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City Council Study Session - 08/15/05 Minutes - Page 9 Streets Mr. Schwartz noted the anticipated increases in energy costs, not only for vehicle fuel, but for petroleum products (i.e., bituminous); and the impacts realized during 2005 from the maintenance position reduction in maintenance of rights-of-way; pathway and parking lot maintenance; and anticipated more impacts, and the possible need to contract out more maintenance projects than addressing them in-house due to a shortage of manpower (i.e., pathway reconstruction and/or maintenance). Councilmember Ihlan noted the concern she'd expressed during 2005 Budget discussions related to whether cutting the maintenance position would, in fact, cause more expenses in outsourcing. Councilmember Ihlan requested additional analytical information from staff to quantify whether it would make more sense to restore the maintenance position. Mr. Schwartz advised that the information could be provided per proj ect. Mr. Schwartz discussed the department's continual monitoring of maintenance strategies (i.e., utilizing mill and overlay and sealcoating to prolong street life), to delay costs of total reconstruction; and provided predictions over a ten-year period. Mr. Schwartz advised that this would allow the department to maintain their course from year-to-year using calculations for street maintenance with existing infrastructure funds (Capital Improvement and Minnesota State Aid dollars), rather than expenditures fluctuating drastically from year to year. Building Maintenance Mr. Schwartz requested a three percent overall increase, basically to cover additional expenses at the new facilities, and rising energy costs. Councilmember Kough expressed concern that the City contracted with too many outside contractors (i.e., janitorial, electrical, HV AC) and questioned why more of those things couldn't be done through "on-call" needs, with City personnel handling minor maintenance issues.