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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, July 12, 2010 Page 18 With Council consensus, Mayor Klausing requested that staff schedule a Public Hearing to hear public comment on this issue; with staff concurrently providing additional detail to the City Council as indicated during tonight's discussion. d. Discuss 2011 Budget Priority Based Program Ranking Methodology Finance Director Chris Miller presented a list of property tax-supported programs for the City Council's preliminary ranking of budget programs in preparation for the 2011 Budget. Discussion included the current listing by staff of tax-supported programs, with others excluded until a later date as they didn't compete for tax levy dollars; addi- tional and department-specific information requested by Councilmembers to complete their ranking process. Councilmember Roe indicated his need for additional information for some items before he completes his ranking. Councilmember Johnson suggested that individual Councilmembers compile a list of those items needing additional information to complete ranking. Mayor Klausing indicated his perception that the purpose of this first ranking was to initiate discussion. Discussion included those mandated items in the list or at a minimum identifying them as part of the overall list of programs and services; and the amount of discre- tion for individual rankings, even for those mandated programs; and as a general rule and fair assumption, that mandated programs received minimum service le- vels. It was Council consensus that mandatory items would not be included in the rank- ings, but listed as a separate category, as statutorily required; and individual Councilmembers seek additional information from staff as applicable. City Manager Malinen and Mr. Miller advised that they would request Depart- ment Heads to provide a brief, two-sentence description of programs and services, that would hopefully address most questions, with individual Councilmembers pursuing any additional questions they may need, but to share those questions with Councilmembers to facilitate future discussion. Councilmember Ihlan questioned if this process was a good use of anyone's time; and spoke in support of a detailed, line item budget allowing basic overview of programs and deparhnents as done in past budget cycles.