City could cut fewer jobs

Spokane public works employees have received a partial reprieve from the staffing cuts recommended earlier this year by a consulting firm hired by the city.

The final version of Matrix Consulting Group’s proposals to make city operations more efficient was given to Spokane officials on Saturday. Most of the more than 150 changes that were recommended in the draft report released in January remain intact – including the elimination of 10 to 29 firefighters and 10 police officers.

But Matrix’s proposed job cuts in the street and wastewater departments have been reduced. Matrix had recommended cutting 65 to 100 workers in the city’s non-uniformed departments.

The final version retracts some of those, and its recommendations for reductions now include:

• One street paving job instead of seven.

• Four workers who clean city sewers instead of 10.

• Two wastewater plant workers instead of five.

• Two workers who inspect and clean catch basins instead of four.

The report, however, remains controversial among city unions and appears destined to become an election-year issue.

Spokane’s Chief Operating Officer John Pilcher said the city asked Matrix to “give us the straight objective truth to the best of their ability.”

“It’s trying to get the taxpayers the best possible return on their tax dollars,” Pilcher said.

The report, which cost the city $260,000, says proposed changes could save the city $2 million or more a year and bring in a similar amount in additional revenue.

But some question the report’s findings and say implementation of some items is unlikely.

For instance, Matrix recommends changing firefighter work weeks from 46 hours a week to between 48 and 52 hours a week, a move that would allow the city to eliminate 10 to 29 jobs.

But Spokane Firefighter Union President Greg Borg said the change only would result in savings if the city doesn’t pay firefighters for the extra duty.

“That absolutely is not going to happen,” Borg said. “We’re going to settle this at the negotiation table. When we’re done, we’re going to be working the same shift we are now.”

Cutting police jobs also has been controversial, especially with some city council members who say bodies should be added, not taken away, from the department.

“I haven’t seen anything to date that has changed my mind that we can address the needs for public safety in this community with reduced staff,” said City Councilman Al French, who is challenging Mayor Dennis Hession in this year’s election.

An attempt to reach the other mayoral candidate, City Councilwoman Mary Verner, was unsuccessful Sunday afternoon, but she too has supported increases in police staff.

Hession said recommendations involving staff reductions will get extra scrutiny. He said Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick is analyzing proposed staff changes to her department.

“I’m interested in what the chief has to say,” Hession said. “She’s a very experienced administrator and I respect her a lot, and I take very seriously her recommendations.”

The mayor said he hopes to complete any staff reductions through attrition. Pilcher noted that 120 people are expected to leave city employment this year through retirement and other voluntary departures.

Joe Cavanaugh, president of Local 270, which represents most city employees, said the draft report ignored staffing issues brought to light after a worker was killed in a 2004 accident at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Some of the changes in the final report, such as a reduction in proposed job cuts at the plant, appear to be a reflection of concerns raised since the draft was released, he said.

Meanwhile, the city is moving ahead on 90 of the less controversial proposals, Hession said.

“It will save us more money than we’ve spent,” Hession said.