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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,June 20, 2011 Page 28 being that the primary operating budget is paying the City of St. Paul for water and the Metropolitan Council for sanitary sewer discharge; leaving little to work with; and other operating costs used to otherwise maintain the system. Mayor Roe advised that the Subcommittee was open to City Council discussion. Councilmember Johnson advised that everything presented are meant to be possi- bilities or one option; but that it brought things out to make everyone aware that the situation is real and there are issues that have been long-neglected that need resolution and this is that reality. Councilmember Johnson noted that, while eve- rything couldn't be cured overnight, as parks and the fire station became a more accurate part of the picture, and the needs for streets over the next 2-3 years, the complete CIP work would become more understandable. Councilmember Willmus expressed appreciation for those comments from Coun- cilmember Johnson; and going forward and as the City Manager-recommended budget was presented in July, opined that it would be important to for the City Council to have a brief narrative from staff on how those operational impacts would affect how they do business and how shifts affected day-to-day operations. Councilmember Willmus expressed his interest in the City Manager look at the Administration Department, since other departments had gone through reorgani- zations, and see what could be accomplished in the Administration Department, if there were any duplications of positions; and possibly look to Ramsey County to run elections; and make those recommendations part of the budget presentation. City Manager Malinen advised that, regarding elections, staff was already in dis- cussion with Ramsey County about such an alternative and may have that infor- mation available before the budget recommendation. Councilmember McGehee advised that she had spoken with the City Attorney earlier today, as well as the League of Minnesota Cities, related to a resident rais- ing the issue of tax assessments for significant infrastructure replacement, main- tenance or updating; and the inability to deduct those assessments on taxes. Councilmember McGehee advised that some communities, in similar situations, choose to bond continually every two years; and select neighborhoods to com- plete all infrastructure improvements at once, with that debt service going on the tax roll and becoming part of the taxes. Mayor Roe spoke to bonds being used for utilities; and noted that as a Subcom- mittee they had spoken to community representatives with expertise on bonding, and compared numbers to see if that was a viable and/or prudent option; and noted that fund balances would be diminished to pay interest on those bonds, not accomplishing anything in the long run any more economically feasible than tax- es.