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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, October 10,2011 Page 9 her understanding that the City Council would still be the decision-makers of how and when bond funds were used. Councilmember Johnson noted that the abatement bond schedule was a very strict process; however, this process provided a more fluid way to make spending deci- sions related to park improvement implementation. At the request of Councilmember Pust regarding the City Council making those decisions, Councilmember Johnson noted that the City Council had already ap- proved the Park and Recreation Master Plan, and that it was driving those changes that had already been approved. Councilmember Pust sought assurance that everyone was in agreement that the City Council would still be voting on future expenditure of those funds. City Manager Malinen advised that the City Council had provided staff with the direction to issue bonds for park improvements and a new fire station; and that staff was following that direction in arranging for financing of those improve- ments and projects as called for. Related to the Fire Station, Mr. Malinen noted that, while the City Council had concurred with the study(ies) conducted to-date and authorized moving forward, there would be multiple steps in proceeding, in- • eluding, for example, architects would return for City Council approval of plans, and public bidding processes would need to be followed as well. Related to park improvements, Mr. Malinen advised that the City Council had provided directed on the Park Improvement Plan (PIP) and blanket approval to move forward with Implementation Step One, and any expenditures over $5,000 would return to the City Council for approval. Mr. Malinen noted that the bond issue itself and the implementation process as well would return for City Council approval before- hand. Roe moved, Pust seconded, a friendly amendment as previously outlined by Mayor Roe, or comparable language, subject to approval by bond counsel. As makers of the motion, Councilmembers Johnson and Willmus accepted the friendly amendment; with Mayor Roe thus withdrawing his motion. Councilmember McGehee questioned Finance Director Miller on bond counsel fees for different types of bond issues; with Mr. Miller responding that the type of bond was not the question, but the complexity of the bond issue. Councilmember McGehee questioned why staff was recommending using the City's Port Authority and why those interest rates were lower. • Finance Director Miller advised that, specific to the type of bond financing and why it saved taxpayer dollars, it was due to the level of interest of institutional in-