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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,June 17,2013 Page 33 Mayor Roe suggested that the one thing needing to be done was for the City Council to establish its policy; recognizing that it didn't mean that it could be ac- complished overnight, or that an immediate plan would be available to do so. If not acted upon tonight, Mayor Roe suggested that the policy be discussed and es- tablished in the very near future moving forward, as suggested by Interim City Manager Trudgeon. For clarification, Ms. Bacon reviewed the discussion that there was some City Council consensus to achieve the 97% or beyond and eliminate the merit piece to the program. If that was the consensus, Ms. Bacon advised that this made approx- imately $35,000 immediately available that would reduce the $44,644 and get closer to the 97%mark if the City Council wanted to move in that direction. Councilmember McGehee concurred with everything discussed with the excep- tion of using reserves to fund anything. Councilmember McGehee expressed her willingness to abandon the merit pay based on staff recommendations; however, she didn't have any clear direction on what the policy should be. Councilmember McGehee stated that she was fine in using the $35,000 from the merit pay to off- set the projected cost to the tax levy; and was happy to do that tonight. At 10:00 p.m., Willmus moved, Etten seconded, extending the curfew by ten (10) minutes to 10:10 p.m. Roll Call Ayes: Willmus; Laliberte; McGehee; Etten; and Roe. Nays: None. Regarding Councilmember McGehee's suggestion to take action tonight to elimi- nate the merit pay component, Interim City Manager Trudgeon cautioned that this action should not be taken without the other components addressed, since it pro- vided the only available option for the City's top performers. Mr. Trudgeon strongly suggested that the City Council not take that action tonight, even if they were of a consensus to move in that direction. Mr. Trudgeon advised that the Department Heads would come to the upcoming budget meetings prepared to talk about this component as it relates to the overall operations of their specific department. Mr. Trudgeon concurred with Mayor Roe on the need to focus on the policy, wherever it ended up, at which time strategies to achieve the policy could be determined. Mr. Trudgeon opined that it appeared everyone was being realistic about the time needed to reach a goal, and if that goal could be put on paper and ideas formulated, it would be a great first step, while recognizing that it would not be possible to come up with the money over- night.