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<br /> agreed that this year's process had its flaws and needs to be altered. She <br />e said the six years may be too long and she would favor giving the City <br /> Manager more discretion. Ms. Wooten agreed that the councilors are policy <br /> makers and should not be concerned with specific line-items, but she said <br /> they cannot have the City Manager do their dirty work for them. She agreed <br /> that the process needs to be altered and program cuts for the future need to <br /> be examined. Ms. Wooten suggested that a committee be formed to address new <br /> revenues and look at both the short- and long-term implications. <br /> Ms. Schue said the council has not laid out guidelines for staff, and part of <br /> the problem is that the public does not realize the City is hard-pressed. Mr. <br /> Miller said if there are no meaningful reductions for addbacks, the problems <br /> will compound themselves. He said he feels the staff has the resources to <br /> creatively get the job done. <br /> Mr. Holmer suggested a refinement of the original priority list. He <br /> suggested that the City Manager make recommendations about program <br /> priorities. Mr. Rutan said that type of process is valid and can be done with <br /> the proposals he offered. He said the staff is capable and it is important <br /> that the council give that direction with thought and knowledge of the budget <br /> process. Ms. Ehrman agreed that she would like a more detailed list. She <br /> said one ballot may not work for all five years and may need to be updated. <br /> Ms. Ehrman said that all of Mr. Rutan's cuts, with the exception of <br /> personnel, have already been scrutinized by the budget process either this <br /> year or in recent years. <br /> Mr. Miller said one thing that is needed is public hearings on the strategic <br />e policy that would help make things easier and clearer. Mayor Obie agreed <br /> that a public hearing should be held early on. Mr. Holmer said programs have <br /> to be addressed rather than line-items. He said that transportation policy <br /> addresses a line-item but also addresses a policy decision. Mayor Obie said <br /> that would be a part of administrative financial policy, something the <br /> council did not include this year. He asked when the process should start. <br /> Ms. Wooten suggested a refinement of program areas and said there is a need <br /> to cross-tabulate administrative and overhead costs to the programs. Ms. <br /> Wooten said it is not appropriate that the council cannot touch <br /> administrative overhead categories. <br /> Mr. Rutan said he would like to hear a presentation on new revenues, but <br /> added that the old list has not changed for a long time. Ms. Schue suggested <br /> that the council has been thinking too small. She said that gas tax money <br /> and County funding for urban transition are showing up in this year's budget. <br /> She said there is a need for a general discussion about new revenues. She <br /> added that the council should have input into what appears on the <br /> prioritization list. Ms. Bascom said that it may be possible to restructure <br /> some programs such as the Neighborhood Program, rather than cutting them. <br /> Mayor Obie said the council should begin work on next year's process shortly <br /> after July 1. Ms, Wooten said it is inappropriate to "accuse" the Budget <br /> Committee of changing budget priorities, She said the relationship with the <br />e MINUTES--City Council Work Session June 13, 1988 Page 5 <br />