El Cerrito’s financial struggles are largely due to its escalating pension debt, linked to the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). This debt saw a 67% increase from fiscal year 2014-15 to 2019-20, reaching $65.8 million by June 2020 and soaring to $85 million by June 2023. High pension liabilities mean rising costs over time,Continue reading “Rising Tide of Pension Costs: El Cerrito’s Escalating Financial Challenge”
Category Archives: City Staff
El Cerrito: The Challenge of Accessing Information
El Cerrito: The Challenge of Accessing Public Information- Microblog The El Cerrito Citizens for Responsible Government (ECCRG) recently sought specific details from the city regarding the number of right-to-information requests filed in 2023, along with their outcomes and reasons for any refusals. It’s important to note that while the city did provide details about whoContinue reading “El Cerrito: The Challenge of Accessing Information”
State Auditor’s RoadMap: The Path to Success
The City of El Cerrito, while initially agreeing with some of the State Auditor’s recommendations, has shown a lack of commitment in implementing these suggestions, particularly in managing its financial struggles. The city’s budgets have consistently shown increased expenditures without justifying the rises, and its budget policy lacks clear procedures for monitoring departmental spending. ThisContinue reading “State Auditor’s RoadMap: The Path to Success”
Assessing Safety and Spending: A Tale of Two West Contra Costa Cities
The State Auditor’s report on page 25 highlights El Cerrito’s distinction of having the largest police staff per capita in the region, and potentially in California. Despite this, having more police officers doesn’t automatically translate to increased safety. El Cerrito faces the dual challenge of rising staffing costs and an escalating crime rate. El Cerrito’sContinue reading “Assessing Safety and Spending: A Tale of Two West Contra Costa Cities”
City’s State of Affairs Address: Citizens Seek Authenticity Amidst Reality
In Tuesday’s annual State of the City address, outgoing El Cerrito Mayor Lisa Motoyama delivered a message of optimism and progress for our beloved city. While the tone was cheerful, it’s essential to consider the broader context and some missed points that are crucial for a complete understanding of El Cerrito’s current situation. Her optimisticContinue reading “City’s State of Affairs Address: Citizens Seek Authenticity Amidst Reality”
El Cerrito’s Stalled Progress: How Council Inaction Harms Community and Staff
This blog has been consistently focused on the critical aspects of governance, accountability, and transparency within El Cerrito’s city administration. The Chief Executive Officer, and City Manager, carries the responsibility for overseeing both the operational and financial performance of El Cerrito. It is essential to note that the City Manager is accountable to the City Council.Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Stalled Progress: How Council Inaction Harms Community and Staff”
Shame on the City Council
In leadership roles within public agencies, the common practice often involves promoting the next person in line for a position. While this approach may have its merits, it’s not always the wisest strategy. Promoting employees solely based on their tenure comes with a set of advantages and disadvantages that warrant careful consideration: Advantages of Tenure-basedContinue reading “Shame on the City Council”
Accountability and Transparency Must Be More Than Just Buzzwords
After 12 years as Assistant City Manager, Karen Pinkos became City Manager on January 1, 2019. Since then, several disturbing events have happened under her watch, yet she acknowledges none, nor has she addressed these significant and catastrophic issues. As the City Manager conducts business as usual, she has two patented phrases. One of herContinue reading “Accountability and Transparency Must Be More Than Just Buzzwords”
Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result
City Leadership: It’s not Us, It’s You. You just don’t understand. Citizens: Most residents want a new and improved library. We support the City’s efforts, but clearly not at any cost. In 2016, the initial attempt to secure a library bond in El Cerrito faced a resounding rejection from the Citizens. The bond measure crumbled dueContinue reading “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result”
A Critical Look at El Cerrito’s City Management: Where Are the Funds Going? Read on:
In previous blogs, we delved further into the intriguing world of governance, or more pointedly, the absence thereof. To date, several people have chimed in to say that all candidates live in El Cerrito. But the blog’s crux is governance, and governance is the epicenter of El Cerrito’s woes. In this case: No one hasContinue reading “A Critical Look at El Cerrito’s City Management: Where Are the Funds Going? Read on:”
El Cerrito as Charter City – Chaos
The City of El Cerrito was originally incorporated as a General Law City in 1917 and became a Charter City in November 2018. The City is organized as a Council-Manager form of local municipal government. The City Council consists of five members elected at large for four- year, overlapping terms. A California charter city is aContinue reading “El Cerrito as Charter City – Chaos”
Where are the Residency Requirements ?
