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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday, December 2, 2013 <br /> Page 15 <br /> Mr. Trudgeon clarified next steps for staff would be to determine the exact cost <br /> for a full-time position, based on City Council consensus for a full-time position, <br /> conceptually funded in 2014, but not early on, but still allowing for some funding <br /> in the 2014 budget, and with a later start providing for some cost savings in 2014. <br /> Mr. Trudgeon advised that he would attempt to get some more defined numbers <br /> together before the December 9, 2014 final budget and levy adoption, at the con- <br /> sensus of the City Council. <br /> Public Comment <br /> Gary Grefenberg <br /> Mr. Grefenberg expressed his concern in Mr. Trudgeon's reference to the civic <br /> engagement of this position, noting that this was one of the recommendations of <br /> the Civic Engagement Task Force. Mr. Grefenberg advised that the Task Force <br /> recommended a full-time, executive position, but not located in the Parks & Rec- <br /> reation Department. Mr. Grefenberg opined that the need was to match volun- <br /> teers with needs in all departments, including the Human Rights Commission <br /> which he chaired as an example needing additional volunteers. Mr. Grefenberg <br /> recognized that this was an unusual position for him in suggesting an increase in <br /> the budget; however, he referenced the City Council's Strategic Plan and goal to <br /> engage people, especially seniors, in the community. Mr. Grefenberg advised that <br /> the Task Force had included a job description as part of their recommendation; <br /> and opined that the position should be full-time and housed in the Administration <br /> Department and fully interactive with the new Communications Manager. <br /> Councilmember Willmus suggested, as a future discussion point as well, to con- <br /> sider where to house the position, and while not opposed to the Administration <br /> Department, he noted their limited experience with volunteers, while the Parks & <br /> Recreation and Police Departments had extensive experience in that area. <br /> Councilmember McGehee argued opposite of Councilmember Willmus, opining <br /> that the synergy of the Communications Manager and Administration Department <br /> would be beneficial; and their lack of experience did not preclude someone very <br /> familiar with volunteerism and overall civic engagement servicing all departments <br /> well. <br /> Councilmember Laliberte noted that there could already be someone within the <br /> organization who works with volunteers who may be interested in applying for <br /> the position. If that was the case, Councilmember Laliberte suggested further <br /> consideration then of whether that existing position needed to be replaced if that <br /> person moved to the Volunteer Coordinator position; reiterating her opinion that <br /> efficiencies could be found with current staffing and the need to review if that <br /> current job was still needed in the depaitment currently housing that existing staff <br /> person. <br /> Councilmember Etten expressed concern with Councilmember Laliberte's sug- <br /> gestion, noting that a number of existing employees were simply performing vol- <br />