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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,August 22,2011 Page 13 evolved over the years from a major restoration fund to maintenance, such as re- placing ag lime at ball fields, landscaping projects, and one playground addressed annually if possible. Mr. Brokke advised that he would recommend that the PIP remain and further discussion occur about a park maintenance program as a whole. As pointed out earlier tonight, Mr. Brokke noted the need to continue dis- cussions on how to provide adequate funding to accomplish day-to-day opera- tions. Even if it was eventually relabeled, Mayor Roe suggested a need to look at and account for how the PIP was defined compared to the Master Plan to make sure adequate funding was in place for maintenance, both for staffing and supplies. Mr. Brokke concurred. Public Works Director Duane Schwartz Mr. Schwartz noted that there may be some things not obviously apparent in the budget proposal that a department was already absorbing, (e.g. inflation), since the budgets were being built off 2011 budget assumptions that contracts and supply costs would remain static. Mr. Schwartz advised that his department had already seen an 8% increase in winter road maintenance materials off the state bid; and opined that it may serve to indicate additional areas for absorption or re- ductions in other areas to facilitate those increased costs. Mr. Schwartz opined that there are similar impacts across the board, especially since the Public Works budget was not as staff-driven as other departments, but more contract- and/or materials driven, creating a significant impact on the department. Mr. Schwartz further noted that some programs within his department were inter- related, with the same staff for non-tax supported programs causing impacts for tax-supported programs and vice versa (e.g. leaf program). Mr. Schwartz asked that the City Council keep in mind additional mandates for his department (e.g. storm water) and new rules going into effect next year that will cost the City addi- tional staff time in tracking. Mr. Schwartz advised that one of his department goals previously brought to the City Council's attention was the original 2012 budget request for an Asset Man- agement Software program; however, he noted that it was no longer part of the revised recommended budget. Mr. Schwartz suggested that, as the City increased its capital spending, perhaps that funding could be increased to fund such a pro- gram; or from alternative funding methods versus it coming from operational costs. Mayor Roe clarified that the Asset Management software program could apply to infrastructure as well as buildings.