BUENA PARK : City Agrees to $245,000 in Projects

They went through a firestorm of criticism last spring when they agreed to close the Fire Department, but City Council members were able to enjoy the rewards of that decision last week.

The financially strapped council finally had money to spend on capital projects, and the first thing members agreed on was the need for 15 left-turn signals throughout the city. Drivers also will benefit from improvements to bone-jarring railroad crossings and other funds will be spent to update the city’s emergency preparedness plan.

In September, each council member had submitted a “wish list” of one-time projects totaling about $400,000--half the proceeds of selling off fire equipment.

The remaining funds will be held in reserve to cover any increase in the costs of belonging to the Joint Powers Authority, which will provide firefighting service to the city.

Installing the left-turn signals, at a cost of about $100,000, was the only priority on every council member’s wish list, Finance Director Greg Beaubien said.

City Manager Kevin O’Rourke pleaded for $25,000 to upgrade the disaster preparedness plan. Smoothing over the railroad crossings on Artesia Boulevard will cost about $120,000. The council will decide how to spend the remaining $155,000 at a study session.