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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,August 25, 2014 <br /> Page 26 <br /> support of such a format, opining that it was a good concept for the City Council <br /> to track funds; and expressed staff's interest in providing any documents that <br /> would make the five Councilmembers collectively provide direction as to how <br /> best to package the information they needed for the best decision-making. Based <br /> on tonight's individual Councilmember comments, Mr. Miller opined that staff <br /> could make this sample document work; however, he noted two challenges in do- <br /> ing so: that this level of precision detail may not be available in early May for <br /> round one of the budget process, requiring staff to approach the budget process <br /> differently at staff level. Mr. Miller, as another challenge, also noted that not all <br /> line items and reserve funds were funded by tax levies or other revenue sources, <br /> and could make the General Fund arbitrary. Mr. Miller noted that the General <br /> Fund was funded in the millions of dollars with other pooled money from other <br /> revenue sources; and questioned if staff would be able to clearly define where <br /> funding was allocated for the levy of other revenue sources. Mr. Miller stated that <br /> he had in mind how to do so proportionately, but was unsure of whether it would <br /> provide the level of precision that was not arbitrary for the City Council's benefit. <br /> Mayor Roe suggested that, if there was too much detail in some areas and the ag- <br /> gregate number was easier to represent, he opined that there might not be that <br /> much detail needed on the levy side, or perhaps across multiple categories if that <br /> helped staff's formatting, which Mr. Miller agreed would be helpful. <br /> With Mr. Miller's reference to a similar document prepared by staff several years <br /> ago, Councilmember Laliberte questioned why it didn't live on. <br /> Finance Director Miller stated that his best answer was when the City Council's <br /> membership changes, staff seeks individual feedback on what their information <br /> needs are, noting that each processes differently, with even individual information <br /> needs changing from one year to the next with the same Council, at least during <br /> his tenure. <br /> Councilmember Laliberte opined that she found this document helpful, but her <br /> concern is also what the public needed, and if a document such as this was benefi- <br /> cial for the public, it needed to be continued whether or not the City Council <br /> asked for it. <br /> Councilmember Willmus opined that such a document could transition through <br /> the annual budget and create some interesting discussions. <br /> Mayor Roe noted this first application would serve as a test or a guide, but sug- <br /> gested Finance Director Miller could counter with a model that would work better <br /> with his purposes. <br /> Discussion ensued on the note about reserves or aggregate reserve level from <br /> undedicated funds, or a separate column under reserves instead of a line item for <br />