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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, October 12, 2009 Page 14 Councilmember Pust suggested that the motion be tabled until after tonight's BFO discussion. Councilmember Ihlan concurred, conditioned that it would be considered imme- diately following this discussion. Pust moved, Johnson seconded, tabling the above-referenced motion. Roll Call Ayes: Ihlan; Roe; Johnson; Pust Nays: None. Acting Mayor Roe noted that the City Council had passed a Preliminary Budget in the dollar amount of $38,213,000 on September 14, 2009; which was essen- tially the 2009 budget amount in addition to adjustments for mandated and/or con- tractual obligations in 2010. Finance Director Miller reviewed staff's rationale in recommending a different budgeting approach and their advocacy for the BFO process; recognizing that it would be challenging and requiring patience on the part of the City Council, staff and the public; but anticipating a favorable end product. Mr. Miller noted that the City had been on an unsustainable budget path for several years, and even after hours upon hours of public debate, little was accomplished to put the City back on a path of sustainability. Mr. Miller, from staff's perspective, advised that if staff provided a recommended budget, it would serve no productive purpose other than to repeat previous processes without sustainability. Mr. Miller recognized that the BFO process was new, it was change, and initially difficult and awkward; how- ever, he assured the public and City Council that staff was committed to bringing the City back to greatness, but it couldn't be done without the City Council's leadership and direction for long-term sustainability, rather than short-term fixes or deferrals. Mr. Miller briefly reviewed packet information, with staff's expansion of the Springsted analysis, and proposed ranking process for those mandated and those discretionary or elective services and programs. Mr. Miller noted staffs inclu- sion of current levels of service based on their individual experiences and compa- rables with peer communities, constituting a "best guess" perspective in context with performance measures/service standards, or outputs and how goals and ob- jectives are being met, while not applicable to all programs and services. Mr. Miller noted that staff was available to respond to any questions as the City Coun- cil began prioritizing on a preliminary basis, understanding that the process itself was dynamic, but transparent based on value judgments of individual Council- members, and corporately as a body. Mr. Miller advised that, once the prelimi- nary ranking was provided, staff would then attach 2010 budget figures accord- ingly, which was slated for Council consideration in a few weeks. However, Mr.