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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, October 26, 2009 Page 15 City Manager Malinen noted additional information received over the last few weeks, and brought to the Council for action as it related to employee health benefits and the additional $50,000 that had been incorporated into the 2010 budget numbers; as well as his recommendation for a zero percent (0%) cost of living adjustment (COLA) for employees, and only allowing for step increases for the City's newest employees. Mr. Malinen noted that there were agreements in place that would need to be renegotiated to achieve that universal outcome for all. City Manager Malinen reiterated that those current numbers had been included in the numbers currently before the City Council for the proposed 2010 budget. Further discussion included comparisons of staff rankings with those of individual Councilmembers and how to determine rationale for disparities and those items with similar rankings; League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) membership as a sepa- rate issue from the League of Minnesota Insurance Trust (LMCIT) insurance line item; and confirmation that staff had completed their ranking on the whole matrix, not just those areas applicable to their specific department. Mr. Miller clarified that staff had ranked the entire list of services and programs, and that they had been challenged, similarly to the City Council, in overcoming those areas that needed additional education and awareness for departments with which they were less familiar. Councilmember Pust requested that each department provide written materials to Councilmembers specific to their departments as well as for other departments on their rationale for their ranking of line items. Public Comment Gary Grefenberg, 91 Mid Oaks Lane Mr. Grefenberg asked that, for public comprehension of the budget, that staff pro- vide the maximum nine percent preliminary levy increase, as well as a line show- ing aneight and seven percent levy increase for comparison purposes and to allow rational public comment. Mr. Grefenberg concurred that public safety (i.e., fire and police) were ranked highest and everyone was in agreement as to their importance; however, he ques- tioned how and whether overtime or different forms of management to reduce costs further could be considered and addressed rather than making an assumption that the current level is the best level of funding. Mr. Grefenberg expressed hope that the process was transparent as well as comprehensible; and complimented the City Council on their work on the process to-date. Bob Wilmus, 2932 Hamline Ave. Mr. Wilmus expressed confusion regarding inflationary items, when previous budgets in 2008 and 2009 were held flat or even decreased.