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e that could result in a 20-percent increase in utilization. Mr. Gleason said the program could lead to central maintenance contracts. He applauded all the agencies involvedt particularly PARCS Department for its leadership efforts. 1. Sa 11 ot Ranking Mr. Holmer called the council's attention to a memo from Warren Wong regarding suggested changes in the ballot ranking procedure. Referring to an earlier conversation with Councilor Rutant Mr. Gleason said a discussion was needed about what businesses are appropriate for the City's involvement. Mr. Gleason reviewed the first system used by the council that ranked all City services in five ranks after which he prepared the budget based on that ranking. The new system ranks things on a scale of one to 27t resulting in blocks of services in the same priority. Mr. Holmer had suggested setting policy standards by assigning ranked categoriest and then instructing management to develop the budget. Mr. Gleason said clarification was needed in two areas: the level of detail for rankings and the level at which implementation should occur. He asked that both these issues be addressed before the next process begins. Referring to the conversation mentioned by Mr. Gleasont Mr. Rutan stated that the budget process should begin as part of the council's work on its goals. e He said Mr. Wong should project deficits for the next six years and the council should then develop consensus on the process and strategy to accomplish a balanced budget. His preferred approach would be first to decide what the business of the City should bet and then to look at individual programs and their costs. Ms. Schue supported Mr. Rutan's suggestion and remarked that publications are an area in which the council first should decide the amount of information the City should put outt assign prioritiest and then within that framework look at individual brochures and funding for them. She said travel and training is another area requiring broad policy decisions before specific items are included in the budget. Mr. Bennett spoke in favor of a new approach. He commented that management staff has the expertise to work with program details, while he felt comfortable taking a broader-based approach in budget policy decisions. He stressed the need for negotiation in reaching consensus on policy priorities. Mayor Obie recommended that the council schedule an extended evening meeting to begin at 5:30 p.m. on August 1 to consider the budget process from the approach suggested by Mr. Rutan. Mr. Gleason said he would bring back a set of policies that would specify high, medium, or low in the various areas and would allow the council to develop policy guidelines. ~MINUTES--EUgene City Council June 29, 1988 Page 6