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<br />Regular City Council Minutes - 12/09/02 <br />Page 9 <br /> <br />Al Sands, 2612 Aldine <br />Mr. Sands requested that, in the future, the Council return <br />to holding the Truth in Taxation hearing separate from the <br />regular Council meeting due to timing. <br /> <br />Mayor Kysylyczyn asked if there had been any law <br />changes regarding if the Truth in Taxation hearing should <br />be held on a separate date. Neither Mr. Beets nor City <br />Attorney Scott Anderson was able to answer the Mayor's <br />query. <br /> <br />Mr. Sands presented several questions regarding the <br />proposed 2003 budget, including the City requiring <br />employees to make co-payments to keep costs down and <br />provide incentives for employees to use health care <br />services less; health care costs as they related to union <br />negotiations; and extending the vehicle replacement <br />program for the Police Department. <br /> <br />Councilmember Maschka responded to Mr. Sands that the <br />City employees were already being asked to provide co- <br />pays for their health and prescription coverage. <br /> <br />Mr. Schwartz responded that, from a vehicle maintenance <br />perspective, as a rule of thumb, squad cars are replaced <br />every two (2) years but that was determined on their <br />condition. Mr. Schwartz stated that due to the normal <br />squad wear and tear, the costs for maintain transmissions <br />and braking systems get higher the older the vehicle. <br /> <br />Mr. Sands further requested that the Council reduce Cost <br />of Living Adjustment (COLA) increases for employees, <br />rather than continuing a three percent (3 %) increase <br />annually, and that those COLA adjustments should be part <br />of the union negotiations, as well as non-union <br />negotiations. <br /> <br />City Manager Beets clarified that no contract negotiations <br />have been finalized with any bargaining units, pending <br />Council approval of the 2003 proposed budget; with <br />