PLACENTIA ? Ivette Morales, a sixth-grader at Valdez Middle School, cried at the podium during the Placentia City Council meeting this week ? pleading for the city to not close her favorite after-school hangout ? the Whitten Community Center.
The girl and her mother handed two envelopes to Mayor Jeremy Yamaguchi stuffed with letters written by Melrose Elementary School students pleading for their pools and tutoring centers to remain open.
The city's summer swimming lessons are offered at the pools at Valencia and El Dorado high schools, but the swimming pools at the Whitten and Gomez community centers are typically open to the public during parts of the week for free recreational swimming.
JOSHUA SUDOCK, FILE PHOTO
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"Instead of hanging out in the streets, we get to play sports and do homework instead," the girl said.
Ivette goes to the Whitten Center every day after school: "Most of us can't afford to live in houses with pools so we use the pools there."
The city is $268,000 short of balancing its next annual budget, which begins July 1. City staffers have already reduced this shortfall from $1.9 million. Now, services like public pools, recreation centers and after-school activities may be on the chopping block.
One of the larger cost savings, about $100,000, is expected to come from shifting responsibility for removing graffiti on private property from the city to property owners, City Administrator Troy Butzlaff said. Property owners will be able to subscribe to a removal service.
Santa Fe Park is one Placentia park that could see a full closure this summer, with temporary fencing around the grounds so people can't get into the park; the grass would be allowed to die. Only trees and older plants would be watered. A partial closure, which would only fence off certain parts, is being discussed for Royal Verde Park.
These park closures could save the city up to $31,000 in the next fiscal year.
There is disagreement among council members as to whether the city should lean toward impacting the quality of life, especially for children, to get the budget balanced.
Councilman Scott Nelson said he would rather cut in administrative areas like employee benefits than slashing community services for children: "I don't like anything that affects children. Children are one of our biggest assets."
Councilman Joseph Aguirre opposed any closures of community centers, particularly in low-income neighborhoods.
"To shut down these facilities will leave children ? many of whom live in at-risk neighborhoods ? without positive recreation and activities," Aguirre said.
Councilman Chad Wanke said it broke his heart to hear Morales cry in the Council Chambers, but he strongly believes the pain of cuts needs to be fair. He believes the closures of the Gomez and Whitten community centers would allow the city to invest in recreation in the north end of the city, which is overdue for an upgrade.
The budget will be discussed at a 6 p.m. council study session Tuesday in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 401 E. Chapman Ave.
Contact the writer: 714-704-3754 or dlanghorne@ocregister.com
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