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Special City Council Strategic Planning Meeting Saturday, February 7, 2009 Page 19 Councilmember Pust suggested that the exercise needed in the process was to start with nothing; determine, for example, how many people it would take for police functions in a City the size of Roseville with its unique location, citizens, and issues; and without limiting that exercise based on labor and/or union constraints or current staffing levels. Councilmember Ihlan questioned the cost for staff to do this budgeting for outcomes analysis; whether they would need consulting resources to proceed; and how to pay for staff time and consultants for that analysis, when faced with the current budgetary and time constraints. Councilmember Ihlan opined the need for a strict cost analysis, since this could be a huge cost that the City couldn't afford at this time and under these circumstances. Councilmember Pust concurred with Councilmember Ihlan's comments. Public Works Director Schwartz opined that the current hiring freeze drastically impacted his department's ability to deliver its programs, if the hiring freeze included seasonable staff; noting that this was also the situation with the Parks and Recreation Department and their need for hiring seasonal staff. Councilmember Ihlan opined that staff should come before the City Council with their requests for seasonal and/or temporary positions as long as they were not permanent, long-term positions. Councilmember Roe opined that while under a labor cost freeze, staff should be able to hire seasonal employees; however, if another position because vacant in another area, it may not indicate the same priority for City services. Councilmember Roe supported the need to cap costs; however, noted the need to be flexible by putting resources where they were needed and removing them where they were not needed; and opined that this was not a "one size fits all" bandage. Councilmember Pust questioned where salary savings were being reallocated at this time; with Finance Director Miller responding that they were being used to meet other areas that had been other needs. Councilmember Johnson noted that prior City Council's had attempted to keep taxes to a minimum; and questioned if our expectations were too high; or if the standazd/quality of living in Roseville is too high. Councilmember Johnson noted that, when responding to public comment at Truth in Taxation meetings, and expenditures for rolling stock replacements, this conversation should be anticipated, whether due to the MVHC reductions or not. Councilmember Johnson opined that the expectations of the citizens needed to be at the forefront of these discussions, and their expectations, to allow the City to provide responsible decision-making for long-term growth of the City, rather than knee jerk reactions to crises. Councilmember Johnson noted that this City Council was charged with paying it forwazd to future generations, as well as the current financial and political environment.