Understanding the Council-Manager Government: El Cerrito operates under a Council-Manager form of municipal government. This structure involves a five-member City Council, elected at-large for overlapping four-year terms, embodying the legislative responsibilities, while the managerial tasks are overseen by a City Manager. Charter City Status – A Double-Edged Sword: The shift to a Charter City statusContinue reading “Where are the Residency Requirements ?”
Rebuilding Trust: The Key to Advancing El Cerrito’s Library Initiative
The City’s decision to delay the library initiative from the 2024 ballot in favor of public education overlooks a significant opportunity in El Cerrito. Many residents support an improved library, yet surveys reveal a lack of trust in the City’s leadership, a crucial factor for the initiative’s success. To build support, the City must prioritizeContinue reading “Rebuilding Trust: The Key to Advancing El Cerrito’s Library Initiative”
Employee Pension and Benefits
EECRG is rerunning this blog primarily because the unfunded liability of El Cerrito Pension Costs has ballooned to $85 million dollars during the year since this post was written. _______________________________________________ Lost in the din of cheering about the progress of going from the 8th worst-ranked City in California to only the 13th worst (out ofContinue reading “Employee Pension and Benefits”
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving from the El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government! As we gather with our families and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, we at the El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you – our valued readers and supporters. This year has beenContinue reading “Happy Thanksgiving”
El Cerrito Library Survey Results: Public Outcry Leads to Release of Key Findings
After substantial public pressure, El Cerrito has released selected findings from the library survey. The results reveal significant concerns about the city’s management and financial planning, particularly regarding the library project. Key Survey Findings: The survey results suggest a lack of confidence in the City’s management and transparency, especially in financial matters. Despite having aContinue reading “El Cerrito Library Survey Results: Public Outcry Leads to Release of Key Findings“
City Manager Up to Her Tricks – Again
For those who may not have seen it, EECRG is running this blog originally posted on September 29, 2022. We previously shared a blog post a little over a year ago, and it has become increasingly evident that the City Manager is pursuing an independent agenda. Despite the 2020 findings of the State Auditor’s Report,Continue reading “City Manager Up to Her Tricks – Again”
What Is El Cerrito Hiding?
In March 2023, El Cerrito entered into contracts with both Gobe Research and Reynolds Strategies. One was for a contract for a research survey of El Cerrito voters, and the second was to assist the city with planning a strategy for a library bond measure. One contract was for 34,775 and the other was forContinue reading “What Is El Cerrito Hiding?”
More taxes to cover mismanagement – a fool’s errand.
El Cerrito’s Tax Dilemma: A Call for Accountability and Transparency El Cerrito boasts one of the most robust tax bases in California, yet there’s an ongoing push for even higher taxation. Alongside this, questions arise about the city’s responsible use of the previously approved taxes. Sales Tax in El CerritoAs of October 2023, El Cerrito’sContinue reading “More taxes to cover mismanagement – a fool’s errand.”
El Cerrito Speaks: A Call to Action for Our City Council
Carol Bartz, who became the CEO of Yahoo in 2009, stirred controversy by warning her staff against leaking company secrets to f-king Mars suggesting she would take extreme measures against any leakers. The Board said Nothing. However, after overseeing three challenging years with minimal growth at Yahoo, she stepped down in 2011. In 2013, JimContinue reading “El Cerrito Speaks: A Call to Action for Our City Council”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 