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<br />City Council Regular Meeting - 12/06/04 <br />Minutes - Page 4 <br /> <br />Councilmember Ihlan sought clarification regarding staff s <br />recommendation and the City Council's attempt to achieve an <br />overall strategy or aim to create a sustainable levy using long- <br />term goals versus the rate of inflation, returning to a levy parallel <br />with inflation rates, and making up for several years that these <br />long-term goals were not achieved. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller concurred with Councilmember Ihlan, noting that <br />staff s recommendation, and historical Council budgeting <br />practices, had been to approximate inflation or to reduce <br />expenditures below inflation. Mr. Miller recognized the need to <br />address the needs and service expectations of the community, <br />while balancing any spending increases at or below inflation <br />rates. Mr. Miller noted exceptions, such as the voter-approved <br />bond issue for $10 Million debt for the city campus construction. <br /> <br />Councilmember Maschka concurred with staff s perspective on <br />past budgeting practices in line with inflation; and cited several <br />examples from his tenure on the City Council. Councilmember <br />Maschka opined that the cost of government had actually gone <br />down and these budgetary practices had proven effective. <br /> <br />Councilmember Schroeder questioned the accuracy of Mr. <br />Millers figures on page three of the staff report dated December <br />6, 2004, under "Subsequent Budget Actions," showing "less <br />savings from the elimination of a Skidsteer loader," valued at <br />$35,000, when other projections had shown a cost of $55,000. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller noted that this was an error in the staff report, and that <br />Councilmember Schroeder was correct in the former proj ected <br />cost, and ultimate savings of $55,000. Mr. Miller noted several <br />other issues and/or amounts that needed clarification and <br />correction prior final presentation to the City Council and public <br />for formal action at the December 20, 2004 regular Council <br />meeting. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ihlan questioned whether staff s <br />recommendation to eliminate staff positions (i.e., maintenance <br />worker specifically) was actually a sustainable funding cut, or if <br />it would prove ineffective in allowing the City to provide basic <br />