01/02/1980 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Mr. lieuallen wondered if travel expenses, shown for reduction in some departments, would be reduced throughout the City, as he feels that the public image would be heightened by less travel was being done. Manager responded that there will probably be less travel in all departments, though the total amount saved is not that significant. Mr. lieuallen wondered if it would then be possible to keep swimming pools open with volunteer help. Ernie Drapela. Parks Director, said the savings on pool closures are partially personnel costs, and partially energy costs. Pools consume 29 percent of all energy used by City services. Closures have been discussed with neighborhood groups and with the schools. At this point, they are looking at a five-month rollback instead of a six-month rollback originally proposed, since the initial closure needs a 30-day notice. He said there would be some concern from a liability standpoint if those other than certified personnel were used. Councilor Lieuallen asked whether long-range solutions to the heating situation are being explored. Mr. Drapela indicated that both the Amazon and Jefferson pools need some work and felt an outside consulting firm should do this study which would include research on energy systems. In response to Ms. Smith's question, Mr. Drapela agreed that schools are the heaviest users and the area of school payment for use of the pools could be explored; further, Mr. Drapela indicated that the pool closure would be handled in such a manner to accommodate the swim team meet February 17. Mr. Haws commented that, in his conversations with the general public, some seemed to feel that City services mean only library and pool services. Thus, there would probably be a great amount of controversy over these two proposed closures. Mayor Keller, at some point, would like to know What it actually takes to make a pool operational instead of hassling over the question of pool refurbishing costs every six months or so. He also suggested that the Council could refuse to accept the Sunday closure of the library. e Mr. Delay said he feels that the proposal as outline is a reasonable and a balanced one although he was concerned about continuing to defer capital projects. Mrs. Schue agreed, saying departments all have to do their share. Mr. Hamel agreed with the Manager~ recommendations. Mr. Haws, however, feels that this proposal does not give Council a choice of possible reductions, and it might not be what the citizens want. Ms. Smith says she feels the solution of closing the pools on a rotating basis will accommodate needs much better than total closure of one pool. She is concerned about closing the library on Sunday. However, she would like a reaffirmation that there is no other way to reduce the budget by $18,000. Mr. Keller said he feels the $18,000 should be removed from the library budget to spread the load, but it should come from some other place in the library's budget other than Sunday closure. Mrs. Miller also regrets the proposed Sunday closure of the Library, but she said that the only way to justify this closure is to explain to the citizens that all services and departments were cut proportionately. She feels that it is an important principle to remember in working with various constituencies. Mr. Lieuallen clarified for himself some points of a memo written by Finance Director McGuire, outlining the revenue deficits. e 1/2/80--5