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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, March 30, 2009 Page 11 the Council needed to determine what it is we want, the best value, and how market forces could play an appropriate effect and allowing for regular oversight. Mayor Klausing asked that Councilmember Pust provide her suggestions to City Manager Malinen for distribution to the City Council as a whole for further discus- sion. Councilmember Roe opined that policy language needed further clarification and re- view to even the playing field and whether incumbent contracts could be renewed. Councilmember Johnson opined that best value criteria needed to be met every three years. City Manager Malinen provided his perspective, even with incumbents, that every three years a formal feedback form be developed and utilized, with termination clauses in each contract, to provide a better way of working within and managing re- lationships. Councilmember Roe suggested that it may make sense to create a subcommittee of the City Council to be part of the review process, specific to the City Civil Attorney, whether within the policy itself or as a step in the process. b. Consider Adjustments to the 2009 Budget City Manager Malinen noted the staff report dated March 30, 2009, and department- specific responses, following the recent City Council and staff strategic planning meeting, and impacts to each department in the projected loss of approximately $400,000 in Market Value Homestead Credit (MVHC) in 2009. Mr. Malinen ad- dressed several options for City Council consideration, including use of cash reserves, temporary short-term budget cuts, and structural or long-term budget cuts, as detailed in his report. Mr. Malinen provided a summary of potential 2009 budget reductions per division/function on a proportionate basis. Mayor Klausing noted that all Department Heads were present, and expressed appre- ciation to them for their work on this potential short-fall. Mayor Klausing, personally opined his difficulty in considering reductions in services to citizens, who had come to expect the high level of service provided; and expressed his discomfort in having to be in this position; while acknowledging that there was $400,000 less in funds from those projected during budget preparations, and noting that staff was still attempting to continue to provide the best services possible. City Manager Malinen referenced the voluntary budget reduction plans provided by Department Heads; and sought City Council feedback on those proposals and subse- quent impacts to the public. Mr. Malinen noted that Departments were also seeking to identify additional revenue sources to further impact services.