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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,November 21, 2011 Page 21 Mr. Miller advised that the key decision needed by staff from the City Council was other needs that needed to be addressed between now and year-end to allo- cate any additional property tax levy put in place in September and additional monies to provide additional property tax relieve; or those items not yet budgeted, as listed on page 1 of the staff report. From a context point of view, Mayor Roe noted that the City Manager- recommended budget reviewed in advance of September provided for a 1.8% levy increase, including the additional funding requirements for the capital improve- ment program (CIP), specifically vehicles, equipment and facilities; but that it in- cluded many cuts envisioned in the original City Manager-recommended budget. With the change to market value homestead credit (MVHC) and half applied to those cuts and half applied to reducing the levy to the 1.8% since then, in addition to City Council action to approve health insurance coverage as recommended, and to not apply the $18,000 savings to the Employee Wellness Program, Mayor Roe noted that this further reduced the proposed levy increase from 1.8% to less than 1% (approximately0.95%). For context, City Manager Malinen noted that there was still a budget reduction of $475,000 programmed into the numbers referenced by Mayor Roe and before the MVHC adjustment. Related to the unfunded items listed on page 1 of the staff report, Councilmember Willmus questioned if staff had looked at the fairly detailed list of cost savings suggested by Councilmember Pust to pay for park improvements outlined in Au- gust of 2011 and whether those remained unfunded. City Manager Malinen concurred with Councilmember Willmus' statement, not- ing that the amount shown includes those items if reduces; noting that Coun- cilmembers had raised the question previously on funding levels for the Park Im- provement Program (PIP); and how much historically was included for mainte- nance versus improvements or capital; and which of those things were proposed for funding through implementation of the Parks Master Plan. Councilmember Willmus noted previous suggestions of Councilmember Pust of approximately $125,000 in savings through various actions for obvious reduc- tions, such as turning the heat down in City facilities. Councilmember Pust clarified that the amount was $124,980. City Manager Malinen responded that Councilmember Pust's figures incorporated contingency amounts that had already been used.