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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, December 17, 2007 Page 18 Roll Call (Ihlan Amendment #2) Ayes: Kough and Ihlan. Nays: Roe; Pust; and Klausing. Motion failed. Ihlan moved, Kough seconded, removal of an additional $25,000 for general facil- ity repairs and pathways from the tax-levy supported budget (Councilmember Ih- lan's memo item #3). Mayor Klausing spoke in opposition to the motion; opining that it was more ex- pensive to repair deferred items, rather than addressing them immediately. Mayor Klausing opined that he didn't want the City to spiral into mediocrity, and that de- ferring items didn't benefit the City or its taxpayers in the long-run, and only re- quired future City Councils to be faced with making the more difficult decisions in the future. Roll Call (Ihlan Amendment #3) Ayes: Kough and Ihlan. Nays: Roe; Pust; and Klausing. Motion failed. Councilmember Ihlan expressed profound disappointment in the Council majority supporting another double-digit levy increase, noting that taxpayers would also be asked for additional monies based on the upcoming HRA levy request. Council- member Ihlan opined that if Ramsey County could keep their levy down, the City should follow their example. Councilmember Ihlan advised that she would be voting against the original motion. Mayor Klausing spoke in support of the motion; opining that expenditures had been reduced as much as possible, while still meeting public demand and prefer- ences for maintaining their quality of life, recognizing the public's value in public safety, strong infrastructures, and the park system. Councilmember Pust personally thanked Councilmember Ihlan for her diligence in proposing suggestions to reduce the overall levy. Councilmember Pust noted that she had also wanted to reduce the levy; however, she had remained uncon- vinced with any of the proposals brought forward. Councilmember Pust noted for the public's benefit, that over half of the budget goes toward staffing for daily services and programs that the citizen majority continued to request. Council- member Pust opined that, in order to maintain a quality staff, and pay them fairly and equitably, and in order to run the City effectively as an organization or busi- ness, some ongoing capital replacements and expenditures were obvious. Coun- cilmember Pust encouraged staff to recognize the Council's expectation that they wanted spending strictly enforced, out of respect to the taxpayers; while express- ing her respect for the great people serving the daily needs of the community, and spoke accordingly in support of the budget.