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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, November 23, 2009 Page 18 ward, rather than individually try to determine where to make reductions or real- locations, unless providing broad guidance to staff on their suggested changes, by seeking a majority vote of the City Council at the time of final levy adoption. Mayor Klausing expressed his desire to get the City Council to a budget resolu- tion, but opined that he was stymied as to how to reach that conclusion. Mayor Klausing suggested that Councilmembers provide their preferred dollar amount and comfort level. Councilmember Pust advised that she was not prepared to bring forward a motion on a different dollar amount, understanding that it was up to Councilmembers to make suggestions through the BFO process for the City Manger to revise for the next round of discussion. Councilmember Pust advised that she wanted to fund outdoor ice rinks, and thought this could be accomplished by the City Council giving up their salaries. Councilmember Pust expressed her preference, while not a line item, but built into the process, for freezing and eliminating overtime, which would allow the City to retain their important staff, while reducing the budget by approximately $200,000; her preference for a hiring freeze similar to that instituted in 2009, if it had been lifted. Mr. Miller advised that several key positions were replaced, but many had not been replaced and remained vacant. Councilmember Pust suggested that a hard hiring freeze be put back in place to protect current staff, while recognizing that they would be further inconvenienced with a freeze on overtime, but opining that it must be done given the current economy. Councilmember Pust stated if administration numbers indicated all staffing costs in each department, and if there was other money in those administrative num- bers, that those costs be trimmed as much as possible, (i.e., training, overtime), but done across the board in some equitable way. Councilmember Pust, on page 2 of the ranking matrix and under the yellow line, suggested a hard freeze on infla- tionary increases for all 2010 projected numbers in a total amount of approxi- mately $100,000, including overtime costs if not affecting people's jobs, or inad- vertently putting someone on a pink slip list. Councilmember Johnson advised that he felt very strongly about his individual suggestions made to City Manager Malinen previously for budget allocations; and that he felt so strongly that he was going to base his vote to support the proposed budget on whether those items were included or not. Out of courtesy to his col- leagues, Councilmember Johnson advised that he was bringing this up now rather than holding the whole process at bay.