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Regular City Council Meeting `donday,January 23, 2017 Page 24 possibly avoiding end-of-year percentage changes at the dais. Mayor Roe stated that he was responsible for part of that, when his initial and ongoing preferred levy percentage was less than presented in the City Manager recommended budg- et. Mayor Roe stated that he should have provided that information to the City Council and City Manager earlier in the process as a starting point and to frame subsequent conversations. Specific to Councilmember Willmus' comments, Councilmember Etten asked if it was his intent for the Finance Commission to review the City Manger recom- mended budget and make recommendations for inclusion or omission of specific items. Councilmember Willmus clarified that he'd like them to have input on infor- mation or documents they'd like to look at, as well as making a recommendation on the City Manager recommended budget. City Manager Trudgeon clarified that for the last two years, the Finance Commis- sion had received a copy of the City Manager recommended budget before presentation to the City Council, allowing them to know the impact on the bigger picture, but not coming forward with any recommendations as result of their re- view. Mayor Roe suggested asking the Finance Commission for specific feedback to the City Council on the City Manager recommended budget based on their review. Based on his understanding of comments tonight, Councilmember Etten stated the intent was for a not-to-exceed levy number earlier in the budget from individual Councilmembers based on their comfort level versus jumping from a higher per- centage to a lower one later in the process. Councilmember Etten agreed it would be more fruitful to precede the City Manager recommended budget with that in- formation. However, Councilmember Etten questioned the timing for that clarifi- cation, and whether it may prove arbitrary. Mayor Roe suggested a target that related to outside influences for that number (e.g. inflationary, property values, etc.); and stated that he wouldn't classify it as a "not-to-exceed" levy percent, but suggesting it may prove more intellectually honest for the council to provide guidance as to the preferred levy increase earlier in the process. Councilmember McGehee opined that with unknowns on the cost of supplies, materials and equipment, it was absurd to presuppose what the budget may actual- ly be. However, if a majority of the City Council was already sure they weren't going to support a levy number beyond a certain threshold, it took unnecessary time and only created additional work for staff if the Council withheld that infor- mation until late in the budget process.