Monday Morning Bullpen: Those Summer Days

The council opens budget hearings on Monday. This is a process that every local resident should take interest in.

It works like this, the City Charter, you know that pesky document that I keep saying people should read, mandates that on or before the third Monday in May, the City Manager shall submit to the City Council an annual operating budget for the succeeding fiscal year.

As part of the process, the City Council is required to open a public hearing on the proposed operating budget and continue the public hearing until a formal recommendation to adopt Operating Budget is presented to the City Council.

Of course, some will go straight to the proposed budget for the police department and make hay about it.

But obviously it’s deeper than that.

Just like your personal budget isn’t just about the cable bill. This is about how the city spends its money across the board.

That cash comes from a variety of sources, no it’s not just your tax dollars. The money also comes from fees, charges for services, fines, forfeitures, investment earnings, rental income and other places.

That money decides the level of service the city can present in each department, and yes that includes public safety.

This year we’re talking about a $955.3 million operating fund and a $295.5 general fund.

The General Fund is the primary operating fund of the City.

The City Council will wend its way through each department in special meetings.

Nothing like a good budget public hearing to remind us summer is coming. Yes, I have to get out more.

Tune in and educate yourself.

The other item of note on Monday’s agenda is the mental health item at the top of the agenda.

It really comes down to this, where can people go to get mental health services. We know the city has its own health department, and if you don’t know, you haven’t been paying attention.

That’s probably the most repeated sentence in every local newspaper since the pandemic began two plus years ago.

That department is only responsible for public health.

Back on point, the systems across the region are fragmented and siloed.

For example people with addiction issues suffering from mental illness, and oftentimes the two do hand in hand, don’t get services under one banner.

Public health provides substance abuse issues, but not mental health issues.

It’s really about time to bring it together and do something.

It’s good to see the city taking steps in this direction.

More on that in Tuesday’s issue.

Finally, sad to hear Police Chief Cheryl Moody is retiring after decades with the department.
Talk about breaking down some walls.

Moody became the department’s first female chief earlier this year and before that she was the first female deputy chief.

It’s great she broke through that glass ceiling, but I do have to say – it’s a damn shame we are still saying “First Black …” or “First Female” when it comes to positions of power in Pasadena.

Maybe you weren’t around, but at one point the city had a female public information officer, city clerk, city attorney and city manager at the same time.

Wait …

We have a female PIO, City Attorney and City Manager now. Matter of fact, it’s the same City Manager and City Attorney.

…. Um ….

Still, enjoy retirement Chief Moody.

All that said, too many of the good ones with experience continue to leave the city.