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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,July 13,2015 Page 3 City Manager Trudgeon continued with the presentation, including percentage in- creases in levy and non-levy areas specific to projected spending and comparisons with the 2015 budget and actual expenditures to-date. Mr. Trudgeon noted the majority of increases were due to capital costs and personnel services. Mr. Trudgeon further addressed additional spending allotted for the Capital Improve- ment Program (CIP) beyond that originally programmed or planned based on re- vised needs and projections. Mr. Trudgeon noted that 60% of the 2016 budget was represented in CIP spending, and 40%toward the operating tax levy increase. City Manager Trudgeon addressed each proposed area, including a proposed in- crease in the cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 2% for employees as per the previously-adopted City Council policy based on the consumer price index (CPI) and Minneapolis/St. Paul ECI using current data, which will be adjusted as the year progresses, with 211d quarter numbers scheduled for release the end of July. Discussion included local versus national CPI data, with Finance Director Miller advising that they were comparable; and City Manager Trudgeon advising that both will be reviewed as the year progresses for accuracy. However, City Man- ager Trudgeon encouraged the City Council to support a 2% COLA for employ- ees for consistency with union employees and to remain competitive in the mar- ketplace with peer communities and retention efforts of experienced employees. In his recommendation for seven new full-time equivalent (FTE) employee posi- tions as outlined in the RCA, City Manager Trudgeon reviewed each, rationale for each position, and how those positions would be funded and levy impacts for each position as well as those positions proposed from non-levy funds. City Manager Trudgeon advised that, even though requested by individual de- partments during their previous presentations, he was not recommending the posi- tions for a mental health impact police officer, or that of an intern for the admin- istration department. While both positions had merit, Mr. Trudgeon noted that he was not recommending them at this time. City Manager Trudgeon advised that, after having seriously taken each of the fol- lowing requests into consideration from initial department requests, he had not in- cluded the following requests in this 2016 City Manager Recommended Budget: • Police Department request for a mental health impact officer • Administration Department request for an Intern position • Parks & Recreation Department request for additional emerald ash borer (EAB) funding • Fire and Park & Recreation Department requests for additional building man- agement services for the Fire Station and Skating Center (deferred for another year with review for the 2017 budget, and allowing more opportunity to see how this arrangement is working with McGough Facility Services