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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, December 9, 2013 Page 17 Councilmember Etten opined that there were also a number of policy issues for the body to discuss before such a decision should or could be made. Councilmember Willmus expressed his personal appreciation for Councilmember McGehee's approach regarding the General Fund, opining that within the City's 20-some cash reserve accounts he wanted to focus on the License Center. In his request earlier today for additional information from Finance Director Miller, Councilmember Willmus reviewed the considerable amount of available reserves for 2012 and projected for 2013, far in excess of the targeted 20% level. Coun- cilmember Willmus stated that he would certainly advocate for using those excess reserves from the License Center to address the additional 2014 obligations, and further reduce the General Fund Levy. Councilmember Willmus likened the Li- cense Center as similar to communities having municipal liquor stores, opining that it was a revenue generator. Councilmember Willmus noted that Mr. Miller had indicated one reason for such high reserves in that fund had to address the fu- ture possibility of constructing a standalone license center on the City Hall cam- pus, rather than leasing space as is currently done. Councilmember Willmus ques- tioned if that discussion had ever been held by the City Council; and suggested using the City Hall building as a potential location for moving the License Center back to the campus. Regarding Councilmember Etten's comments regarding finding a potential source to offset future years, Councilmember Willmus opined that this called for a discussion in the very near future. At the request of Mayor Roe, Finance Director Miller confirmed that there had been an annual transfer from the License Center Fund to support other City func- tions, ranging from $50,000 as high as a one-time $200,000. At the request of Mayor Roe as to how this annual transfer amount is calculated, Mr. Miller reviewed various situations in any given year, using 2006 and 2007 as examples when as much as possible was transferred for other City functions from the License Center Fund. However, Mr. Miller noted that things changed, and with the most recent economic crunch and a reduction in new car sales and pass- port fees for those traveling abroad, the License Center's revenue had also been reduced, causing a new staffing model to be developed. Mr. Miller advised that an adjustment had therefore been made on what was needed to sustain or fund City functions while also achieving other objectives for the License Center. Mr. Miller clarified that prior City Council's had discussed this at length during his tenure, and their conclusion questioned whether it made sense to continue paying in excess of$65,000 to a private landlord rather than to the City itself to house the License Center. Mr. Miller opined that a standalone facility was not favored so much as a multi-purpose building to make the most long-term economic sense for the City. As a result of those past discussions, Mr. Miller advised that staff was challenged in 2007 to adjust the License Center business model, and through attri- tion, they downsized their staff by two (2) employees; and voluntarily did not fill