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Special City Council Strategic Planning Meeting <br />Saturday, February 7, 2009 <br />Page 7 <br />Reduced service levels to the Community Development Department for officer- <br />assistance on Code Enforcement <br />Reduced levels of service for the many tasks performed for the Administration <br />Department <br />Longer turnaround time for back~-ound checks for license applications and <br />renewals for the Finance Department <br />Parks and Recreation Director Lonnie Brokke <br />Mr. Brokke advised that current 2009 spending had been frozen at 2008 levels, sending a <br />general message to staff that there would be limitations to "business as usual." Mr. <br />Brokke advised that any new programming or service offerings were put on hold. Mr. <br />Brokke noted that, for the short-term, some discretionary dollars available, so immediate <br />reductions to programs, services and activities to the community would not be readily <br />evident. Mr. Brokke advised that his staff had been made aware of the need to strictly <br />adhere to, or reduce, their budgets; and were actively searching for more sponsorships <br />and contribution opportunities. Mr. Brokke noted that, as the department realized the full <br />inflationary impacts, it would require reduced spending for supplies and equipment. <br />Mr. Brokke indicated that immediate action had been taken in reducing the 2009 <br />approved department budget as follows: <br />^ Diseased Tree Program: $50,000 eliminated, while reviewing City Ordinance and <br />State Law for mandated maintenance and removal <br />^ Park Improvement Program under discussion by the Parks and Recreation <br />Commission on how to make it work <br />^ Eliminated purchase of a replacement sidewalk machine, even though the existing <br />one is on its last legs, which will limit the amount of snow removal on sidewalks <br />^ Recognizing that the Department is approximately 50% fee-supported; while <br />receiving additional scholarship requests as more people are facing difficult economic <br />situations and are unable to pay those fees (almost three times as many requests as in <br />the past). Mr. Brokke advised that staff and the Commission were in agreement that <br />they wanted to avoid having to deny anyone form participating in the programs, <br />feeling that such activities were more vital than ever. <br />^ Equity cost-sharing for travel expenses ofaffiliated groups and programs <br />^ Absorbing reaccreditation in this year's budget given the importance of continuing <br />that standing <br />Anticipated MVHC-Specific Reduction = $11,000 <br />Mr. Brokke advised that the department anticipated accommodating that potential <br />reduction as follows: <br />^ Reorganizing the department to absorb those cuts in staffing levels, even though the <br />department's current staffing level was less than in the 1990's. Mr. Brokke advised <br />that there were currently three positions open in the department; noting that the <br />department had remained stable over the last five years, however, they'd recently <br />experienced two retirements; with one consciously held open as part of the skating <br />