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Special City Council Meeting Thursday, May 22, 2014 Page 10 worked with in-house Communications staff by bolstering those efforts with so- cial media, in addition to typical advertising opportunities. Councilmember Laliberte noted the work being done by the Housing & Redevel- opment Authority (HRA) with area businesses and suggested that the Parks & Recreation Department work with the HRA to promote the golf course harder. Mayor Roe concurred with those suggestions, as well as suggesting that the De- partment coordinate with the Roseville Visitor's Association (RVA) to promote the course, similar to the RVA's charge to promote the OVAL. At the request of Mayor Roe, Mr. Brokke confirmed that the course now offered rental equipment and actively promoted it for out-of-towners at local hotels and offered discount rounds, and other amenities for those visitors in the area. Mr. Brokke noted that the golf course was great to play, as it was quick for visitors, as well as seniors and youth, or families, and those needing to get in a quick round. Over the last few years, at the request of the aging population, Mr. Brokke noted that the course had implemented carts, which served to bring some former golfers no longer able to walk the course back to play. At the request of Councilmember McGehee, Mr. Brokke reviewed work to-date and partnerships with the U of MN and Department of Agriculture; a breakdown of tree species on City-owned boulevards and park land and in mowable areas in parks. Through those partnerships, and by award of grant funds, Mr. Brokke not- ed that the City had been able to reduce costs for the EAB program, with assis- tance in treatment, removal and most important, replacement of trees lost. While also serving to keep a significant piece of the City's tree inventory in place, Mr. Brokke advised that there was no guarantee those funding sources would contin- ue; and therefore, opined that it was important to continue to take advantage of those partnerships and grants to reduce costs as much as possible. Fire Chief Tim O'Neill Chief O'Neill highlighted the 2015 Fire Department Budget concentrating around adjustments needed to transition the department from the current part-time staff- ing model to a new staffing model centered on full-time firefighters. Mr. O'Neill projected the cost to implement Step One of the new staffing model to be an addi- tional $68,125.00 for 2015. Mr. O'Neill provided a review of staffing options and costs (Attachment A); emphasizing that these are not new positions, simply full- time versus part-time and with associated costs. Mr. O'Neill projected some sav- ings with a smaller staff and fewer training needs, and advised that he anticipated no hiring or additional training costs, uniforms, equipment or turnout gear for new firefighters in 2015. Mr. O'Neill noted that by restructuring several positions within the department, this would provide the same service level for the commu- nity; and advised that the Department had spent considerable time in looking at