IRVINE : Budget Review May Turn Up Extra Funds

Proponents of city programs and projects put on hold for lack of money will be taking an anxious look at the year-end budget review at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

In closing the books on fiscal 1993-94, council members will be looking for that rarest of commodities: extra money.

“While other cities are still scraping around and trying to make ends meet, Irvine is able to take a look at some of the projects that have gone unfinished and try to get them finished,” said Councilman Barry Hammond.

Hammond wants to spend $60,000 to complete the landscaping of a roadway median at the intersection of Culver Drive and Trabuco Road near the Santa Ana Freeway. Hammond said Caltrans should have completed the project 10 years ago, but the city was left with responsibility for the median.

Several park projects are waiting for funding, including the Northwood Village “narrows” park planned for a strip of land on an abandoned railroad right-of-way.

The City Council approved plans for the $2-million park on Sept. 13. after a decade of discussion and debate.

The Woodbridge Community Park is only half completed. And a park planned near the Irvine Civic Center that already has a $1.8-million commitment from the city needs additional funds.

Councilman Greg Smith said he would like to expand the city’s transportation commission into a public works commission. He will also ask for more police officer training funds and an upgrading of the city’s emergency communications system.

“I’m not in favor of spending money haphazardly,” Smith said. “We must protect the budget reserves.”