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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, December 15, 2008 Page 25 prior to tonight's meeting, staff could have been more responsive to potential im- pacts. Councilmember Pust suggested tabling this motion until the City Council had time to consider other options, rather than this motion's success or failure simply due to it being brought up first. Councilmember Ihlan expressed her willingness to defer a vote on the motion un- til further discussion of her other suggestions. Mayor Klausing noted that, from a procedural standpoint, the City Council had previously identified targets for staff, as the City Council didn't feel comfortable going through the budget line by line; and had directed staff to provide the City Council with their expertise and judgment to achieve the City Council's target. Mayor Klausing advised that staff had met that target with their recommendations as detailed in the staff report; and sought clarification on the City Council's ap- parent new goal. Councilmember Ihlan advised that her goal had always been for a zero percent levy increase; thus her proposal and optimism that it could now be achieved, given the additional work provided by staff in reducing their recommended levy. Councilmember Roe advised that he was not considering other areas; and noted that while the City's vehicle replacement funding was in a better position, the building and maintenance replacement fund was much further behind. Council- member Roe advised that, as an example, he would be willing to look at reducing the Fire Department fleet in future proposals; however, noted that he was unwill- ing to not set aside funds for future capital purchases as that served as the kind of strategic area that needed consideration for future impacts. Additional discussion included clarification of proposed actions on future pur- chase and depletion of the reserve funds; variables in expenditures depending on needs, priorities and impacts; rationale in staff development and City Council ap- proval of a ten (10) year capital improvement plan; and advantages in planning budgeting for outcomes processes to identify priorities and impacts in future years. Councilmember Pust noted that, in all fairness for the record, while this budgeting process was not clear-cut, it was partly due to the economy crashing in September following the certification of the Preliminary Levy, rather than any due diligence of staff. Councilmember Pust opined that she was pleased with staff's recom- mendations, and the further reductions; and still supported the geothermal im- provements made; however she recognized events following the economic down- turn, in addition to impacts of levies by Ramsey County and the School District.