City of Calgary Layoffs [Split from Oilpatch layoffs]

[Top Shelf]

Not specifically in the oilpatch, but the City today announced layoffs, primarily in the Building and Planning departments. I was always under the assumption that the City was a fairly safe place to be employed during a recession...kind of scary to see them doing cuts

City announces layoffs

Updated: Tue Jul. 14 2009 01:06:43

ctvcalgary.ca
Calgary's mayor says the city's top priority is to balance the books and that means some City Hall staff are facing the axe.

Dave Bronconnier says the city's operating budget is short nearly 50 million dollars, however there is $30 million dollars in savings and the shortfall is for the 2010 budget.

Sources tell CTV News that as many as 200 jobs could be on the chopping block in order to cut costs.

Several city departments could be affected and the shortfall could result in a hiring freeze.

The mayor confirmed Monday night that the City's Building and Planning Department is the first victim of the cuts.

70 jobs have been affected. 30 people were released this week. The other 40 jobs were either vacant or reorganized, according to Bronconnier.

The mayor says new building permits have dropped 50 percent and that's caused a huge decline in revenues in the Building and Planning Department which is fee for service.

The mayor says protective services like the Calgary Fire Department and the Calgary Police Service will not face any budget cuts.

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...ub=CalgaryHome

[ken0042]

I split this because I think it could grow into its own discussion fast.

I can see part of the reason building permits are down; the last time I went to apply for one it took about 3 hours. It's now to the point where I think I would be less likely to get one for any future work that I am doing.

So basically the city is taking a department that was understaffed, and chopping jobs because there aren't enough staff to handle the full work load.

Sure, cut some of the fat perhaps, but don't take away from a department that is there to ensure public safety.

[MaDMaN_26]

Normally you are correct Governments being ultimately responsible for the economy usually do not contribute to its downfall by piling on the layoff bandwagon... yet another disgusting move by a mayor and this council that is so out of touch with reality they need to be completely replaced.

I voted against my council troll/women and Dave... hopefully enough stupidity has happened that the... everyone I know... will actually bother to vote next time.

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by MaDMaN_26

Normally you are correct Governments being ultimately responsible for the economy usually do not contribute to its downfall by piling on the layoff bandwagon... yet another disgusting move by a mayor and this council that is so out of touch with reality they need to be completely replaced.

I voted against my council troll/women and Dave... hopefully enough stupidity has happened that the... everyone I know... will actually bother to vote next time.

what's wrong with layoff employees in the building permit department during a reccession? And who is this amazing mayor we should have in office besides Dave? And how does this cost cutting move prove how out of touch city council is?

It would seem to me you're a little harsh in your assesment.

[kermitology]

It's unfortunate.. My girlfriend is in LUPP (Subdivision) and they lost 1 person. 28 others were from another department. It's mostly contract people who are not being renewed because the permanent people would have the union in a fit.

But what I really don't like is that the city spent tonnes of money recruiting people from the UK, made them all permanent, then they're screwed over all the contract people from local programs. Most of them are young people, because when you get started with the city, you start off as contract for two years until you get into a permanent position.

[GrrlGoalie33]

This is kinda funny, because I was talking to a guy at the pro desk at Totem on Saturday. He said the number of people doing home renos has jumped.

I guess more people are renovating, but not getting city permits???

[Cowboy89]

This just confirms what an absolute farce the city's budgeting plan approved last fall was. 6 months into their 3-year budget, they already have to make cuts even though it was painfully obvious back then that things would get this bad.

[MaDMaN_26]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

what's wrong with layoff employees in the building permit department during a reccession? And who is this amazing mayor we should have in office besides Dave? And how does this cost cutting move prove how out of touch city council is?

It would seem to me you're a little harsh in your assesment.

Whats wrong with layoff during a recession? Is that a serious question? Do our property taxes immediately get cut after these savings? or are we putting families in the UI line up that had jobs already budgeted for with the incredible tax hike we are going to get? I'm not saying they can never do layoffs, but I'd like to be sure all other avenues where explored. But I sure hope you keep the positive attitude when its your job.

Rather than ask me to name some random person who theoretically may have done a better job than Dave, tell me why he should be in office for a second term, lets judge performance rather than hypathetically argue what someone else might have done. What has he done thats so fantastic... I cant think of a damn thing...

[GreatWhiteEbola]

In an interview on QR77 this morning, Bronco mentioned that 50% of these laid-off employees have been moved to other departments.

[Titan]

A $22m pedestrian bridge for all the newly unemployed to live under?

Traveled all over the world on our dime for no tangible benefit?

Amassed a war chest for re-elections by hosting events as mayor?

Allowing expense accounts for aldermen that would get them hung in the UK right now?

Yeah, Dave is great.

