On Tuesday, the public will get its first chance to weigh in on a proposed Sacramento city budget that would include the layoffs of 62 firefighters and 34 police officers.
City Manager John Shirey says the job cuts are needed to address a $15.7 million deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1, and to avoid additional deficits year after year. Another 10 Police Department employees also would lose their jobs.
Shirey says the only way to avoid the layoffs is for public safety workers to start picking up the entire employee share of their CalPERS contributions. The city would keep paying the employer share.
Leaders of both the police and fire unions have indicated they're willing to talk about having their members pay more. Firefighters already have agreed to pay 6 percent of their salaries toward their pensions starting in January. Shirey is pressing for firefighters to pay their entire 9.81 percent employee share starting in July, and for police to pay 9 percent.
Cops and firefighters are expected to show up in force Tuesday at City Hall, 915 I St. The fire budget will be discussed at a special 2 p.m. session. The police budget is on the agenda for the regular meeting, which starts at 6 p.m.
– Mary Lynne VellingaPacific Rim festival celebrates 20th year
On Sunday, the Pacific Rim Street Festival will mark its 20th year of celebrating Asian cultures in Old Sacramento and the Westfield Downtown Plaza. The event, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., offers a health fair, information on service organizations and four entertainment stages. More than 100 food and arts and crafts vendors will be on hand.
Behind the news: Merlayna Yee-Chin, the event's chairwoman, said the festival began with the late restaurateur Frank Fat's vision for the Asian community to learn about one another's cultures and to appreciate their similarities and differences.
Info: www. pacificrimstreetfest.com
Mermaids on parade in Old Sacramento
Clamshell brassieres, triton spears and bluish, scaly skin will be all the rage at another Old Sacramento event on Saturday when people in sea creature costumes parade through the streets in the Promenade of Mermaids at 1 p.m.
Behind the news: The second-annual parade is the brainchild of organizer Jennifer Mehm, an East Coast transplant to Sacramento who participated in a similar event in Coney Island, New York, several years ago. More than 100 people took part in the Old Sac promenade last year. Prizes are awarded for best child and adult costumes.
Info:www. sacramentomermaids.com
CIVIC AFFAIRS
El Dorado courthouse proposal gets hearing
The California Administrative Office of the Courts will hold a public hearing in Placerville on Tuesday on a site under consideration for a new El Dorado County Courthouse in Placerville. The proposed site is 300 Forni Road, near the jail. The public hearing is to gather information for an environmental impact report. The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. in the hearing room of Building C, 2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville.
Info: www.courts.ca.gov/ facilities-eldorado.htm.
AROUND TOWN
Bee hosts health fair at its headquarters
The Bee is hosting "Eat Drink and Bee Healthy" from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at its headquarters, 21st and Q streets. Visitors will be able to browse information tables, talk to experts and sample healthy food from area restaurants and grocery stores.
Info: The health fair is free, but participants must register by calling (916) 321-1664, or go to www.BeeBuzzpoints.com and click on the "Eat, Drink and Bee Healthy" ad on the right side of the page. Free parking is available on 21st Street.
Library's film night honors Golden Gate
To honor the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate bridge, the State Library is showing the 1969 film "Bullitt," which stars Steve McQueen as a San Francisco police lieutenant protecting a mob informant before trial. Doors open at 5 p.m. Wednesday at 900 N St. in Sacramento. Tom Sawyer, a retired sheriff and former public safety liaison for the Governor's Office, will lead a post-film discussion featuring historic photos and archival material from the library's collection on San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. The event is free with an RSVP to rfontaine@library.ca.gov or call (916) 215-9280.
Info:www.library.ca.govcq
Graduation ceremonies begin at UC Davis
Thousands of students at the University of California, Davis, will participate in 13 graduation ceremonies that begin Thursday at 2 p.m. with the School of Law commencement at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. Goodwin Liu, an associate justice of the California Supreme Court, will be the law school's featured speaker. The university's various colleges and schools will hold ceremonies until June 17.
Info: http://
commencement.ucdavis.edu/ index.html
Historian discusses Squaw Valley Olympics
Lake Tahoe resident and author David C. Antonucci will present an illustrated look at the history of the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley and Lake Tahoe on Friday. The free program will take place at noon in the Beecher Room of the Auburn Library, 350 Nevada St. A collection of Olympic memorabilia from Delana Rudd will displayed in the library's glass cases during the month of May.
Info: www.tahoefacts.com
Folsom Handcar Derby staged this weekend
The annual Folsom Handcar Derby returns this weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, at East Bidwell Street at Broadstone Parkway in front of the Broadstone Marketplace. Time trials and races start at 10 a.m. both days. Participants race old-fashioned handcars along a stretch of tracks that, in 1864, carried locomotives to the bustling town of Latrobe.
Info:www.fedshra.org/handcar.html
Hangtown Motocross returns to Prairie City
The 44th annual Hangtown Motocross Classic will lure thousands of motorcycle racing fans Saturday to the Prairie City OHV Park outside Rancho Cordova. Participants will be racing for one of the most coveted trophies on the 12-race Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Series. General admission tickets are $40 general, $20 for children 6 to 11 and free for those 5 and younger.
Stay informed:www.hangtownmx.com
Pow Wow Days return to Orangevale
The Orangevale Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring its annual Pow Wow Days, Thursday through Sunday, at Orangevale Community Park, 7301 Filbert Ave., Orangevale. The four days of live entertainment, carnival rides, and food, jewelry and craft vendors raise money for 15 nonprofit organizations. Admission is free and parking is $5.
Info: www.orangevalepowwowdays.com
Roseville police and fire stage 'Safety Day'
The Roseville Police and Fire departments invite the public to a daylong Community Safety Day celebration at the Westfield Galleria on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Among the attractions are police K-9 demonstrations, a law enforcement motorcycle challenge, a bicycle skill course for kids and displays of police, fire and emergency medical vehicles.
Info: www.roseville.ca.us/ communitysafetyday
Gibson Ranch hosts Civil War event
Along with battle re-enactments, tours of Yankee, Confederate and civilian camps will be available at the Civil War Re-enactment at Gibson Ranch on Saturday and Sunday. General admission is $7, parking included, and kids 9 and under are admitted free.
Info: (916) 806-3868
Editor's Note: This article has been changed from the print version to correct age of kids admitted free to the Gibson Ranch Civil War Re-enactment.
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