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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, November 24, 2008 Page 17 a. Continued Discussion of the 2009 Tax Levy and Budget City Manager Malinen reviewed amendments made by staff to the City Manager-recommended budget, as per action of the City Council at their November 17, 2008 meeting, reducing the preliminary levy as detailed in the staff report dated November 24, 2008. City Manager Malinen requested individual Councilmember comments and input regarding their preferred dollar amount or levy percentage to provide further direction to staff in an attempt to achieve those goals and return with additional recommendations for Council consideration at their December 165, 2008 meeting at which the levy and budget will be adopt- ed. Public Comment Gary Grefenberg, 91 Mid Oaks Lane Mr. Grefenberg opined that, in this near-depression time, how could the City Council support a recommended 3.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for staff when so many people who pay the City's bills were ex- periencing hard economic times. Mr. Grefenberg encouraged the City Council to give serious consideration to comments of Councilmembers Pust and Ihlan to make costs to taxpay- ers ahigher priority. Mr. Grefenberg noted the last agenda item, and staff's recommendation to retain attorneys whose bids were highest; while property owners were experiencing reduced property values. Mr. Grefen- berg opined that the City Council consider other ways to reduce costs, in- cluding reducing COLA and step increases for staff; and in spending less money on consultants, particularly in the field of Planning. Mr. Grefenberg asked that the City explore every potential way to reduce the proposed levy and budget, opining that he was not satisfied with the proposed levy increase, and encouraged the City Council to explore other opportunities to cut back, noting that his municipal levy increase repre- sented approximately 8.2%. Mr. Grefenberg noted that his request was a reflection of economic times, not the quality of City staff; and opined that during this time, everyone needed to sacrifice, including City employees. City Manager Malinen advised Councilmembers that, while the prelimi- nary budget provided fora 3.5% COLA increase, more current and ongo- ing information from surrounding metropolitan communities indicated other trends relative to their labor negotiations. John Kysylyczyn, 3083 N Victoria Street Mr. Kysylyczyn repeated his question of previous meetings related to the lack of availability of the 2009 detailed budget book on the City's website