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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,July 22,2013 Page 23 Councilmember McGehee opined that she was not supportive of most of the addi- tional positions requested by staff, other than the $75,000 for IT support defined in the CIP, but not for the Skating Center or other areas. Councilmember McGe- hee questioned if the Parks &Recreation Department would consider taking funds from the Parks Renewal Program in the amount of$200,000 and apply it to the skating center, keeping the CIP on track; and going forward with the CIP setting aside funds for a new club house for the golf course. Specific to the use of LGA, Mayor Roe asked for individual Councilmember comment. Councilmember McGehee stated that she could support the use of LGA for oper- ating costs in 2014, depending on what was proposed to be funded. Mayor Roe spoke in support of applying LGA funds to CIP costs and not operat- ing costs. Councilmember Etten spoke in support of using LGA as a CIP investment, opin- ing that it was a good way to use the revenue in this timeframe. Councilmember Etten noted fixed costs for 2014, not including general inflation; and fixed con- tractual costs were already at$245,000. At the request of Mayor Roe, Councilmember Etten identified those items he was referencing, as excerpted from page 3 of the RCA: Budget Impact Item/Description 2014 Amount Employee wage step increases for eligible employees $100,000 Employer PERA mandates, with increased contributions for 30,000 Police and Fire employees Employer healthcare increases, based on a 3% healthcare con- 50,000 tribution increase Police Patrol, additional contractual Ramsey County dispatch 65,000 costs $65,000 Councilmember Etten opined that without the maximum levy the City could bare- ly accomplish the mandated items, and suggested that using the LGA may be needed to accomplish those mandates. To make key investments in City staff and provide a 2% COLA at a minimum exclusive of the decisions made for the Com- pensation Study, Councilmember Etten opined may be better from a broader per- spective to address those needs in the General Fund versus CIP funding. Mayor Roe cautioned that, to accomplish everything that should potentially be done, whether through using LGA funds or reserves, neither of those options was sustainable; and if the goal was to not use either of those options for the 2015 budget, it would require a levy increase in 2015.