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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,August 17,2015 <br /> Page 18 <br /> Chair Schroeder suggested the Commission start out with the same document de- <br /> tail then rolled into a summary dashboard rather than needing to create numerous <br /> different documents. <br /> Councilmember Laliberte left it to the discretion of the Commission as long as it <br /> came forward sooner rather than later, and presented the city budget in a transpar- <br /> ent fashion without the creation in a different format appearing to be different in- <br /> formation every time. <br /> Chair Schroeder noted the limitations of current software capabilities for Finance <br /> Department staff, but committed to look it from that perspective to avoid any ad- <br /> ditional or undue burden on staff. <br /> Mayor Roe commended the capabilities of the Community Development and <br /> Communication Departments' spreadsheet presentations providing great data, <br /> suggesting consulting with them on ideas. <br /> Councilmember Laliberte concurred, noting that the Communications Manager <br /> was hired to present information to residents as they desire, and if the silo practice <br /> is still occurring with departments, it shouldn't be. <br /> Mayor Roe noted consulting someone more versed in communication and less <br /> versed in financial matters would be an effective way to determine the value of <br /> the documents from their perspective as well rather than through the lens of a fi- <br /> nance person. <br /> Councilmember McGehee opined that the website and postcard information was <br /> simple and easy to understand, noting this was the first time that had been made <br /> available for residents, with their general response involving debt service. How- <br /> ever, based on their comments, Councilmember McGehee suggested a breakdown <br /> for the public to understand how and where that debt service was assigned rather <br /> than in a lump which provided a different picture when divided out. <br /> Beyond the dashboard, Councilmember Etten suggested something on the website <br /> that showed how all the pieces came together, creating an annual problem for Fi- <br /> nance Director Miller in seeking to give the public a complete picture without <br /> overwhelming them with the details. <br /> Mayor Roe concurred that, with the different audiences, the taxpayers may want <br /> to know how much each area of government was costing rather than the total debt <br /> service, suggesting two different breakdowns. <br />