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Regular City Council Minutes - 8/18/03 <br />Page 3 <br />nature center; Park Improvement Program (PIP); and the <br />Cedarholm Golf Course. Mr. Brokke compared actual to- <br />date revenues and expenses with the 2003 adopted budget, <br />and the 2004 proposed budget. Mr. Brokke advised that <br />the department had reduced proposed capital projects; <br />reduced temporary employee salaries, but anticipated <br />increases in temporary employee hiring for 2004, rather <br />than full-time staffing; and a reduction in room rentals at <br />the Fairview Conllnunity Center. <br />Councilmember Klausing requested more specific detail in <br />operating expenses for the Oval and the Arena. <br />Mr. Brokke advised that increases were projected in the <br />parks maintenance and forestry areas, due to an increase in <br />union wages. Mr. Brokke anticipated cost savings in more <br />selective weed and fertlllzer applications; reduction in <br />overtime through more closely monitoring time <br />management of staff; less prompt response to weekend <br />snowplowing; less service related to the hazardous and <br />diseased tree removal program. <br />Councilmember Klausing requested, and Mr. Brokke <br />provided, additional detail including identifying <br />anticipated areas for reduction in the PIP program; <br />replacement and maintenance of playground equipment, <br />rather than scheduled replacement; and ADA compliance <br />for playground and park equipment and facilities. <br />Councilmember Kough thanked Mr. Brokke and his staff <br />for their expertise in managing the City's Parks and <br />Recreation Department; and sought further detail, as <br />provided by Mr. Brokke, on continuation of the wading <br />pool and required repair of the main drain. <br />Mr. Brokke reviewed the remainder of those budget items <br />not previously addressed (i.e., natural resource <br />management plan; scrutinizing renovation versus new; the <br />Golf Course enterprise fund, including reduced <br />depreciation and revenues achieving more stability. <br />