San Clemente Residents Threaten to Recall Council

SAN CLEMENTE — Some angry residents threatened Saturday to recall the City Council unless a controversial proposal to disband the Police Department and contract for services with the County Sheriff’s Department is put before the voters.

During a daylong special council meeting, officials outlined the city’s bleak financial picture, telling residents that some programs must be cut or eliminated to avert a crisis. Switching to the Sheriff’s Department is estimated to save the city $2 million a year.

But residents at the meeting bristled at the proposal to abolish the city’s 65-year-old Police Department, a few threatening to recall the council and others promising to oust council members at the next election if police are cut without a public vote.

“You have no business forming public opinion in favor of contracting with the Sheriff’s Department,” Robert M. Topolski said, referring to a flyer city officials sent this week to city residents outlining the city’s financial problems.

“Spending our taxes to further your political point of view is malfeasance. City councils get recalled for less than that,” Topolski said.

Dozens of residents in the audience agreed and clapped heartily. Only one man spoke in favor of merging with the Sheriff’s Department, and his comments brought a chorus of “no’s” from other residents.

According to city officials, San Clemente will probably suffer a shortfall of $700,000 this fiscal year. Further, officials project the city will lose an average of $2.5 million annually within the next five years even if the economy recovers.

In a proposal requested by the city, sheriff’s officials said it would save San Clemente $2 million a year to contract for law enforcement services with the Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff promised to increase street patrols while maintaining or improving the level of services--a pledge greeted with skepticism from the emotional crowd Saturday.

The council took no action, but will continue discussing the proposal, along with other cost-cutting measures, during the next two weeks.