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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,February 25, 2013 Page 22 Mayor Roe reminded Councilmembers that the City Council's Strategic Plan looked out into the next two (2) bienniums, and noted that the years being consid- ered for development of a strategic plan were with 2013 as year 1, or technically speaking in 2012, with the current City Council doing goal setting and strategic plans for 2014 — 2017. From the point of view of a strategic plan that was not meant to be written in stone, Mayor Roe opined that it made sense for new City Councilmembers to reaffirm prior Council actions early in that first year, as well as revisiting them when looking at the next biennium. Mayor Roe suggested the addition of an additional "bubble" on the CPMP Chart to accomplish that. Mr. Miller confirmed staff's receptiveness to the process evolving, noting that it was envisioned in the budget calendar and due to come before the City Council in March. Councilmember Willmus opined that terminology was vital for transparency and public understanding if the biennial budget was to continue; suggesting that the annual budget for year one be called that, with year two called a "forecast," to better establish what was actually being done. Mayor Roe suggested a `Biennial Budget Plan," with annual budget adoption as statutorily required; however, he opined that"forecast" sounded too unofficial. Councilmember Willmus opined that, for the public's benefit, which distinction needed to be drawn and the obligation for adoption of an annual budget needed to remain clear to the public. Mayor Roe noted the need for the City Council to make a commitment to a two- year plan, not just call year two a "forecast," since previous efforts at an annual budget were found to be unsustainable, as noted by Mr. Miller. Mayor Roe cautioned that the City Council not get stuck on terminology, opining that a budget was essentially a plan. City Manager Malinen advised that, subsequent to the last City Council meeting, Department Heads had discussed that, and their conclusion was not to change the years, but to develop a particular mechanism in this year recognizing elections and how to accommodate that input, with a final recommendation pending from staff's perspective, but at least on the radar, in an effort to provide a window of opportunity within the budget cycle to allow newly-elected Councilmembers to amend the strategic plan and drive a budget. Councilmember Laliberte concurred that the City Council was getting stuck on terminology; however, she opined that words do matter and this needed to be fleshed out and a decision made and documented, whether an annual or biennial