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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,November 19, 2012 Page 31 living facilities, nursing homes and the retail industry were at or just above min- imum wage. Councilmember McGehee expressed her personal shame in those wages and the choices faced by those individuals and families trying to have ad- equate food, shelter, and medical care on limited wages. With 43% of families in School District No. 623 receiving free or reduced price lunches, Coun- cilmember McGehee noted this was another indication of wage issues in our own community. Councilmember McGehee advised that her intent was to put the issue before people to think about in determining the City's ethical values; and while recog- nizing that in many cases it would raise the cost for Roseville citizens; she opined that sometimes more skilled employees and more efficiency balanced out those costs. Councilmember McGehee recognized that Mr. Roberts' ques- tions were legitimate to ask as a resident of Roseville, "what is in it for Rose- ville residents." Councilmember McGehee stated that, for her personally, it provided a community where she felt that policies of the city government had not driven someone into the ground. Councilmember Johnson asked if Councilmember McGehee's intent was that 100% union forces be used on a project; to which she responded in the negative. Based on that response, Councilmember Johnson concluded that a mix was amenable to Councilmember McGehee to which she concurred. City Manager Malinen advised that of the twenty (20) contracts for the fire sta- tion construction, seventeen (17) of them were found to be provided by union workers. Councilmember McGehee admitted that once she had become aware of that, she had no further problems with the issue. Councilmember Johnson noted that, as a business person, he often found that more craftsmen took on bigger problems, and opined that he welcomed a mix of workers. Councilmember Johnson further opined that the caliber of contractors outside union forces didn't typically do large-scale work. While not having had this discussion going into the fire station project and process, Councilmember Johnson noted that there were no current policies in place requiring such a bal- ance or union versus non-union or prevailing wages. Councilmember Johnson noted that the issue didn't enter into the equation until a resident became dis- turbed with strikers; and after the facts were uncovered, he didn't have any lin- gering concerns. Councilmember McGehee advised that she was basically satisfied with the 80% level for contracts.