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<br />City Council Special Meeting - 12/27/04 <br />Minutes - Page 3 <br /> <br />Ms. McGehee concurred with Councilmember Ihlan's <br />concerns, noting that Councilmember Ihlan served as their <br />"gender representative," and further addressed and took <br />issue with previous comment by Councilmember Maschka <br />regarding "needing a Costco to provide employment for <br />over-55 year-old, unskilled widows. Ms. McGehee opined <br />that it would be difficult to find unskilled widows. <br /> <br />Councilmember Maschka defended and reiterated his <br />statement in the context of his experience and expertise in <br />the financial management field and spouses suddenly <br />widowed and not financially prepared for retirement or <br />income reduction in such a life experience as widowhood; <br />noting his comment was not related to gender, simply <br />financial planning and preparedness. <br /> <br />2. Approve 2005 City Budget and Tax Levy Budget & Levy <br />Finance Director Chris Miller reviewed the proposed tax levy for <br />2005 at $10,761,015, an increase of $1,000,341 or 10.3%, and <br />subsequent actions of the City Council. Mr. Miller noted that, in <br />order to achieve structural balance for 2005, staffing reductions <br />would be necessary, with elimination of the following positions <br />included in the 2005 Budget and Tax Levy as revised, unless the <br />Council took further action tonight: <br />1) Elimination of one full-time custodial position as of January <br />31, 2005; <br />2) Elimination of one full-time equivalent civilian position <br />(consisting of two Community Service Officers and one Cadet <br />position) within the Police Department as of June 30, 2005; and <br />3) Elimination of one full-time maintenance position as of <br />January 31, 2005. <br /> <br />Finance Director Miller reminded the Council that these staff <br />reductions followed upon two positions that had been eliminated <br />in 2004; and restoration of funding for any of the proposed <br />eliminations would require an equal amount of tax levy dollars. <br />Mr. Miller further encouraged the Council to refrain from <br />making one-time, unsustainable cuts (i.e., delaying vehicle <br />replacements; forgoing market-based benefit rates) which served <br />only to shift the eventual burden to future budgets. Mr. Miller <br />concluded his comments by recognizing that staff was of the <br />