Laserfiche WebLink
City Council Regular Meeting — 09/13/04 <br />DRAFT Minutes - Page 28 <br />$10,761,015, representing a 10% Levy increase for 2005. <br />Councilmember Kough spoke against the motion, opining that <br />more discussion and consensus was required on issues such as <br />eliminating a proposed community survey, and not making any <br />additional staff cuts. <br />Councilmember Maschka reviewed those funding items included <br />in the proposed motion: 1) forgoing the implementation of a <br />street light utility or gas and electric franchise fee; restoration of <br />a �/z year funding for the Police Department Civilian position; 3) <br />restoration of funding for the Nature Center position; and 4) <br />restoration of funding for one maintenance position. <br />Councilmember Maschka noted that the recommendation did not <br />include funding for the custodial position or one maintenance <br />position; nor did it restore funding for the Parks Improvement <br />Program (PIl') or the City's contribution to the Ambassador <br />Foundation or the I-35W Corridor Coalition. Councilmember <br />Maschka noted that the proposed levy did bring the City back to <br />structural neutrality, was reasonable, and anticipated that the City <br />Council could find additional expense reductions and/or revenue <br />sources to further reduce the Preliminary Levy prior to Final <br />Levy adoption. <br />Councilmember Kough opined his desire for and confidence in <br />the Council's ability to find further reductions, suggesting <br />immediately that the proposed community survey, at $25,000, <br />could be eliminated. <br />Discussion ensued as to whether the survey was funded from the <br />General Levy or the Communication Fund. <br />Mayor Klausing opined his concurrence with Councilmember <br />Kough's opinion that the proposed 10% Preliminary was too <br />high; advising that he would not support a Final Levy that high, <br />further opining that high of an increase was too much to ask of <br />taxpayers. Mayor Klausing asked for further discussion of <br />several of City Manager Beets' original recommendations, one <br />of which was "Council Action Recommendation #17 [17.a] <br />entitled, "Council motion authorizing [not authorizing] staff to <br />prepare a report for Council consideration regarding a potential <br />