August 22, 2003

City Hall Closure Schedule Set

(Oakland, CA) Facing unprecedented state budget cuts and a continuing soft economy, Interim City Administrator, Deborah Edgerly, announced today a periodic shutdown of City facilities. This action was taken to fulfill City Council cost cutting strategies adopted in the 2003-2005 budget.

Oakland City Hall and most City facilities will close one day per month. The closures are expected to save $2.2 million in 2003-04.

The first closures will be Friday, August 29 and Tuesday, September 2, effectively extending the Labor Day holiday. Subsequent closures will occur to coincide with holidays, to the extent possible.

Sworn Police and Fire services will not close, but will operate on a regular schedule, as will the 911 Dispatch Center and the City jail. Other programs and services that will operate on a normal schedule are: parking citation officers; Head Start child care centers; and school crossing guards.

All other City services and offices will be closed to the public on the following days in 2003-04, in addition to regular holidays. Regular maintenance services that would have been performed on these dates, such as street sweeping, will be rescheduled.

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