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City Council Study Session - 11/15/04 Minutes - Page 5 Finance Director Miller further noted that, since the October 18, 2004 Council meeting, comments had been made that might suggest that there was no longer majority support for eliminating any employee positions. Staff sought clarification of Council intent and directive. Finance Director Miller provided additional suggestions noted from individual Councilmembers, with no defined consensus: 1. Reduce Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) from 3% to 2.5%. 2. Reduce funding to the Northwest Youth and Family Services (NYFS) by $10,000 for the costs and benefits to the City. 3. Elimination of the Leaf Pickup Program. 4. Elimination of the Wading Pool, with a related request to see a breakdown of the associated revenues and expenditures. 5. Elimination of the $2,000 appropriation fro the Sister City Program. Finance Director Miller and City Manager Beets respectively noted their recommendations that the budget cuts be permanent and sustainable, not just temporary "fixes." Councilmember Maschka opined his support for the 9.5% increase, in order to correct structural impacts of the loss of State Aids. Councilmember Ihlan questioned whether Directive #5 (Elimination of one custodian position) projected cost savings versus contracting out for custodial services created a false economy. City Manager Beets advised that the City contracted out for most of their custodial services, with the exception of the skating and nature centers. Mr. Beets noted that staff had developed documents for Requests for Proposals (RFP' s) to increase the square footage to include the skating and nature centers; and were confident the bidding results would be cost-effective. Mr. Beets estimated a net savings of $1 0 - 30,000 annually. Finance Director Miller noted that the net budgeted savings would be roughly estimated at $25,000, but wanted to clarify for the Council that staff was not making an assumption that the