[MaDMaN_26]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

This just confirms what an absolute farce the city's budgeting plan approved last fall was. 6 months into their 3-year budget, they already have to make cuts even though it was painfully obvious back then that things would get this bad.

Exactly my point, these are jobs that were budgeted for... 6months later no choice but to layoff 200 people. Thats good government.

Oh and the 50% are going to another department is spin/damage control, you don't announce laying off more than you are. You would move 100 quietly and announce a 100 layoff.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by MaDMaN_26

Rather than ask me to name some random person who theoretically may have done a better job than Dave, tell me why he should be in office for a second term, lets judge performance rather than hypathetically argue what someone else might have done. What has he done thats so fantastic... I cant think of a damn thing...

I think the point was- who ran in the last election that would have been better?

As for what has he done that is fantastic- I would point to his current stance on the ring road. The Natives would like to start all over from scratch again, and he is pretty much saying "No, you had your chance. We are looking elsewhere now." Basically making them come up with the next offer to sell, and they need to come back with something firm.

I would never say he was the greatest mayor ever, and I will look at all the candidates closely during the next election. But given the choices last time he was a no-brainer.

[Rhettzky]

There was 50 positions cut between two departments. Of those 50 there was 22 vacant positions. Of the remaining 28 there was 13 who were let go. The remaining 15 people had base positions (in different departments or demotions in the same department) to go back to. Now when those 15 get bumped back to where they were, there is a chance that people had been hired in their place on a temporary basis. So there is probably a total of 13-20 people who will be out of work due to this.

[Bigtime]

It took 10 posts for someone to trot out the pedestrian bridges.

I was expecting it sooner.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Frankster

This is kinda funny, because I was talking to a guy at the pro desk at Totem on Saturday. He said the number of people doing home renos has jumped.

I guess more people are renovating, but not getting city permits???

I wonder if that is because of the 15% tax reduction for home renovations? In Red Deer I see dozens upon dozens of houses getting new shingles or siding. I didn't realize you needed a city permit for renovations.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Bronco is a dink. The sad thing is that this recession will probably teach him more about being a good mayor than any of his previous years ever did.

There is a possibility that he emerges out of this term with his head out of his arse, but why on earth would I hold my breath waiting for that to happen? Calgarians are fickle, he'll be out of here and we'll repeat the cycle of crappy municiple leaders for decades.

[MaDMaN_26]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I think the point was- who ran in the last election that would have been better?

I would never say he was the greatest mayor ever, and I will look at all the candidates closely during the next election. But given the choices last time he was a no-brainer.

Well there were 9 candidates last time, to be honest it was 1.5 years ago and while I did research them and read as much as I could about them then, I do not recall all their platforms or why I thought there was a better choice than Dave. But given the giant nothing he did in his first term I'm not surprised out of 8 people I found 1 that I thought might do a better job. I definitely remember it not being a "no brainier" for Dave.

Hey Rhettzky - I heard 200 people on the news this morning, the OP's post say "as many as 200" - I missed the "as many as" part - where do your numbers come from... its hard to imagine why a elected group would press release more than they had to... especially if the real number boils down to 10% of whats reported...

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by MaDMaN_26

Well there were 9 candidates last time, to be honest it was 1.5 years ago and while I did research them and read as much as I could about them then, I do not recall all their platforms or why I thought there was a better choice than Dave. But given the giant nothing he did in his first term I'm not surprised out of 8 people I found 1 that I thought might do a better job. I definitely remember it not being a "no brainier" for Dave.

Hey Rhettzky - I heard 200 people on the news this morning, the OP's post say "as many as 200" - I missed the "as many as" part - where do your numbers come from... its hard to imagine why a elected group would press release more than they had to... especially if the real number boils down to 10% of whats reported...

Dave did nothing his first term? If that's true, Duerr must have been a reanimated corpse the whole time.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Titan

A $22m pedestrian bridge for all the newly unemployed to live under?

Traveled all over the world on our dime for no tangible benefit?

Amassed a war chest for re-elections by hosting events as mayor?

Allowing expense accounts for aldermen that would get them hung in the UK right now?

Yeah, Dave is great.

You forgot the $25,000 for his personal website.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by MaDMaN_26

But given the giant nothing he did in his first term I'm not surprised out of 8 people I found 1 that I thought might do a better job. I definitely remember it not being a "no brainier" for Dave.

I guess I was talking about the 2 man race that the election was; between him and Al-Noor. Polls were showing Bronco with just a slight lead. Given Al-Noor's questionable past and some of his silly ideas (for example, that the Glenmore-Elbow interchange should not have been done unless all of Glenmore was done at the same time)- that is where I'm talking about it being an easy vote for me.

And speaking of "doing nothing" how abut that GE5 interchange? Duerr had that on the books to be done around 2015, and Bronco got the province to kick in the extra dollars to get it done by 2008.