Residents Speak Out Against Pension Proposal, ACC Membership at Council Meeting

After cancelling a meeting earlier this month and holding a short special meeting last week, the Fountain Valley City Council decided Tuesday night that it still needed extra time before making decsions on its three biggest agenda items.

The council was to consider a resolution that would have reverted to the city's older—and higher—pension rate for the city's next fire chief, and another that would have installed automated license plate readers in at least two of the city's police cars. The council was also set to address whether the city would renew its membership in the Association of California Cities-Orange County.

All three issues were set over until the next council meeting Feb. 7, but members of the public expecting decisions on those issues were allowed to make public comments before the council.

Roy Reynolds, speaking against the city's membership in ACC, referred to his recently published on Fountain Valley Patch, adding that, he thought, there was no real value in the city's relationship with ACC.

"I have a real problem with the city taking direction from the ACC when they don't allow participation from ordinary citizens," he said.

The council also heard from Jeannie Gallindo, who spoke out against the pension issue. The city recently reduced its pension rate to 2 percent, but was deciding whether to revert to 3 percent for the next fire chief.

"Why are we not using our new contract for an employee who could be employed for many years?" Gallindo said. "We are increasing our unfunded mandate. This is a big position. It pays a lot of money. It's going to cost us more money."

The council did complete its appointments to the city's various commissions. Incumbents Margie Drilling, Ron Walker and Brad Gaston were all reappointed to the Planning Commission, with Stephen Brown taking over as the alternate. Michael Wellborne and Kimberly Adessian were appointed to the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board, and Mark Nix, Cheryl Norton and Yvan Cao were appointed to the Fountain Valley Community Foundation.