Laserfiche WebLink
City Council Study Session —11/15/04 <br />DRAFT Minutes - Page 5 <br />$10,689,965, a reduction of $72,050, representing a 9.5% <br />increase over 2004. <br />Finance Director Miller further noted that, since the October 18, <br />2004 Council meeting, comments had been made that might <br />suggest that there was no longer majority support for eliminating <br />any employee positions. Staff sought clarification of Council <br />intent and directive. <br />Finance Director Miller provided additional suggestions noted <br />from individual Councilmembers, with no defined consensus: <br />1. Reduce Cost of Livin Ad�ustments COLA from 3% to 2.5%. <br />2. Reduce funding to the Northwest Youth and Family Services <br />NYFS b$10,000 for the costs and benefits to the Cit . <br />3. Elimination of the Leaf Picku Pro ram. <br />4. Elimination of the Wading Pool, with a related request to see a <br />breakdown of the associated revenues and ex enditures. <br />5. Elimination of the $2,000 a ro riation fro the Sister Ci Pro ram. <br />Finance Director Miller and City Manager Beets respectively <br />noted their recommendations that the budget cuts be permanent <br />and sustainable, not just temporary "fixes." <br />Councilmember Maschka opined his support for the 9.5% <br />increase, in order to correct structural impacts of the loss of State <br />Aids. <br />Councilmember Ihlan questioned whether Directive #5 <br />(Elimination of one custodian position) projected cost savings <br />versus contracting out for custodial services created a false <br />economy. <br />City Manager Beets advised that the City contracted out for most <br />of their custodial services, with the exception of the skating and <br />nature centers. Mr. Beets noted that staff had developed <br />documents for Requests for Proposals (RFP's) to increase the <br />square footage to include the skating and nature centers; and <br />were confident the bidding results would be cost-effective. Mr. <br />Beets estimated a net savings of $10 — 30,000 annually. <br />Finance Director Miller noted that the net budgeted savings <br />