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<br />City Council Study Session - 08/16/04 <br />Minutes - Page 12 <br /> <br />detail, provided his rationale for the specific recommendations, <br />and responded to Council comment and question, and clarified <br />those areas as appropriate. City Manager Beets noted his <br />reluctance in making some of the recommendations; however, <br />reiterated the intent and immediate goal of his recommendations <br />in achieving financial balance; with long-term goals to <br />accomplish a balanced budget in a balanced fashion. City <br />Manager Beets referenced the Preliminary 2005 Budget <br />document, as well as his 27 -page City Manager's 2005 Budget <br />Memo as it related to each recommendation. <br /> <br />City Manager Beets discussed quality of life issues; inter- <br />department cooperation and functionality; reality of cuts to <br />personnel and programming; continuity of service levels and <br />expectations of residents and program recipients and users; and <br />realignment of priorities in core City functions. <br /> <br />City Manager Beets reviewed recommendations for <br />implementation of a street light utility assessment and made <br />comparisons to the City's current storm water program; reviewed <br />other communities' applications; and potential benefits to the <br />community overall. <br /> <br />City Manager Beets reviewed recommendations for a feasibility <br />study related to franchise fees for utility companies utilizing the <br />City's rights-of-way; anticipated revenues; preliminary research <br />of other communities' use of franchise fees; state laws related to <br />franchise fees; and impacts to residents and businesses. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ihlan opined that the proposed street light <br />assessment would be another fee and questioned the impacts to <br />residents on fixed incomes and currently eligible for rebates, as <br />well as those using property tax assessments for reductions in <br />income taxes. <br /> <br />City Manager Beets concurred with Councihnelnber Ihlan's <br />perspective on the impacts to residents related to additional fees <br />and/or taxes; further reiterating impacts to residents with his <br />proposal for an additional five percent levy increase, above that <br />already represented by the referendum for City campus <br />construction. <br />