours Monday through Thursday and take off every other Friday. Sixteen of the 30 cities close on alternating Fridays due to limitations on staffing that make it infeasible to remain open on alternate Fridays. Current and prospective employees consider these alternate schedules, commute challenges, and costs of living when considering their options. The schedule change will provide opportunities for the public to conduct business at City Hall before or after work, bring Laguna Beach into parity with most other cities in Orange County, and will have a positive impact on the environment by reducing one day of commuting every 10 days. The effectiveness of this new schedule will be evaluated after it has been in place for six months.
The recent Letter to the Editor also proposes that the City withdraw from the state pension system and move all new employees to a 401(k) plan. The City had considered this option, but it is not viable because of regulations that levy a significant financial penalty on agencies withdrawing from the system.
The city appreciates everyone’s patience as we try to find the best balance between City Hall hours of operation, the efficient and effective provision of public services, and changing work conditions in the marketplace.
John Pietig, Laguna Beach
The author is the city manager.
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