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Special City Council Meeting Monday,May 27, 2015 Page 3 Department's priorities and challenges, which were developed consistent with the City Council's citywide strategic planning efforts and based on City Council dis- cussions held over a number of months. Mr. Miller stated the department's intent was to be sure the City Council was comfortable with the information and path of the department from an individual and corporate level. Assistant Finance Director Jason Schirmacher Mr. Schirmacher noted the department's desire to be more proactive than reactive in several areas. Bond Rating One of those areas was to ensure the City maintained their Triple A bond rating through a process to address continually evolving and changing criteria, creating a challenge for the City to address that criteria. Mr. Schirmacher stated that staff would be asking for assistance from a third party better versed in bond rating maintenance to advise the City in how to maintain that rating. Training and Career Development/ Employee Resource Sustainability As a result of staff discussions, Mr. Schirmacher advised that the conclusion was to seek the addition of a .5 full-time employee (FTE) to perform basic duties or core functions currently performed by more skilled, advanced level employees, freeing them to concentrate on enhancing customer service levels. Mr. Schir- macher suggested that by hiring younger, less experienced employees, while they would require more training, it would provide an opportunity for them to be more productive and grow with the organization. Mr. Schirmacher noted the techno- logical advances available to enhance customer service levels (e.g. radio read me- ters and consumption data). Mr. Schirmacher noted some areas (e.g. business li- cense applications and renewals) were core services, while others indicated an in- creased level of customer service assistance. In order to fund and fill this proposed .5 FTE, Mr. Schirmacher stated staff's pro- posal to hire 2-3 part-time entry level people to cover the front counter, freeing up the current, Receptionist for more advanced duties, based on the years of experi- ence with the City. Mr. Schirmacher noted the entry level staff could take on the basic filing, scanning and other such duties as they staffed the front counter, al- lowing a shift in duties. Finance Director Miller concurred that this was the department's attempt to fulfill unmet needs while shoring up core functions; and while adding staffing, doing so in the lowest cost way to accomplish the goals and still succeed. Mr. Miller clari- fied that these positions could or would be considered through internships or sea- sonal employment, and would be non-benefit employees. Mr. Miller noted this would allow the City to get some new people engaged in local government, and if or as they advanced within the organization as vacancies occurred, it would allow them an opportunity to grow with the City, but also would expose them to public