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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, December 21, 2009 Page 19 Discussion included the City Manager's proposed zero percent COLA for 2010; rationale for keeping the step program in place based on peer community compensation plans and existing union contracts to retain skilled employees and reduce turnover; continuing un- ion negotiations; union versus non-union compensation; $25,000 estimated impact to the General Fund levy and budget for 2010 for step increases impacting 88 of 174 employ- ees; and City Council versus City Manager employee management. Roll Call Ayes: Roe and Ihlan. Nays: Johnson; Pust; and Klausing. Motion failed. Amendment Ihlan .moved, Pust seconded, to eliminate non-mandatory funding for training in 2010 across departments, to only fund mandatory training, with an aim toward reducing the training by half its current levels. Discussion included training to retain or obtain licenses; those mandatory; and those dis- cretionary, with no numbers available at this time to indicate the amount of reduction this would provide; previous actions to reduce training expenses; and information provided by the Police Department on mandatory and optional training. Public Comment Gary Grefenberg, Mid Oaks Lane Mr. Grefenberg provided training cost calculations to Councilmember Ihlan at the bench. Councilmember Roe spoke in support of the concept, but not without a final number. Councilmember Ihlan noted her frustration in not receiving sufficient information from staff prior to packet delivery. Roll Call Ayes: Klausing ;Pust; and Ihlan. Nays: Johnson and. Roe; Motion carried. Amendment Ihlan moved, Pust seconded, freezing City payment for travel, lodging and/or meal ex- penses for out-of--town conferences for aone-year suspension of those expenses unless approved by the City Council; and/or if other options for mandatory conferences are not available locally. Roll Call Ayes: Johnson; Pust; and Ihlan. Nays: Roe and Klausing